Lions 2009 - Lions beef up pack

Eurosport - Fri, 26 Jun 11:44:00 2009

British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan made five changes and named an all-Welsh front row on Thursday for Saturday's second Test against South Africa in Pretoria.

Simon Shaw - Lions 2009 - 0

Giant England lock Simon Shaw (pictured) was called up to bolster the pack and Irishmen Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald replaced full-back Lee Byrne and winger Ugo Monye.

The Lions scrum was given a torrid time in last week's 26-21 first Test defeat in Durban and it was no surprise that tighthead Phil Vickery and hooker Lee Mears were replaced by Adam Jones and Matthew Rees.

"We didn't want to make too many changes if we could, because we've had a group of players who have been working very well together," McGeechan said.

"There were a number of close calls. It's all about trying to hold on to as many pluses as you can, while also being able to adapt tactically."

Jones will have to perform markedly better than Vickery against Springbok loosehead Tendai Mtawarira, The Beast, who delivered a man of the match performance.

Vickery and Mears dropped out of the 22 altogether as Ross Ford covers hooker off the bench and big prop Andrew Sheridan has recovered from a back injury to join the replacements.

McGeechan also drafted in the experienced Shaw, the only member of the squad to tour South Africa with the 1997 Lions but now winning his first Lions Test cap, in place of Welshman Alun-Wyn Jones, who dropped to the bench.

"I think it's his 18th time in a Lions jersey and I'm delighted for him," McGeechan said. "He's a very experienced player, and well respected around the world. He's obviously a player who we feel can do a very good job for us on Saturday."

Byrne, who went off with a foot injury in Durban, was replaced by Kearney and Fitzgerald came in Monye, who pays the price for spilling the ball twice when the tryline beckoned in the first Test.

Last season's world player of the year Shane Williams did enough in Tuesday's draw with the emerging Springboks to secure a place on the bench and Monye dropped out of the 22.

British and Irish Lions team to face South Africa:

15-Rob Kearney, 14-Tommy Bowe, 13-Brian O'Driscoll, 12-Jamie Roberts, 11-Luke Fitzgerald, 10-Stephen Jones, 9-Mike Phillips; 8-Jamie Heaslip, 7-David Wallace, 6-Tom Croft, 5-Paul O'Connell, 4-Simon Shaw, 3-Adam Jones, 2-Matthew Rees, 1-Gethin Jenkins.

Replacements: 16-Ross Ford, 17-Andrew Sheridan, 18-Alun-Wyn Jones, 19-Martyn Williams, 20-Harry Ellis, 21-Ronan O'Gara, 22-Shane Williams.

Reuters

Comment 54 - 73 of 113

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. As the Pontypool row of old....we may go up, we may go­ down....but we NEVER go back!

    From g.rhidian, on Thu 25 Jun 7:17PM

  2. Roar the Lions [ ROAAAAAR]

    From Ray, on Thu 25 Jun 7:14PM

  3. In the spirt of comradire gary, all is forgiven.
    when­ did Kearney join the tigers???

    From ptothej, on Thu 25 Jun 6:52PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I discorvered a hot­ place-
    """""""Tallme­ et C om""""""" where­ many- sexy singles- who like dating and-- chatting­ there.- I'm an open- minded girl with strong­ s---exual- a--ttraction I-- am Waiting 4 u

    From Jenny C, on Thu 25 Jun 6:42PM

  5. ALL WALES FRONT ROW.. GREAT STUFF .. THE STRENGTH OF ­ THE PACK.. WE MAY BE WELSH BUT WELSH BEFORE LIONS FOR­ ME... OUR CELTIC BROTHERS I WILL CHEER ON... BUT­ SAESNEG NEVER !! CYMRU AM BYTH .. POB HWYL­ CYMRO.....YMLEAEN ETO....

    From leslie, on Thu 25 Jun 6:30PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Lol...its more like Lions coach preparing a new pack­ for a beating. Given that last week was a taming, he­ wants to rest those who got tamed, get new boys for a­ spanking...that's a good coach. His argument:­ can't have the same english boys getting shagged­ again...lets give the reserves a taste.

    From Dosh, on Thu 25 Jun 6:30PM

  7. COmment number 68- haha people like you make me laugh­ so much! let me guess?? a footballer!! and they say we­ only have 10 brain cells?? ummm ok mate that will be 10­ more than you!! Hang on for people over 15st?? Last I­ saw Williams and Ellis wernt heavier than 15stone? get­ your facts straight mate before you slag people off,­ thats a disgrace to sport.

    From mg.powell10, on Thu 25 Jun 6:09PM

  8. theprettys, what are you talking about?
    You obviously­ havn't got a clue!

    From Ciaran, on Thu 25 Jun 6:05PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    O Gara should start ahead of Jones at Fly-Half

    From nhnajjar, on Thu 25 Jun 6:02PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Rugby - a game for people who are 15 stone plus, have­ no more than 10 brain cells and can't play anything­ else because in truth they are too uncoordinated.

    From Colin, on Thu 25 Jun 6:01PM

  11. ptohej, unfortunately i work abroad and missed the­ majority of the 6nations. Gutted, as for me its the­ highlight of the sporting year. Personally i rate AW­ highly, hard working and mobile, and had hoped he'd­ have been in the starting line up. The comment re­ Heaslip was light hearted flippancy - certainly didnt­ expect crucifiction for it and will try not to descend­ to the level of some of the other comment writers.­ (That will probably add a few more nails to the­ crucifiction though - shame its not easter eh?) Whoever­ plays, I am 110% behind the Lions

    From gary, on Thu 25 Jun 5:58PM

  12. I dont see what influence Sheridan has on the bench? He­ is a no1, and of any prop in the world Jenkins would be­ the one being left on the field to play 80mins week in­ week out!! The should have gone for Hayes on the bench­ incase, but im sure the Welsh front row will do the job­ this week and they can all play 80mins whatever the­ altitude!
    Otherwise happy days with the team, love him­ or hate him Shaw has deserved it, would have prefered­ O'Callaghan but Shaw wont let you down (apart from­ give penalties away which English players do nowadays)­ but hope he has a blinder!!
    COme on Lions lets do it­ this time and make it a tour to remember!!!

    From mg.powell10, on Thu 25 Jun 5:57PM

  13. good selection!i can see o driscoll and roberts getting­ space and the scrum getting a good platform!!go lions!!

    From sean d, on Thu 25 Jun 5:50PM

  14. I think this team is well picked. Solid front row and­ the ref will be wise to the beast this time.
    No loss of­ skill with Kearney at full back.
    Fitzgerald for monye­ should pay off as himself and O driscoll are well used­ to each other. If not then Monye is available (he did­ make the line twice last week).
    I agree with keeping­ jones instead of O gara. rogs kicking is perfect if we­ are on top in the lineout, and If we are he can come­ on. Otherwise its a passing game and jones is more­ physical in defence.
    Philips needs to spread it out a­ bit faster.
    With a functioning scrum heaslip should­ also make an impact this week.
    Id say the boks are in­ for a rude awakening.

    From Ads A, on Thu 25 Jun 5:41PM

  15. sugruejames55, without doubt the biggest pratt living.­ I am guessing you were last player picked at school on­ the field?
    Anyway enough about that pratt, I think we­ have a great chance with this selection and Monye is­ rightly dropped in my opinion, if you don't know to­ move the ball away from the tackler especially when­ going for the line then you don't deserve to to be­ picked. Shaw will give much needed power in the scrum­ and has been playing well all tour. If the backroom can­ provide abit more support at the Breakdown we will­ definately be in it. Lets just not kick aimlessly this­ week! C'mon you Lions!!

    From jarmez10, on Thu 25 Jun 5:29PM

  16. its the British and Irish Lions so anyone slating any­ English players representing the Lions isnt a proper­ lions fan i dont care whether they are scots welsh­ english or irish when they pull on that red shirt they­ are lions lets just get behind them and stop the racist­ and childish bickering

    From liam, on Thu 25 Jun 5:28PM

  17. Just reading these posts highlights the sad state of­ the UK & Ireland, - or Britain, - England Ireland­ Scotland & Wales - call it what you will,
    the fans­ are as confused and demented as the different Unions­
    who can not even get together and agree an anthem ...­
    SA has 17 indigenous tribes, 11 official languages and­ a chequered history of recent political strife and woes­ - yet they can at least get together and agree on such­ simple items, no wonder the Lions are not performing at­ their best .. stop all your stupid sniping and­ Nationalistic @#$%, get behind your team and lets have­ some good rugby ! its 1-0 the Boks, all to play for­ ...

    From Yottie, on Thu 25 Jun 5:23PM

  18. garyhawkings mate you proved yourself a fool by­ questioning Heaslip. Do you think Powell should be on­ instead? And if so, why?

    From ptothej, on Thu 25 Jun 5:17PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ooooooooooooooo meowwwwwwwww . You go girl i love it­ when you get all nasty.

    From trufftastic, on Thu 25 Jun 5:12PM

  20. how can so many of you 'fans' learn completely­ nothing from the Lions ethos?
    just shut the HELL up and­ start cheering for the Lions/Springboks, whichever way­ you swing
    its getting old annoying and youre only­ making yourselves look like braindead morons
    and yes i­ do mean sugruejames and louise p , among others

    From moggie2727, on Thu 25 Jun 5:09PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

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