JPR: LEE'S A CERT FOR LIONS

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Apr 13, 2008 | by PAUL JONES

LEE Byrne will be the Lions' last line of defence in South Africa next year, according to the legend who did the job a quarter of a century before.

Despite the Ospreys' crushing defeat to Saracens in Europe last week, JPR Williams is backing Byrne to finish this season on a high and continue his form into the next.

Grand Slam European champions Wales tour South Africa this summer and the Lions will follow suit 12 months later. Williams - who watched Byrne come through the ranks at their local village club Tondu - reckons the revitalised 27-year-old will wear the No.15 shirt in both series.

He insists: "I would have placed Lee on the Lions shortlist before the Six Nations championship season had even got under way. Now, he is an absolute certainty.

"South Africa is a very tough place to go, especially as a fullback. The Springboks will test the full-backs very early on and believe me, it's desperately difficult because the ball seems to stay in the air forever.

"But Lee is very assured under the high ball and very powerful once he has caught it. I am looking forward to seeing him over there this summer with Wales and next summer with the Lions."

Being picked as the firstchoice full-back in Britain and Ireland would be a remarkable turnaround for Byrne, who was left out of the Wales squad for the World Cup last autumn. by then coach Gareth Jenkins, who decided both Byrne and his fellow Osprey Gavin Henson were not in good enough form.

Now, both players have a Six Nations champion's medal in their locker and although next week's Magners League clash against Munster is a sad reminder of the Heineken Cup semi-final that will never be, Williams reckons there are many more accolades ahead.