British and Irish Lions

The openside flanker has been out for almost 15 months with a serious knee injury, but will now play in the Celtic League game at Cardiff Blues.

The 26-year-old said: "When I originally injured my knee during training, we initially thought I'd be out for a month, then it became four months, but it ended up being a lot more than that.

"It was difficult when people kept asking me 'when are you going to be back?' and I didn't have an answer for them as I kept having setback after setback.

"But at least they were still asking and that spurred me on as it would have been a lot worse if they had not been asking at all.

"The medical team here have been fantastic and have helped me through it all.

"Now that I'm back playing, it's important for me to take things step by step and build up my game time again."

The Waratahs upset the odds by beating Super Rugby leaders the Brumbies 28-22, but the game came at a huge cost to Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.

Tom Youngs has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top of the British & Irish game but he won't be resting on his laurels ahead of his first Lions adventure.