Shaw finally gets his call as Lions beef up pack

SIMON SHAW is ready for the launch of mission improbable tomorrow after completing a 12-year journey into the Lions Test team.

Shaw, believed to be the oldest Lions Test debutant at 35, will beef up a front five which contains just two survivors from the one ripped apart by Springboks scrum destroyer Tendai Mtawarira last weekend.

Only skipper Paul O’Connell and prop Gethin Jenkins remain as the tourists look to maintain Ian McGeechan’s 100% record as Lions head coach of second Test victories – 1989, 1993 and 1997.

Shaw, who comes in for Alun-Wyn Jones, first toured with the Lions in South Africa 12 years ago. Since then he has taken his England cap tally past 50, been part of two World Cup campaigns, landed numerous trophies at Wasps and made more than 200 Premiership appearances.

He has clocked up 16 Lions appearances over three tours in 1997, 2005 and 2009, and Shaw admitted: “It has been a hell of a journey.

“A hell of a lot of hard work has gone into it. When I got told, I was struggling not to smile for the entire evening.”

“I’ve had to reassure myself every year. Every time I’ve had a knock-back, you have to build yourself up and keep believing in yourself.

“You will always get the support of your family and friends, but unfortunately, they are not the people that select you.

“I’ve learnt over the years to keep plugging away and sticking at it. You just never know when the opportunity might come – you keep yourself going, no matter what.”

Shaw, a 6ft 8in, 19 stone second-row giant, will need to generate scrum power behind the front row – and at least help the Lions gain parity with South Africa’s revered lineout pairing of Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield.

It was a challenge that twice proved beyond England during the 2007 World Cup.

“Bakkies Botha is a class player, and with Victor Matfield, probably the best second-row pairing in the world,” added Shaw.

“But at the same time, I don’t really fear any of my opposite numbers and it won’t be any different at the weekend.

“I have just got to do what I do, and do it better than Bakkies is doing it.”

Shaw was tipped for Lions Test honours in 1997, but he ended up missing out as McGeechan plumped for Ireland’s Jeremy Davidson alongside tour captain Martin Johnson.

Shaw admits he “perhaps took things for granted” on that tour, adding: “As you get older and chances are more limited, you get a real appreciation of what you are doing.

“I had a goal in 2007 to get to the World Cup, play in it and try to win it. I realised an ambition of playing in a World Cup final.

“This year, I set my goal of being here and hopefully getting a Test cap. It’s been a really tough journey, but I will be running out on Saturday chuffed to bits.”