Lions 2009 - Vickery back for new-look Lions

Eurosport - Fri, 03 Jul 11:30:00 2009

Phil Vickery has been recalled to a new-look British and Irish Lions team for the third and final Test with South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Phil Vickery - Lions 1st Test 2009 - 0

The England tight-head (pictured) replaces the injured Adam Jones, whose tour was ended by an illegal tackle from banned Boks' lock Bakkies Botha in the second Test defeat last weekend.

Vickery will be given a chance at Ellis Park to redeem himself after a difficult time in the first Test loss, when he struggled against opposite number Tendai Mtawarira before being replaced soon after half time.

Mtawarira will again be lining up opposite Vickery to provide one the most interesting sub-plots for Saturday's game.

"When a game goes against you it's a matter of pride and you wait for the opportunity to put it right," said Lions head coach Ian McGeechan

"I bet Vicks will be over the moon that he's got that chance now rather than stewing over the summer.

"He is a really strong character and I'm sure he'll take the chance."

In all, McGeechan has made seven changes to the side that lost 28-25 at Loftus Versfeld last weekend.

Injuries to Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts has forced McGeechan into naming a new centre partnership, with Tommy Bowe wing for the first two Tests moving infield alongside Riki Flutey, who makes his Test debut for the Lions.

Ugo Monye is recalled on the right wing, while Welsh wizard Shane Williams will look to end a disappointing tour on a high and replaces Luke Fitzgerald on the other wing.

In the back row, Martyn Williams takes over at openside from David Wallace, while Joe Worsley gets the nod at six ahead of England team-mate Tom Croft. Wallace and Croft drop down to the bench.

There are no changes at half-back, where Welsh duo Stephen Jones and Michael Phillips continue their impressive partnership, or in the second row, where Simon Shaw will once again pack down with skipper Paul O'Connell.

Ireland's Rob Kearney, who produced one of the great Lions performances at Loftus Versfeld, is retained at full-back.

"It is fair to say injuries have had an impact on the tour as you would expect," said McGeechan.

"However, the players coming into the starting XV are all talented internationals and are as keen as ever to turn the tables on the Springboks.

"Last Saturday we were minutes away from winning and that is a huge positive to take into the Third Test."

James Hook and John Hayes have been added to the replacements bench, where they join Alun-Wyn Jones, Ross Ford and Harry Ellis, all of whom provided cover for the second Test.

Wales' Hook takes over bench duties from Irish fly-half Ronan O'Gara, whose last-minute infringement in the second Test handed the Boks the chance to kick the winning penalty.

After two narrow losses the Lions will be determined to end the tour on a winning note and snap a seven-Test losing streak that goes back to 2001.

British and 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 (captain), 4-Simon Shaw, 3-Phil Vickery, 2-Matthew Rees, 1-Andrew Sheridan.

Replacements: 16-Ross Ford, 17-John Hayes, 18-Alun-Wyn Jones, 19-David Wallace, 20-Tom Croft, 21-Harry Ellis, 22-James Hook.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport

Comment 5 - 24 of 84

Sort comments by: Most recent
  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    who gives a stuff about rugby? Zero skill involved and­ played by thugs, if anyone tried to bite me in the­ scrum I'd break their knees at the end of the game

    From FoeyP, on Thu 2 Jul 2:37PM

  2. Hey Sutherland: far from looking for the weak link in­ the Lions teams, the Springbok coaches deliberately set­ about taking out our strongest links through every­ dirty trick imaginable. Are you honestly saying that we­ should hold these dirty cheats up as an example of what­ the game should be about? You'll be their Chief­ Coach next!

    From Dave, on Thu 2 Jul 2:36PM

  3. my god I'm glad i havent been involved in this­ drivel till now-sutherland-what are you on about?
    this­ lions side has upheld everything thats good about the­ badge and have taken the boks to within a whisker of­ being 2-0 up instead of 2-0 down.The margins at this­ level are so small the diffrences between winning are­ losing are equally small-the scores tell you that.
    The­ boks are not invincible but they will probably be too­ strong for the depleted lions

    From swhittam, on Thu 2 Jul 2:32PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    O'Gara has been treated appallingly. Was never­ given a chance even though Jones did nothing and now­ being scapegoated. Never mind, he'll continue to­ give Jones, Hook et al. playing lessons in ML HC and SN

    From eoinsheppard, on Thu 2 Jul 2:32PM

  5. Well, I think it's a case of working with what­ we've got left in terms of players still standing.­ Vickery will bust his balls to tame The Beast. The back­ row is fairly sound although I would have Andy Powell­ at 8. Shane Williams is a brave call. Forget his status­ as IRB Player of the Year (which I don't believe he­ fully deserved) I think his form has been in decline­ for about 12 months now. Fitzgerald should have­ definitely got the nod here. Moyne, like Vickery, has­ got a lot to prove and will also play his nuts off.­ Whichever way you look at it, it's going to be one­ hell of a game with the Boks looking for a whitewash­ and the Lions looking to salvage something from this­ tour.

    From neilfrederick, on Thu 2 Jul 2:30PM

  6. I think the South African Coaching team has outshone­ the Lions in every department. They have looked for­ the weak points in the first 2 tests and exposed them­ brilliantly just as they did when Janie de Beer put­ England down with 5 drop goals in the World Cup in­ Paris. I think the Lions should stop moaning and face­ reality that we just were not up to the task in hand. ­ Just watch the Tri-Nations and one realises how far­ behind we are in the 6 Nations.

    From sutherland229, on Thu 2 Jul 2:22PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    how many english ireland won the grand slam and only 4­ is vickery there two get another lesson.

    From KevinC, on Thu 2 Jul 2:13PM

  8. the only prat here is you sugrue!!!!

    From Louise P, on Thu 2 Jul 2:05PM

  9. If Vickery clearly struggled in the first test, i­ cannot understand why mcgeechan insists on playing him­ again. John Hayes would have been a much better option.

    From timdalyjnr, on Thu 2 Jul 1:58PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    riki flutey should be given his passport and be told­ head back to newzealand..vickery and ugo moyne should­ be heading home as well..2 english prats

    From sugruejames55, on Thu 2 Jul 1:57PM

  11. I would have put d'arcy at centre and kept bowe on­ the wing. Monye is a good call but not shane williams.­ Vickery will probably be ok with rees beside him.­ Should be an interesting test.

    From Ads A, on Thu 2 Jul 1:54PM

  12. Thank goodness ROG has been found out at last. Wish we­ could get him off the Irish squad. A weak team­ nonetheless. Boye instead of Ugo Monye on wing. Fitz­ and Darcy in centre. With what's available not much­ choice for other positions. I'm afraid a thumping­ (in both ways) is on the cards.

    From strappi, on Thu 2 Jul 1:52PM

  13. Why no Croft???? Shane Williams instead of Fitzgerald??­ Normally I would pick Wiiliams every time...but on this­ tour Shane has had a shocker and Firzgerald has looked­ strong. Why does Geeks change bits of the team that­ dont need changing?????? 3-0??No Lions win for 12 years­ in a test match here we come I;m sad to say

    From rickhibbert, on Thu 2 Jul 1:44PM

  14. Comment 6, I seem to recall it was your favourite who­ was ran over ,to give the Boks the deciding try. BYTW­ who votes for player of the year? is it his family?

    From Kevin 47, on Thu 2 Jul 1:44PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Im sorry but all you lot saying we gonna loose because­ of the poor team need to get a grip!! we lost last week­ and apparently that was the best team.

    From Louise P, on Thu 2 Jul 1:42PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    All sports lovers, great place for all big and tall­ singles, please check: ____BigTalls CoM___ ,More fun­ waiting for
    you...

    From Alice Z, on Thu 2 Jul 1:41PM

  17. so glad there is no o'gara.

    From garyworthing, on Thu 2 Jul 1:35PM

  18. well its going to be 3/0 now, think the forwards are­ gonna struggle worse than the first test, second row­ should be alright aswell as 6,7 and 8. it'll be­ interesting to see where hook plays of the bench as it­ looks like he's covering all the backs,we will be­ on the back foot from the start so why has geech chosen­ williams over fitzgerald,shanes a great attacker but­ wont be affective enough in defence. sorry to say­ we're gonna have a thumping

    From David, on Thu 2 Jul 1:30PM

  19. Shane Williams should have have had a lot more game­ time, the world rugby player of the year would always­ be first choice at number 11 and if he had had the­ chance, instead of Monye, we would be looking at a­ deciding 3rd test instead of a consolation.... Williams­ is an excellent finisher, Monye is not.

    From johndaviesmusic, on Thu 2 Jul 1:29PM

  20. lets be honest Bowe is the only winger to have played­ well none of the others have.A lot of the team are in­ because of default if other players had been fit it­ would have been different.Some of this team are in on­ merit and deserve to play.
    Dragon Dave

    From m.griffiths08, on Thu 2 Jul 1:26PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account