 Leigh Halfpenny was forced out of the Lions tour through injury |
Cardiff Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny has targeted a British and Irish Lions Test place against Australia in 2013 after his tour taster in South Africa. The Wales wing, 20, emerged from Wales' Under-20s in the summer of 2008 to win six senior Test caps and become a Lion. But a thigh injury delayed his tour start and a recurrence ended his trip. "It's [touring Australia in 2012] got to be a goal, an ultimate goal now to pull on that [Test] jersey more than once," he said. Halfpenny made one Lions appearance in South Africa, the 26-24 win over the Cheetahs and despite disappointment at injury ending his tour says being involved has fired his appetite. "I wasn't out there long and it was the best two weeks of my life, just incredible playing and training with players that I've looked up to since I was a young age. "It was just a dream come true that I've managed to put on the Lions jersey.  | 606: DEBATE |
"I could never have expected it at the start of last season." He added: "Every [British Isles] rugby player's dream is to play in a Test for the Lions. I've had a taste of it so I want another bite of the cherry." Halfpenny will try to enhance his reputation by following the example set by Wales' Shane Williams and New Zealand's Sitiveni Sivivatu. The Gorseinon-bred player made his debut against South Africa in November and went on to face Sivivatu that autumn. "I imagine when I came into it last season people didn't know what I was about and now they do I guess. "So I've got to try and improve my game and not really worry about that and just play the way I play and keep improving to ensure that I can get through. | You look at most wingers now and they are not just staying on their wings |
"That's definitely something I want to do as I didn't really get a chance to in the Lions game so that's something I need to improve on. "And just little things - keep the kicking the same and keep the kicking going the same and keep catching the high balls. That's one thing I need to improve on. "With my height I need to get above the bigger guys. "He's [Williams] always in the game. His stats after games speak for themselves and not just Shane. You look at most wingers now and they are not just staying on their wings. "They are getting into the game a lot more often. "I don't think I marked Sivivatu when I played against New Zealand. He was just all around the field so that's something I know I need to improve on." The Blues face Leicester in a pre-season friendly at the Welsh region's new home, Cardiff City Stadium, on Friday night.
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