Shaw To Start In Crucial Second Test
Simon Shaw will finally add a British & Irish Lions Test appearance to his outstanding rugby CV when he makes his debut against the Springboks, along with five other changes.
British & Irish Lions boss Ian McGeechan has made five changes for Saturday's second Test against world champions South Africa in Pretoria. Full-back Rob Kearney, wing Luke Fitzgerald, hooker Matthew Rees, prop Adam Jones and lock Simon Shaw all gain call-ups for a game the Lions must win to retain any chance of taking the three-Test series.
Kearney replaces Lee Byrne, who has been struggling with a foot injury, while Kearney's fellow Ireland Grand Slam winner Fitzgerald takes over from Ugo Monye. Monye blew two gilt-edged try chances during a 26-21 first Test defeat in Durban last Saturday. And McGeechan has responded to South Africa's scrummaging demolition job five days ago by changing two thirds of the front-row.
Ospreys tighthead Jones now has the task of coping with Springboks scrum destroyer Tendai "The Beast" Mtawarira, taking over from England World Cup winner Phil Vickery, with Rees packing down instead of Lee Mears alongside Jones and Gethin Jenkins. It is the first time the Lions have started an official Test match with an all-Wales front-row since 1955.
The fifth change sees Wasps and England lock Simon Shaw preferred to Alun-Wyn Jones. Shaw, 35, first toured with the Lions in South Africa 12 years ago, although Saturday will be his Test debut. McGeechan's second Test line-up comprises seven Irishmen, six Welshmen and just two from England - Shaw and flanker Tom Croft.
British & Irish Lions (vs South Africa, 2nd Test)
15. Rob Kearney (Leinster / Ireland)
14. Tommy Bowe (Ospreys / Ireland)
13. Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster / Ireland)
12. Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues / Wales)
11. Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster / Ireland)
10. Stephen Jones (Scarlets / Wales)
9. Mike Phillips (Ospreys / Wales)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster / Ireland)
7. David Wallace (Munster / Ireland)
6. Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers / England)
5. Paul O'Connell (Munster / Ireland) Captain
4. Simon Shaw (London Wasps / England)
3. Adam Jones (Ospreys / Wales)
2. Matthew Rees (Scarlets / Wales)
1. Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
Replacements
16. Ross Ford (Edinburgh / Scotland)
17. Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks /England)
18. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys / Wales)
19. Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
20. Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England)
21. Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland)
22. Shane Williams (Ospreys / Wales)
