CHRISTIAN WADE CAN stake an 11th-hour claim for a Test place when he makes his Lions debut against the Brumbies tomorrow morning.
The Wasps winger flew in to join the squad over the weekend as coach Warren Gatland counted the cost of the rising injury toll which has rocked the tourists.
With serious question marks still remaining over George North’s fitness and Alex Cuthbert’s form, Ireland’s Simon Zebo thrust himself into contention for a starting place with an explosive audition against the Waratahs.
The Munster man is on the bench for tomorrow’s game in Canberra as Gatland opts to start all three of his emergency call-ups, with Wade lining out opposite 36-year-old Shane Williams and England’s Brad Barritt in the centre.
With most of his key men held in reserve, the team-sheet is Gatland’s strongest indication yet of plans for the first Test but Williams believes that his young wing partner can still play his way into the picture.
“I can hold my own out there and I certainly know that Christian can,” Williams said. “Maybe we’ll bring a little bit of diversity to the team.
“All the wingers so far have played extremely well. Unfortunately there are a few niggles and injuries out there and it may be a chance for someone like Christian to get in there, show his stuff and who knows what’s going to happen on Saturday? He could score six tries tomorrow and be starting. That’s the great thing about the British and Irish Lions.”
(Andrew Matthews/PA Wire/Press Association Images)
The call-up marks the continuation of a remarkable few months for 22-year-old Wade who was named Players’ Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year in recognition of a flying season with Wasps.
He then made his full England debut in the first Test against the Pumas and was set for another international cap last weekend before Gatland intervened with a change of plans.
“It’s been a crazy couple of months for me from the awards to my Test debut and now being out here with the team,” Wade said. “I think in rugby as a sport, anything can happen. Obviously someone can get injured, players will come out. Anything can happen so you’ve obviously got to be prepared mentally and physically all the time.”
“I think as a rugby player you’ve got to have a sense of self belief at all times, no matter what team you’re playing with. I think going out there, I need to back myself to get the best performance out of me personally and out of the team as well. Everyone needs to be up to the mark.”
TheScore.ie will be liveblogging all the action from Lions v Brumbies tomorrow morning from 10am.
