Lions team news: Five Irish players have been named in the Lions XV for the first Test against South Africa in Durban on Saturday (2.0pm). Head coach Ian McGeechan's side showed no surprises, with Ugo Monye named on the left wing, while Tom Croft takes the blindside flanker spot.
Tommy Bowe’s excellent form sees him named on the right wing, while Brian O’Driscoll will form a centre partnership with Jamie Roberts of Wales.
Skipper Paul O’Connell will link up with Alun-Wyn Jones in the secondrow, with David Wallace edging out Martyn Williams at openside flanker and Jamie Heaslip packing down at number eight.
Thee Irish players have been named on the bench, with Ronan O’Gara providing cover for outhalf Stephen Jones, with Rob Kearney and Donncha O’Callaghan also named amongst the seven replacements.
Wales’ Adam Jones has been named as the replacement prop ahead of England’s Andrew Sheridan, while there is no place for winger Shane Williams in the matchday 22.
The Springboks have waited 12 years for another crack at the Lions and the opening 40 minutes of the first test should show whether they are ready for revenge or ripe for another upset.
Traditionally the Lions are considered to have their best chance in the first test and even more so on this tour with Springbok coach Peter de Villiers' decision not only to do without any warm-up tests but also to keep his players out of their regional teams when they played the tourists.
The Lions go into the game on the back of six straight wins and with the test team virtually picking itself after some excellent individual displays and some nicely developing combinations.
"When the test team is together something else begins to take shape," said captain Paul O'Connell. "We have fabulous players in every position, pace in the backs and back row and very fit front five. We know what we want to do and now it's a question of going out and doing it."
South Africa last played a test in November and have had only a run-out against a Namibian XV to sharpen up - an approach labelled "rest is rust" by Lions defensive coach Shaun Edwards.
De Villiers says he is happy with his approach despite fielding underdone players such as Pienaar, Steyn and centres Adrian Jacobs and Jean de Villiers, who have all missed much of the Super 14 season through injury.
The one Springbok who has had a recent taste of action is Heinrich Brussow, who was a thorn in the side of the Lions at the breakdown for the Cheetahs and goes from outside the squad straight into the team in place of the injured Schalk Burger.
"I don't think we are short of rugby and the core of this team has been together for a long time and we've built some great combinations in that time," said captain John Smit.
The tourists are unlikely to get much change out of the lineout against the peerless Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha and will also need to find a way to be more effective at the breakdown.
They have done enough in their six wins, however, to force a previously dismissive De Villiers to change his tune.
"The Lions are so structured, they spend a lot of time on detail and they know what they are doing. They read situations well," he said. "They have really come a long way and I don't sleep very easy looking at how they have progressed up to now."
John Hayes, meanwhile, could yet pull on the famous red jersey on this tour after being called into the squad this afternoon. The veteran Munster and Ireland prop has been drafted in to replace the injured Euan Murray.
The 35-year-old tighthead, Ireland’s most capped player with 94, was involved in the 2005 tour to New Zealand and was capped in the pre-tour warm-up against Argentina. Hayes is expected to join up with the squad this weekend following the first Test.
McGeechan today confirmed that Murray will play no further part on tour after suffering an ankle injury during Tuesday’s bruising victory over the Southern Kings.
“John Hayes has been called up to replace Euan Murray who sustained an ankle injury in the match against the Southern Kings. The medical team have now fully assessed his injury and have determined that the injury is serious enough to mean he will play no further part on the tour.
“Euan left the field because of the injury and has damaged the structures around the ankle joint. He is subject to further assessment, treatment and specialist opinion but may require surgical repair. John Hayes will be a straight swap for Euan in the squad.”
James Hook, who took a knock to his neck and head in Port Elizabeth, will be staying with the squad and trained today. The Wales international and is on course to be available for next Tuesday’s final midweek game against the Emerging Springboks in Cape Town.
BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS(v South Africa) L Byrne (Ospreys/Wales); T Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland), B O'Driscoll (Leinster/Ireland), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales), U Monye (Harlequins/England); S Jones (Scarlets/Wales), M Phillips (Ospreys/Wales); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues/Wales), L Mears (Bath/England), P Vickery (London Wasps/England), A-W Jones (Ospreys/Wales), P O'Connell (Munster/Ireland) Captain, T Croft (Leicester Tigers/England), D Wallace (Munster/Ireland), J Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland)
Replacements: M Rees (Scarlets/Wales), A Jones (Ospreys/Wales), D O'Callaghan (Munster/Ireland), M Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales), H Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England), R O'Gara (Munster/Ireland), R Kearney (Leinster/Ireland)
