Gatland expects return of Bowe to lift Test side

Tommy Bowe got the big build-up from Warren Gatland and, luckily for the British & Irish Lions, the Monaghan flier feels ready to hit the ground running in tomorrow’s second Test against Australia.

Having watched the Lions from the stands since breaking a bone in his right hand against the Queensland Reds on June 8, Bowe was understandably delighted yesterday to have been parachuted into the Test team just 21 days after undergoing surgery to stabilise a fractured metacarpal.

“He is a massive big-game player,” said Gatland. “He played in the centre in the third Test in 2009, and probably didn’t have his best tour, but if you watch him at training and see how seamless he is. The one thing you can’t coach is experience.