Bowe cements Lions Test spot

TOMMY BOWE admits his career has “really rocketed” as the British and Irish Lions prepare to launch him at world champions South Africa.

Less than two years after failing to make Ireland’s World Cup squad, Bowe is in the form of his life. He is a cast-iron certainty for the Lions’ first Test team against the Springboks next Saturday, having scored four tries in three games and also proved a devastating midfield game-breaker.

Bowe’s ability to rove off his wing and enhance the Lions’ attacking armoury could not have been better illustrated by his starring role on a blustery afternoon beneath Table Mountain on Saturday. The 25-year-old claimed one touchdown and memorably broke three tackles to set up another for his probable Test strike-partner Ugo Monye.