Lions 2009 - Hayes and Payne in Lions XV

Eurosport - Tue, 23 Jun 12:05:00 2009

Replacement props John Hayes and Tim Payne have been named in a British & Irish Lions XV captained by Ronan O'Gara for the clash with the Emerging Springboks in Cape Town on Tuesday.

John Hayes - Munster - 0

Ireland tight-head Hayes (pictured) was called up last week to replace tour victim Euan Murray while Payne travelled to South Africa at the weekend to provide cover for England team-mate Andrew Sheridan, struggling with a sore back.

"The two latest squad members Tim Payne and John Hayes will start against the Emerging Springboks to give them immediate field time," said Lions head coach Ian McGeechan.

"This is important in terms of the balance of the squad as three of our other props played in the Test match only two days ago and Andrew Sheridan is recovering from injury."

O'Gara becomes the fifth player to captain the Lions in 2009, following Paul O'Connell, Brian O'Driscoll, Phil Vickery and Donncha O'Callaghan.

"Ronan O'Gara will lead the team against the Emerging Springboks which is a well deserved honour for a senior player who has served Munster, Ireland and the Lions with distinction," added McGeechan.

The Lions were beaten 26-21 in the first Test last weekend and the match squad for the Emerging Springboks gives one or two indications of McGeechan's thinking for the second Test in Pretoria on Saturday.

Of particular concern for the Lions was the front row, where England prop Vickery struggled at the scrums and was replaced by Wales' Adam Jones.

Vickery is on the bench for the Emerging Springboks which suggests Jones will start the second Test.

Hooker Lee Mears also had a difficult time in Durban and was replaced by Wales' Matthew Rees, who impressed with his throwing and play in the loose after coming on.

Mears provides cover for hooker Ross Ford on Tuesday, which again suggests the Englishman will not start the second Test.

A change to the Lions second row has also been muted after their pack were dominated by the Springboks, with a heavier lock called for to add power in the scrum.

Nathan Hines and O'Callaghan will start in the second row against the Emerging Lions, with Simon Shaw on the bench, which could be an indication the Englishman is in line for a role in the second Test squad.

Martyn Williams starts at openside against the Emerging Springboks and will hope to increase competition on Test starter David Wallace, who is among the replacements.

Williams's Wales team-mate Andy Powell could also play himself into the reckoning at number eight after Jamie Heaslip struggled to impose himself against the powerful Boks pack in Durban.

Wales' James Hook has recovered from a knock to the head and is named on the bench, where he is joined by wing Ugo Monye, a starter against the Springboks.

Monye failed to convert two guilt-edged chances in the first Test and his place could come under threat if Luke Fitzgerald and Shane Williams impresses at Newlands.

Lions: 15-Keith Earls, 14-Shane Williams, 13-Riki Flutey, 12-Gordon D'Arcy, 11-Luke Fitzgerald, 10-Ronan O'Gara, 9-Harry Ellis; 8-Andy Powell, 7-Martyn Williams, 6-Joe Worsley- 5-Nathan Hines, 4-Donncha O'Callaghan, 3-John Hayes, 2-Ross Ford, 1-Tim Payne.

Replacements: 16-Lee Mears, 17-Phil Vickery, 18-Simon Shaw, 19-David Wallace, 20-Mike Blair, 21-James Hook, 22-Ugo Monye.

Emerging Springboks: 15-Zane Kirchner, 14-Luzuko Vulindlu, 13-Deon van Rensburg, 12-Morgan Newman, 11-Bjorn Basson, 10-Earl Rose, 9-Jano Vermaak; 8-Duane Vermeulen, 7-Jean Deysel, 6-Dewald Potgieter (capt), 5-Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4-Steven Sykes, 3-Werner Kruger, 2-Bandise Maku, 1-Wian du Preez .

Replacements: 16-Tiaan Liebenberg, 17-Pat Cilliers, 18-Franco van der Merwe, 19-Jacques Botes, 20-Heini Adams, 21-Willem de Waal, 22-Danwel Demas.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport

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  1. I don't know what game that O'rorke was­ watching but I thought Heaslip had a good game. If­ Geech does go with Powell then in my book that is an­ error. Powell has two game plans.

    1. Charge into­ opposition.
    2. Give ball to opposition once he's­ charged into them.

    Heaslip by a mile, and that's­ from a Welshman.

    From David, on Mon 22 Jun 2:51PM

  2. I'd like to know how much fitness the fat boys have­ done in their off season break?

    From David, on Mon 22 Jun 2:47PM

  3. dont know whether McGeechan has played this right:
    on­ the one hand, the team that finished the first test can­ carry that momentum into the 2nd by not playing;
    OR
    the­ emerging springboks contain plent of Blue Bulls and­ class players, so losing before the second test or even­ a below par performance could be detrimental
    hope its­ the former obviously
    shane could benefit from Monyes­ bad luck by FINALLY showing some form as could his­ namesake Martyn, but i think its Andy Powell that­ coudl benfit most from this game, a huge performance­ cud push Heaslip, who lests face it, was anonymous on­ saturday, out of the team.
    lets hope Geech got it right

    From moggie2727, on Mon 22 Jun 2:30PM

  4. Geech desperately wanted to include Shane Williams in­ the first test, but to keep the morale of the squad up,­ felt he had to go with 'form selections' (hence­ Monye's inclusion). Now that the first test has­ been lost, Shane just needs to show the slightest­ glimmer of sharpness on Tuesday and he'll play in­ the 2nd Test (and will finish offthe kind of chances­ that were offered to Monye on Saturday)

    From apdmanning, on Mon 22 Jun 2:23PM

  5. Gwan the bull!

    From Ads A, on Mon 22 Jun 1:03PM
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