By Ian Ransom

(Reuters) – Israel Folau’s stunning rise from rugby union debutant to Australian international in four months has thrust him into a baptism of fire against the British & Irish Lions in the first test in Brisbane on Saturday.

The much-hyped 24-year-old will run out at a heaving Lang Park on the wing, a position largely foreign to him in the 15-man code, to face off against dangerous Welsh flyer George North and a starting side boasting more than 700 caps.

June 20 (Reuters) – Israel Folau’s stunning rise from rugby union debutant to Australian international in four months has thrust him into a baptism of fire against the British & Irish Lions in the first test in Brisbane on Saturday.

The much-hyped 24-year-old will run out at a heaving Lang Park on the wing, a position largely foreign to him in the 15-man code, to face off against dangerous Welsh flyer George North and a starting side boasting more than 700 caps.

CANBERRA (Reuters) – Israel Folau’s remarkable rise in his third football code is set to be stamped with selection for Australia in the first test against the British and Irish Lions when Wallabies coach Robbie Deans names his team on Thursday.

The 24-year-old former rugby league international will be front and centre at a media conference with Deans on Thursday, a team spokesman confirmed, and barring an unforeseen injury should be named in the Wallabies backline.

CANBERRA, June 19 (Reuters) – Israel Folau’s remarkable rise in his third football code is set to be stamped with selection for Australia in the first test against the British and Irish Lions when Wallabies coach Robbie Deans names his team on Thursday.

The 24-year-old former rugby league international will be front and centre at a media conference with Deans on Thursday, a team spokesman confirmed, and barring an unforeseen injury should be named in the Wallabies backline.

CANBERRA (Reuters) – If managing players’ fitness and keeping morale high are the ultimate balancing act for a long and arduous rugby tour, British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland took a plunge off the high-wire after his team’s shock loss to the ACT Brumbies.

The 14-12 disappointment at a sodden Canberra Stadium torpedoed captain Sam Warburton’s hopes of a ‘perfect 10′ wins and an unbeaten tour, while handing Robbie Deans’ Wallabies extra belief ahead of Saturday’s first test in Brisbane.

CANBERRA, June 19 (Reuters) – If managing players’ fitness and keeping morale high are the ultimate balancing act for a long and arduous rugby tour, British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland took a plunge off the high-wire after his team’s shock loss to the ACT Brumbies.

The 14-12 disappointment at a sodden Canberra Stadium torpedoed captain Sam Warburton’s hopes of a ‘perfect 10′ wins and an unbeaten tour, while handing Robbie Deans’ Wallabies extra belief ahead of Saturday’s first test in Brisbane.

CANBERRA (Reuters) – The ACT Brumbies’ stunning upset of a second-string British and Irish Lions team in Canberra on Tuesday should give heart to Australia that they can beat the tourists in the three-match series, according to coach Jake White.

White, who coached South Africa to their 2007 World Cup triumph, rated his side’s 14-12 victory over the Lions at Canberra Stadium among the finest of his career, and said the result should erase any doubts among Robbie Deans’s Wallabies ahead of Saturday’s first test in Brisbane.

CANBERRA, June 18 (Reuters) – The ACT Brumbies’ stunning upset of a second-string British and Irish Lions team in Canberra on Tuesday should give heart to Australia that they can beat the tourists in the three-match series, according to coach Jake White.

White, who coached South Africa to their 2007 World Cup triumph, rated his side’s 14-12 victory over the Lions at Canberra Stadium among the finest of his career, and said the result should erase any doubts among Robbie Deans’s Wallabies ahead of Saturday’s first test in Brisbane.

CANBERRA (Reuters) – A rock-solid ACT Brumbies, shorn of the heart of their first-choice team, soaked up enormous pressure to secure a famous 14-12 victory over a stuttering British and Irish Lions side in Canberra on Tuesday to hand the tourists their first defeat.

Centre Tevita Kuridrani scored the match’s sole try in the first half and Jesse Mogg slotted three penalties for the hosts who held on grimly in a frenetic finish to delight more than 21,000 fans at Canberra Stadium.

CANBERRA, June 18 (Reuters) – A rock-solid ACT Brumbies, shorn of the heart of their first-choice team, soaked up enormous pressure to secure a famous 14-12 victory over a stuttering British and Irish Lions side in Canberra on Tuesday to hand the tourists their first defeat.

Centre Tevita Kuridrani scored the match’s sole try in the first half and Jesse Mogg slotted three penalties for the hosts who held on grimly in a frenetic finish to delight more than 21,000 fans at Canberra Stadium.