Brumbies flanker Peter Kimlin gets shock Wallaby call-up

EVEN Brumbies flanker Peter Kimlin didn't see his Wallabies call-up coming.

EVEN Peter Kimlin didn't see his shock Wallabies call-up coming, with the Brumbies lock/flanker expecting just one additional tall timber squad spot to go to Hugh McMeniman.

Kimlin is the biggest surprise in the final 31-man squad to prepare for a three-Test battle against the British and Irish Lions, as Robbie Deans chose both the red-head and Force powerhouse McMeniman. The 27-year-old last played for Australia in 2009 and had given himself such little chance of adding to his two caps that he signed to play for French club Grenoble at the end of the year.

But his strong Super Rugby form, highlighted by a starring display as captain in the Brumbies' win over the Melbourne Rebels on Friday night, and injuries to the Wallabies' big-man stocks has led to Kimlin surging into the squad.

Kimlin was holidaying on the south coast on the weekend when he received a phone call from Deans out of the blue.

It's also a sweet return for McMeniman, 29, who played the last of his 21 Tests in 2008 before taking up a lucrative three-year stint in Japan.

The hard-working Kimlin, who stands at 198cm and weighs 114kg, revealed he'd given himself no chance of a recall as he felt McMeniman would cover both second-row and No.6.