Lions 2009 - Jones gets nod for first Test

Eurosport - Fri, 19 Jun 16:57:00 2009

Stephen Jones will start at fly-half for the British and Irish Lions in the first Test against South Africa in Durban on Saturday.

Stephen Jones - Lions 2009 - 0

Wales' Jones (pictured) won his personal dual with Irish rival Ronan O'Gara to wear the number 10 jersey in the crucial clash at the ABSA Stadium against the world champions.

Jones will form a half-back pairing with international team-mate Mike Phillips in a side that features six players from Wales, five from Ireland and four from England.

As expected, Lee Byrne starts at full-back, Brian O'Driscoll partners Jamie Roberts at centre, while Tommy Bowe and Ugo Monye start on the wings.

Up front, captain Paul O'Connell packs down in the second row with Alun-Wyn Jones, who is preferred to the Lions' heavier lock options Donncha O'Callaghan, Simon Shaw and Nathan Hines.

The openside flank berth goes to Ireland's David Wallace - who is selected ahead of Martyn Williams - in a back row that also includes number eight Jamie Heaslip and blindside flanker Tom Coft.

Props Gethin Jenkins and Phil Vickery pack down with hooker Lee Mears in the front row.

Martyn Williams is joined on the bench by O'Gara and O'Callaghan, but there is no place for Wales wing and former IRB player of the year Shane Williams amongst the replacements, or giant England prop Andrew Sheridan.

Rob Kearney provides cover for the wing and Adam Jones for prop. Matthew Rees backs up Mears, and Harry Ellis will cover the scrum-half role.

The Lions have won all six of their provincial games to date and head coach Ian McGeechan said the Test team had been picked purely on form.

"The Test team has been picked on form following the six provincial matches," said McGeechan.

"There were some very difficult calls to make as the players as a group and individually have done everything that we have asked of them and performed on the field."

The Test starting XV has not yet played together on tour, but McGeechan was comfortable going into the showdown against a Boks side that - bar flanker Heinrich Brussow - has not featured in any of the tour games.

"It has been 20 years since a Lions team has won all of it provincial matches leading up to the Test series so it is very satisfying to be in such a position," added McGeechan.

"The entire squad and the management have worked hard to create an outstanding team environment. Everyone has done this very professionally and it is fair to say that I would not change anything that we have done so far."

Skipper O'Connell said he was confident of his team's chances despite the quality of the opposition.

"It's a great team, our focus is good, we know what we are doing and I think we've got a great chance," said the Munsterman.

"We had a good training session today and the spirit is there. The next few days are going to be important in ticking off the little details that can make such a big difference.

"When we've got the little things right on this tour we've looked a very good side. But we know the Springboks are the best team in the world, a really serious side who are going to provide us with a massive challenge."

British and Irish Lions: 15-Lee Byrne, 14-Tommy Bowe, 13-Brian O'Driscoll, 12-Jamie Roberts, 11-Ugo Monye, 10-Stephen Jones, 9-Mike Phillips; 8-Jamie Heaslip, 7-David Wallace, 6-Tom Croft, 5-Paul O'Connell (capt), 4-Alun-Wyn Jones, 3-Phil Vickery, 2-Lee Mears, 1-Gethin Jenkins.

Replacements: 16-Matthew Rees, 17-Adam Jones, 18-Donncha O'Callaghan, 19-Martyn Williams, 20-Harry Ellis, 21-Ronan O'Gara, 22-Rob Kearney.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport

Comment 76 - 95 of 135

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  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Where's­ SHERIDAN??????????????????HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

    From joshuawebb, on Thu 18 Jun 5:50PM

  2. why no nathan hines? he has played brilliantly

    From tpenman2001, on Thu 18 Jun 5:40PM

  3. c'mon lads get us off to d best start possible, all­ 4 nations behind u do us proud

    From barry, on Thu 18 Jun 5:15PM

  4. andy powell is just get and go,you can read him like a­ book

    From hosfordscyprus, on Thu 18 Jun 5:07PM

  5. Post 90 Buff...share your wisdom with us....

    From wingman, on Thu 18 Jun 5:03PM

  6. Cometh the hour cometh the captain, shame that no­ Scottish in the side and I really mean that. Who would­ have thought that the IRB player of the year could not­ even get into the 22, only goes to show that the­ management team have picked the side on merit, not­ reputation. Remember the saying, only mad dogs and­ English men go out in the midday sun, this refered to­ the British armed forces of Irish , Wesh , English and­ Scots, hope this and a bit of Rorkes Drift is on the­ pitch on Saturday. Good luck the lions, whatever your­ nationality.

    From martyn, on Thu 18 Jun 4:58PM

  7. I had a dream that the Lions won 50-3. A little far­ fetched though

    From buymydrugs1, on Thu 18 Jun 4:52PM

  8. shut up for crying out loud, ur obviously not a rugby­ fan, so go spread ur poison somewhere else u racist­ little bigot
    we all know that were underdogs, and most­ of us have 100% repect for the 'Boks, theyre world­ champions and are a class unit. Pierre Spies is my­ personal hero at the mo, but we all want the Lions to­ AT LEAST give us a game to remember for the grankids in­ years to come
    not 'c'mon the­ lions'
    or
    'c'mon the Boks'
    but,
    CMON­ RUGBY!!

    From moggie2727, on Thu 18 Jun 4:51PM

  9. Post 80 Wingman.

    One word CLUELESS

    From buff, on Thu 18 Jun 4:47PM

  10. I am South African and I must say I just can't­ stand some of the Saffas that just expect us to­ polverise the Lions ;-(
    The squad that Geech selected­ looks pretty strong and I, for one, expect a thrilling­ game!
    Positive the Boks will win, but it will be close.­ Lets just enjoy the game and the history!!

    From sydney.maritz, on Thu 18 Jun 4:46PM

  11. GOOD SELECTION.
    LIKE EVERTHING ELSE IT ALL FALLS TO WHO­ WANTS THE WIN THE MOST.
    WELSH IRISH SCOTS OR THE DEADED­ ENGLISH GOOD LUCK LADS.AS THE LITTLE TAG ON THE BACK OF­ THE WELSH SHIRTS SAY 'CALON' THE HEART MUST BE­ THERE.
    GERALDUS CAMBRENSIS.

    From amosgwr, on Thu 18 Jun 4:45PM

  12. sugruejames i think you've just shown how much of a­ @#$% you are

    From stephen, on Thu 18 Jun 4:45PM

  13. btw alot of people may question monye's defence but­ trust me i know he is good

    From stephen, on Thu 18 Jun 4:42PM

  14. Good balance to the selection. Correct not to play­ Wallace and Williams together - could have picked­ either but Wallace will give you a bit more in defence­ while Williams can give you a bit more creativity if­ they need it. Heaslip was the right call ahead of­ Powell. Powell is an excellent line breaker and will­ gain you lots of yards but he isolates himself too­ often and against a team as good at the breakdown as­ the Boks this would allow for too many turnovers.­ I'm a bit worried about Moyne's defence -­ Fitzgerald amy be on in game two.

    From julian, on Thu 18 Jun 4:35PM

  15. nice use of sarcasm bjc!!! bless the little boks cotton­ socks! a dangerous side though if allowed to play!

    From Tim, on Thu 18 Jun 4:34PM

  16. so sugruejames - should we get beat on Saturday who­ shall we blame...English,Scots or Welsh.
    Stop your­ petty onesided comments and get behind the British­ Isles!!....for once.

    Also tempted to hope Vickery gets­ 10 mins for putting a couple of Boks out of the­ game..but that wouldnt be fair. The Boks are such a­ fair team arnt they.

    From spyatree, on Thu 18 Jun 4:27PM

  17. good to read the comments here guys! the adrenelin is­ up and we're not even playing! maybe the niggle is­ there cos we are all aware that the boks could @#$% us­ out of sight! lets hope not! put your nationality on­ hold for a few more games then we can all go back to­ slagging off the english and their 10 man game! come on­ you lions!!!!

    From Tim, on Thu 18 Jun 4:23PM

  18. Devastating that Euan Murray is out and where is Nathan­ Hines? By far the best lock out there he is just the­ man to take it to the Boks...Andy Powell too should be­ in,it will be interesting .. wish them all the best.

    From wingman, on Thu 18 Jun 4:21PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Bokkies forever...........!!! Nkosi sikelela. Burger­ will be back. We sitting on Top of the World baby haha.­ Southern Hemispher Spirit

    From Skamaru, on Thu 18 Jun 4:20PM

  20. sugruejames,
    Why are you always so harsh to the english­ were all meant to be in this together your too up your­ own arse.
    i dont think anyone on here takes you­ seriously.

    From stephen, on Thu 18 Jun 4:13PM
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