Eight changes for desperate Lions
2 Jul 2009
Lions coach Ian McGeechan hopes the energy of his fringe players will be enough to upset the Springboks at Ellis Park.
Eight changes have been made with two props and two centres brought in because of injuries. England front-rankers Andrew Sheridan and Phil Vickery come in for Welshmen Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones. Jamie Roberts has failed to recover from a wrist injury joining midfield partner Brian O’Driscoll on the Lions’ lengthy crocked list. As a result, Tommy Bowe moves to No 13 to pair up with Riki Flutey.
Jamie Heaslip is the only back row survivor from last week’s battle with David Wallace and Tom Croft replaced by Martyn Williams and Joe Worsley respectively.
McGeechan said it would be a big challenge for these new combinations to gel, but is confident the new-look side is equipped to beat the Boks.
‘We gave the players a break earlier in the week and it seems to have helped,’ he told keo.co.za. ‘There have been a lot of plusses to emerge from the previous Tests and we won’t go back on our approach or attitude. If we get enough right we will be within a shot of winning the game.’
Speaking specifically about injuries that have forced many of these changes, McGeechan admitted it’s a shame Roberts and O’Driscoll didn’t get a third opportunity to face the Boks. The centre-pair looked very dangerous in Durban and Pretoria.
‘They were still growing as a combination, and they were different players in terms of attributes and experience, but I really felt they brought the best out of one another. For a coach that was very satisfying to see.
‘Tommy Bowe has had a strong tour. He’s a strong runner with a good head on his shoulders. I know it’s a new combination but the Boks will also have to readjust.’
McGeechan said there were no injury concerns in the back row and this is why Wallace and Croft will come off a 5-2 bench in the second half. The Lions’ coach said Worsley deserved a start in this fixture.
‘Joe’s had a big tour. Unfortunately, the conditions have not always allowed him the opportunities he needs.
‘I’ll always pick a team that I feel are going to be the most effective on the day. Fresh legs are important and that is reflective in our selections.’
British & Irish Lions – 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Ugo Monye, 13 Tommy Bowe , 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Paul O’Connell (c), 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Phil Vickery, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Subs: 16 Ross Ford, 17 John Hayes, 18 Alun-Wyn Jones, 19 David Wallace, 20 Tom Croft, 21 Harry Ellis, 22 James Hook.
By Jon Cardinelli, in Johannesburg
34 Comments
2 Jul 2009, 13:42 pm
1st?
2 Jul 2009, 13:44 pm
strong set of forwards.
2 Jul 2009, 13:45 pm
this is not a bad team at all….should be a good game!
2 Jul 2009, 13:53 pm
Wounded and dangerous.
But will still lose.
Pity O Gara isn’t there.
He would’ve been smashed off the park.
2 Jul 2009, 13:56 pm
With Roberts and O’Driscoll playing they had a very potent weapon in the midfield. Flutey and Bowe … not so much
2 Jul 2009, 13:56 pm
gone for a big pack, our boys going to have to spread it wide.
some real pace in those outside backs.
2 Jul 2009, 13:58 pm
BEAST or VICKERY coming out victorios??????
witout bismarck, i would have to go with vickery im afraid.
Any thoughts???
2 Jul 2009, 14:00 pm
#7 Ziploc: go watch that game again mate……that was all beast pushing vickery back and up…..honestly, you people make me laugh sometimes!
2 Jul 2009, 14:02 pm
Also a 5/2 split like the boks – Copycats!
2 Jul 2009, 14:09 pm
#8 Shark_Logie: im not sure i understand sharkie, you predicting a beast victory?
Just so that u dont get me wrong, im a bok fan and would love beast to crush him again, but i think vickery gonna edge this one. nothing to lose, back against the wall…makes him very dangerous. first couple of scrums is gonna be amazing
2 Jul 2009, 14:10 pm
#10 Ziploc: …..or, the Beast will just cary on where he left off….. how funny would that not be!!!
2 Jul 2009, 14:12 pm
#11 DonkeyKong: thats the thing, i think bismarck also played a huge part in targeting vickery come scrum time, and with chilliboy there,im not so sure
2 Jul 2009, 14:15 pm
They are wounded but will come out with alot of pride…
The Boks under Jon Smit will tame them in the early minutes. We just need to be clinical once the storm has passed and teach them a lesson in RUGBY!!!
Think the loose forward combo and the half-back combo are gonna terrorise the Lions this Saturday!
GO BOKKE!!!
2 Jul 2009, 14:22 pm
Its still a good team.
I am amazed that they have persisted with Stephen Jones, I would have thought that James Hook is a better option.
Jones kick well but he will never breach the Bok defence by creating a try or scoring himself.
I think this has been the Lions weakness. Their flyhalf play was uninspiring for their creative center pairing.
One old Springbok geyser was commenting on how crucial to have a fast off the mark flyhalf to expose the defence, he was saying a faster flyhalf is more important than a faster inside or outside center.
This is true if you think of Dan Carter or Jonny Wilkinson or Matt Giteau, all these players are fast off the mark and they tend to make their centers shine.
My highlight of the Lions Tour was how Francois Hougaard outplayed Mark Blair out of contention of the Lions test matches.
2 Jul 2009, 14:33 pm
De Villiers, who said he believed he had allowed himself to be sucked in by the “negative” British press.
“They did it in 1974 and 1980 and I let them do it again in 2009. What a stupid bugger I was for doing that.”
You gotta love this bloke..
2 Jul 2009, 14:37 pm
There are some who would suggest making 10 changes for the final Test against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday was a bit stupid but De Villiers justified his selection by saying that he wanted everybody in the 28-man squad to get a chance to play against the Lions.
2 Jul 2009, 14:38 pm
Except Earl Grey
2 Jul 2009, 14:40 pm
#17 kyer: thank heavens for that!!!! hehehehe
2 Jul 2009, 14:41 pm
#17 kyer: he did play agains them in the emerging Springboks team though, just pleeeeeaaaase keep him outta the Bok team!!!
2 Jul 2009, 14:58 pm
beast & chilli’s hairstyles will prove to be the difference, phil is in for a long day….
2 Jul 2009, 15:00 pm
Our boks will win convincingly, or it will be tight. But no lions win here.
2 Jul 2009, 15:18 pm
#20 Gaz:
dont be nasty!!
ons sal nooit ons hare as wapens gebruik nie!!
2 Jul 2009, 15:32 pm
#21 Breakdown Boy:
And my prediction is that whoever scores the greater amount of points will win the match
2 Jul 2009, 15:42 pm
I predict it will be a game of two halves and the team with the most points on the board at the end will win.
Dr Dreadamus has spoke.
2 Jul 2009, 15:43 pm
#20 Gaz: what about meisiekind, his hairstyle is surely flamboyant and sexy.
2 Jul 2009, 15:47 pm
#17 kyer: And Ricki…thank goodness
2 Jul 2009, 15:52 pm
I see meisiekind and fourie breaking in the midfield and Nokwe scoring another hat trick at the coke tin
2 Jul 2009, 16:02 pm
Rob Kearney has proven to be the find of the tour.More effective than the much hyped Lee Byrne
Jamie Roberts and BOD their main source of artillery otherwise no attacking threat.
Fourie/Olivier will remember the reserve/squad member of the Hurricanes..Flutey…
2 Jul 2009, 16:08 pm
With Mossie and Jacque there, were gonna run their backline silly.
Go Bokke.
2 Jul 2009, 16:10 pm
#29 Leeu tot die dood: I thought Jacques was called Mossie?
2 Jul 2009, 16:43 pm
“Joe’s had a big tour. Unfortunately, the conditions have not always allowed him the opportunities he needs.”
What the fck does that even mean? Was he good or was he poor? What conditions would have allowed him to shine? Because I think he’s been the worst Lions forward on tour.
2 Jul 2009, 17:35 pm
I think Keith Earls would have caused you more problems if Roberts wasn’t injured. Going forward at least.
But as they say, “If my auntie had bollocks she’d be my uncle”.
2 Jul 2009, 22:57 pm
Please win this one I have made a $20 bet that this series would not be a white wash, I really hope it wont, GOOD LUCK TO THE LIONS, this is my last chance.
3 Jul 2009, 01:35 am
We tackle hard i8n the \SOuthern Hem. The Northern Hem guys showed how soft they are with the Bakkies charge. Jones was unfortunate..
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