SA’S Brad and exciting wings boost the Lions

VETERAN Welsh rugby star Shane Williams accepts that his stunning recall to the British and Irish Lions will be a one-night cameo, but firmly believes that fellow winger Christian Wade could go on to play in the test series against Australia.

The pair, along with South African-born England centre Brad Barritt, have flown thousands of kilometres from three different directions to bolster the cause.

All three will play against the Brumbies in Canberra today, giving respite to a battered Lions backline before the first test against the Wallabies on Saturday.

The selection of Williams, four years after he bowed out of the 2009 Lions tour with a brilliant try against the Springboks and two years after he last played a test for Wales, was a decision that stunned everyone.

Wade’s call-up from England’s tour of Argentina was also something of a surprise, given that he had made his full international debut only the previous week.

At 36 and 22 respectively, Williams and Wade are at opposite ends of their careers, but the similarities do not end with the unlikelihood of their presence on the Lions tour.

Bucking the trend for hulking wingers, they are both on the short side and weigh in well under the 90kg mark. But both are blessed with great balance, footwork and acceleration.

Williams said of Wade: “He’s an aggressive runner, he’s very fast, enjoys taking defenders on – my kind of guy, really. He’s more than capable of showing what he’s got and being part of this test series, I think.”

He had paid close attention to Wade’s progress and had kept tabs on him through his former Wales teammate Stephen Jones, who is now at Wade’s club, London Wasps.

Wade said it was a “massive thrill” to be able to play alongside Williams, who scored 58 tries in 87 tests.

“Shane’s one of those players who I’ve watched and tried to learn a lot off from a distance,” he said.

“I probably wouldn’t have got the chance to play against him in my career and to play with him is taking it to the next level.”

Wade clearly also has a good dose of the ebullient confidence that carried Williams through a career playing against much bigger men.

“It’s just a massive honour to get the call to come over here. I’m happy to be here and if I do get the chance to play in the tests it would probably be the proudest moment in my life,” he said,

Wade flew 12 000km from Argentina to join up with the Lions. Williams made the comparatively modest trek of 7 800km from Japan, where he has been playing club rugby.

Barritt, a former Sharks player, had a similar distance to travel – from California, where he was on holiday – to play against the Brumbies.

“I had [my] boots delivered this morning and, quite strangely, I had a gum guard in my toiletry bag. Not sure how that got there,” Barritt said. – Reuters