Lions 2009 - O'Callaghan to lead Lions

Eurosport - Tue, 16 Jun 09:49:00 2009

Ireland and Munster lock Donncha O'Callaghan will captain the British and Irish Lions against the Southern Kings on Tuesday in their final tour match before the first Test with South Africa.

Donncha O'Callaghan - Ireland - 0

Lions head coach Ian McGeechan has maintained from the outset that his final selection for the first Test will not be made until after Tuesday's clash in Port Elizabeth.

O'Callaghan leads a team with a number of players - the likes of Euan Murray, Andy Powell and James Hook - who are considered to be in with a genuine chance of pressing for a place in the Test 22.

"Experience tells me that you can never underestimate any South African team and like the other teams we have faced on the tour so far we will not take them (Southern Kings) lightly," said head coach Ian McGeechan.

"Seven players are backing up from the Western Province match with Nathan Hines, Joe Worsley, Riki Flutey and Keith Earls given the opportunity in the starting XV in different positions.

"The team will be captained by proud Munsterman Donncha O'Callaghan, an experienced Lions tourist, who is a very popular member of the squad. This will be his 10th Lions match including two Tests against New Zealand during the 2005 tour."

Powell has been given another chance to impress at number eight following his eye-catching performance against Western Province at the weekend.

Simon Shaw will partner O'Callaghan in the second row while Euan Murray, Ross Ford and Andrew Sheridan complete a powerful tight five unit.

But in other areas the selection has the distinct feel of a mid-week team about it.

Scotland lock Nathan Hines will be pressed into action at blindside flanker with Joe Worsley switched to the openside.

Gordon D'Arcy will make his first start of the tour alongside Riki Flutey, who has been switched to outside centre.

Mike Blair has been named at scrum-half but faces a fitness test on Tuesday morning on the ankle injury which forced him to pull out of the squad for Saturday's victory over Western Province.

Shane Williams and Luke Fitzgerald start on the wings with Keith Earls switched from outside centre to full-back.

Team: 15-Keith Earls, 14-Shane Williams, 13-Riki Flutey, 12-Gordon D'Arcy, 11-Luke Fitzgerald, 10-James Hook, 9-Mike Blair, 8-Andy Powell, 7-Joe Worsley- 6-Nathan Hines, 5-Donncha O'Callaghan, 4-Simon Shaw, 3-Euan Murray, 2-Ross Ford, 1-Andrew Sheridan.

Replacements: 16-Matthew Rees, 17-Adam Jones, 18-Tom Croft, 19-David Wallace, 20-Harry Ellis, 21-Ronan O'Gara, 22-Ugo Monye.

Terence O'Rorke/ / PA Sport

Comment 1 - 14 of 34

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

    McGeechan has a habit of springing surprises, so I­ wouldn't be surprised if Phillips gets bumped from­ scrum half because he takes 2 steps before passing from­ the base of the ruck. I still think ellis might­ supercede him, although Blair might too if fit and­ plays a blinder.

    I also reckon that Murray will beat­ Vickery to the team

    From fraserpark, on Mon 15 Jun 4:18PM

  2. Agree with Bigrich, which does not happen that often,­ still think O' gara is ahead of Hook. All depends­ on how he goes tomorrow.

    From markear1, on Mon 15 Jun 3:43PM

  3. i respect him!!

    From paul, on Mon 15 Jun 3:08PM

  4. Against the brits sugruejames ur a racist gimp

    From Donald D, on Mon 15 Jun 3:03PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    o callaghan is a born winner..vickery is an english­ @#$% no one respects him

    From sugruejames55, on Mon 15 Jun 2:56PM

  6. O' Caallaghan as captain?. This is a team wiyh­ little hope of playing Saturday obviously Why not pick­ Vickery again. At least he has captaincy experience. I­ expect the subs will get plenty chance to play as each­ have more likely chance of making the test team than­ their selected counterpart. There is one obvious­ exception to this though, Euan Murray.
    I'm glad­ Earls gets a chance away from the centre He's­ reliable at 15. He got a great future at centre but not­ yet D'Arcy gets a chance to shine too and show if­ he really can get back to his best.
    But there is­ little significance of this match but to give game­ time, to give paripheral players, and to relieve any­ frustration they may have. No big problem if they­ lose.

    From roxycappo, on Mon 15 Jun 2:32PM

  7. I think the test team will be Byrne, Bowe,­ O'Driscoll, Roberts Monye, O'Gara,­ Philips,Jenkins, Mears, Vickery, O'Connell, AW­ Jones, Wallace ,Heaslip, Williams.

    Bench= Williams or­ Fitzgearld, Kearney or Earls, Jones, Ellis, Croft,­ O'Callaghan , Murray, Ford, Sheridan.

    Let us know­ what you think.

    From d.groarke, on Mon 15 Jun 1:54PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    looks like O'Callaghan has been spending a lot of­ his time sunbathing

    From Donald D, on Mon 15 Jun 1:45PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ah well....

    From Donald D, on Mon 15 Jun 1:43PM

  10. Looks about bang on that big rich, barring any training­ injuries, they seem to get hurt more training than­ during a game.

    From trufftastic, on Mon 15 Jun 1:36PM

  11. Sorry Donald D but this is most definately not the test­ team! Big Rich has it bang on pretty much. C'mon­ the Lions!

    From jarmez10, on Mon 15 Jun 1:25PM

  12. Agree with your selection BigRich. That could be a­ winning side if they can gel and perform.

    From obz007, on Mon 15 Jun 1:21PM

  13. OK, so the test team is : Byrne, Bowe, O'Driscoll,­ Roberts, Monye, Jones, Phillips, Jenkins, Mears,­ Vickery, O'Connell, AW Jones, Croft or Wallace,­ Heaslip, Williams or Wallace.
    Bench : Rees, Adam­ Jones, Shaw, Croft or Wallace, Ellis, Hook, Kearney (if­ fit)

    From BigRich, on Mon 15 Jun 1:12PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Almost a full-strength (Test) side. Hopefully they will­ gel

    From Donald D, on Mon 15 Jun 1:01PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

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