Richard Brown desperately wants a British and Irish Lions jersey to hang on his wall at home – and he doesn’t want to have to go to the shops to get one.
Brown has dreamt of playing against the Lions ever since watching his Wallabies heroes post a famous 2-1 series triumph in 2001.
The 28-year-old will get that chance when the Western Force take on the Lions in a warm-up game on June 5.
But Brown wants to take on the Lions when it matters most – during the tourists’ three-Test series against the Wallabies, starting June 22.
Brown played the last of his 23 Tests for the Wallabies in 2010, with a number of serious shoulder injuries halting his progress at international level.
The Queensland-born backrower has been a strong contributor for the Force in the early rounds of the Super Rugby season, and hopes he can produce some scintillating form over the next three months to catch the eye of Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.
“It would be great to exchange a Wallabies jersey for a Lions jersey,” Brown said on Tuesday.
“To have that hanging in your living room would be a fantastic thing.
“And more importantly would be to win the series.”
Brown will be asked to play a key role on Saturday night when the Force take on the powerful Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium.
Although the Reds will be without suspended winger Digby Ioane, they will be boosted by the return of Wallabies scrumhalf Will Genia, who has recovered from a knee reconstruction.
The winless Force will be sweating on the fitness of skipper Matt Hodgson (hamstring), while winger Nick Cummins and lock Sam Wykes will also be assessed later this week after copping recent knocks.
Jonny Boy Jnr
Guest
With Dingo picking the squad don't be surprised if he along with McCalman and Dennis are the back row. Phipps at half back, McCabe and Horne as the centres. BREAKING NEWS: Dingo's account audited: he has been on a hefty salary from the NZRU for over 5 years now ????
Campbell Watts
Guest
Brown eyeing the Wallabies..... Remember doing that as a wee tacker in Auckland years ago as the Wallabies Coach drove past on it's way to Eden Park! ;)
formeropenside
Guest
Brown, Dick Brown.
Malo
Guest
Brown who?
Jutsie
Guest
I think gill and hooper will also have a say in whether alcock becomes a wallaby :) would love to see MMM in the green and gold, I like angry and aggressive 6's and neither higgy or dennis look the part. MMM and quirk do and surprisingly Mowen has added an abrasive edge to his game that i didnt think he had in him
formeropenside
Guest
Angus Cotterill might beg to differ. Although I can only see Hodgson getting a run (for the reasons set out earlier) or possibly MMM as a jumping 6 ahead of Higgy or Dennis.
Rockin Rod
Guest
His team mate Chris Alcock will be a wallaby before anyone else from the Force backrow
RedsNut
Guest
Heave forbid that Brown gets into the team. We'd be doomed
The Battered Slav
Guest
The presence of Brown in the Wallabies starting line up was symptomatic of a greater malaise that infected us for a couple of years, where we were picking players like Mumm and Brown. These sorts of players can be fairly effective at provincial level, but look all at sea when thrown into a test match. I still remember watching Brown get bumped off by the ABs backs like he was an inconvenience rather than a threat. Nothing I've seen from Brown has shown me that he will ever be a credible test player. He has a lot of heart, goes hard, is an absolute ruck mongrel for the Force, but really, please, keep him away from the Gold.
B-Rock
Roar Guru
We are in real strife if Brown is on the field against the Lions... hopefully he is not required
Felix
Guest
I remembered last time Brown spear tackled 1 of the springboks forwards & got yellow carded,caused lots of penalties,had all the heart but no accomplished skill,looks better nowadays
formeropenside
Guest
Not a Test 8, not a Test 6, not a Test 7, perhaps a Test 19 - but Hodgson is as versatile, and probably a better choice if the 19 jersey is to be filled by a generic backrower. Even Schatz may well be a better choice as "generic backrower" depending on how the season goes. Heck, even generic McCalman might be a better choice. All of those players have been involved with the Wallabies more recently than 2010, although Schatz's stint in camp was short-lived due to injury. Now, its not beyond the realms of possibility one of those players will get injured in 2013. But all three?