Williams duo start third Test
July 02 2009
With the 2009 series now out of reach, the wounded British & Irish Lions have made eight changes to their starting line-up for Johannesburg.
Injuries have accounted for several of the tourists following last week's bruising clash at Loftus, as Ian McGeechan names a new centre combination in the shape of Riki Flutey and Tommy Bowe.
Elsewhere in the side, Ugo Monye and Shane Williams are handed wing spots while the latter's Wales colleague Martyn Williams joins Joe Worsley either side of Jamie Heaslip.
Pretoria's events late in the game whereby some weak tackling and a penalty offence allowed Jaque Fourie and Morné Steyn to claim the 28-25 success seem to have gone against Ronan O'Gara though, who drops out of the matchday squad altogether.
"We have tried to freshen it up, there's been some tight calls during the first two Tests and a lot of physical and emotional work gone into the first two games, so we needed some fresh legs for this third one," said McGeechan.
"We could be sitting here with two wins now, from what I think were two fantastic games of rugby.
"We've had a lot of plusses and I hope it will be the same again. We are not going to go back on our approach or attitude.
"We gave them a break earlier in the week and we are very keen to finish with a win.
"Some players were physically and emotionally very very down last week and sometimes fresh legs and someone who is keen to play is very important to have in your side.
"That's why we made the changes and it reflects how much has gone into the series from our part."
The eight changes include the two at centre, which McGeechan lamented as 'unfortunate', and the two at prop where Phil Vickery returns to meet his nemesis, 'Beast Mtawarira'.
Vickery was given extensive backing from scrum coach Graham Rowntree on Wednesday and got the same from the coach who brought him to Wasps from Gloucester and re-established him as one of the best in the game after some career-threatening injuries.
"I am very confident. He's a world class prop," said McGeechan before turning attentions briefly to the refereeing.
"The refereeing in the second Test was pretty good in that area so I don't think we've any concerns there.
"There were some refereeing issues we clarified from the first Test which have made the scrum more stable."
While the Springboks have changed ten players for the Test which is essentially a dead rubber, the Lions have changed eight - meaning there are 60 per cent new players across both teams.
It could be a touch difficult to motivate the Lions for a revenge mission against a team where the original personnel are also gone, but for the new men in red particularly, this is a one-off chance to show their worth in a Lions jersey: motivation enough.
"There's no doubt we have a new challenge against the Springboks this time," said McGeechan.
"But I am very encouraged by what we have done this week in training. The players want to be here, which is important for the third Test.
"We've made eight changes as well (as their ten), so in many ways this is a new Test match, but it will still be a very sweet victory.
"We are focussing on playing the best rugby we can play and seeing if that can get us a Test victory."
McGeechan also sought to clarify the ongoing confusion over whether he had managed to congratulate the Springboks - and particularly Peter de Villiers - on their series win.
The controversial Bok coach had denied any such message being passed, but Geech quite categorically insisted that he had fulfilled his 'obligation'.
"I did shake hands. Twice actually, as we were on our way back from different media things. He might have had his mind on other things, I don't know," said McGeechan.
B&I Lions: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Ugo Monye, 13 Tommy Bowe, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Phil Vickery, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 Ross Ford, 17 John Hayes, 18 Alun-Wyn Jones, 19 David Wallace, 20 Tom Croft, 21 Harry Ellis, 22 James Hook.
Date: Saturday, July 4
Kick-off: 15:00 (14:00 BST)
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Assistant referee: Christophe Berdos (France), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Television match official: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assessor: Tappe Henning
Timekeeper: Gabriel Pappa
By Danny Stephens in Johannesburg