Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau the X-factor stars who can inflict Wallaby pain on British and Irish Lions

THEY are the unlikeliest of Wallabies, but the most likely to produce the X-factor plays to beat the British & Irish Lions this month.

THEY are the unlikeliest of Wallabies, but the most likely to produce the X-factor plays to beat the British & Irish Lions this month.

Israel Folau trained with an official Wallabies squad for the first time yesterday, alongside his friend Kurtley Beale. Three months ago, most thought it impossible Folau would be here. Three weeks ago, the same forecasts were made for Beale, for different reasons.

Yet Australia will rely on the varyingly luminous talents of the pair if they are to defeat a Lions side brimming with experience in tight, rugged games.

Folau has been linked to a return to the NRL with the Bulldogs next year, while Beale is tipped to join the Waratahs. But their long-term future is now secondary to what they can produce over the next five weeks.

For squad addition Nick Phipps, the return of Rebels teammate Beale, who has been having counselling for alcohol-related issues, was particularly welcome. "It was good to see KB back," Phipps said. "He was looking fit and fast - even better than when he was down at the Rebels. So I think he's been training pretty hard up here.

"All the boys are so happy to see him. He is such a lovable character.

"Nothing in his past matters to us. We are happy to have him back, running around and joking like his usual self."

Melbourne teammates Beale and James O'Connor will battle for the Wallabies' No.10 jersey for the opening Test on June 22 in Brisbane, which Phipps acknowledged worked in his favour for selection as Will Genia's understudy at halfback.

"I'm quite lucky to play with James and Kurtley during the last two years," Phipps said.

The Wallabies injury crisis worsened last night when lock Sitaleki Timani was ruled out of the series with a broken thumb, while backrower Scott Higginbotham's chances look grim after he was sent home to Brisbane following scans on a dislocated shoulder.