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Lions bid to level series

Author: Rose Young
Date: 27/06/2009

British & Irish Lions head coach Ian McGeechan has revealed a ruthless streak in his selection policy ahead of Saturday's do-or-die second Test against South Africa in Pretoria.

The Lions have made five changes to their starting line-up from last week's defeat at the hands of the Springboks, with just one being enforced due to an injury - Lee Byrne has failed to recover from a foot problem which ended his involvement in the first half of Saturday's opening Test.

Replacing him is Rob Kearney, who stepped in at full-back from the replacements' bench last week.

Also missing from the backline is Ugo Monye. The England winger has been axed by McGeechan, who has drafted in Ireland speedster Luke Fitzgerald to replace him.

Monye's inability to cross the whitewash in decent positions on two separate occasions on Saturday saw him come under criticism and McGeechan has duly responded by leaving him out of the 22.

There are two changes in the front row. English duo Lee Mears and Phil Vickery are both dropped, making way for Matthew Rees and Adam Jones respectively.

Vickery suffered a torrid time in the scrums at the hands of Tendai Mtawarira, who is nicknamed The Beast, before being substituted for Jones on Saturday.

Lee Mears struggled when delivering line-out throws on Saturday, so he too falls victim for this weekend's match.

Perhaps the biggest surprise among the Lions side is the inclusion of 35-year-old second rower Simon Shaw, who partners Paul O'Connell in a bid from McGeechan to assert some authority in the pack for the Lions.

Shaw is the oldest player on the tour, having previously been a part of the 1997 and 2001 Lions expeditions.

Among the substitutes is Andrew Sheridan. The England prop was touted as a possible game-breaker in the scrums, but has struggled for fitness due to a back problem.

Shane Williams also makes it onto the bench, despite an unimpressive tour from the reigning IRB World player-of-the-year.

The Springboks make one change, with former World player-of-the-year Schalk Burger starting in the back row.

Can the Lions defy the odds and level the series? - Latest Rugby Union Betting

Having scored three tries to two on Saturday, the Lions have what it takes to trouble any team out wide, as Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts caused havoc in midfield.

However, if the Lions are to have any chance of levelling the three-match series, they have to front up in the forwards from the beginning.

South Africa's dominant display in the forwards was typified by captain John Smit's early try in Durban.

This week, the tourists know they cannot afford to fall behind early on. If the Lions can remain competitive throughout the first half, the likes of O'Driscoll and Roberts may find space to score points as the game wears on.

South Africa are heavily fancied in the high-altitude Loftus Versfeld as the online betting odds indicate. However, with the feel-good factor in the Lions camp remaining strong, don't count out a surprise victory for the tourists.

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