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General Sports News

Lions make personnel changes

Author: Craig Williams
Date: 26/06/2009

Head coach Ian McGeechan has made five changes to his starting line-up for Saturday's second Test between the British and Irish and Lions South Africa.

McGeechan has responded to last weekend's opening 26-21 defeat in Durban by making major personnel changes ahead of what is now a must-win game in the three-match series.

Rob Kearney replaces the injured Lee Byrne at full-back, Simon Shaw comes in for Alun-Wyn Jones in the second row, while Adam Jones and Matthew Rees have been selected ahead of Phil Vickery and Lee Mears in the front row as the Lions go for muscle and experience.

The final change sees Luke Fitzgerald included on the wing at the expense of Ugo Monye.

Will the changes in personnel help the Lions bounce back in the second Test? - Latest Rugby Union betting

In football, Cesc Fabregas has placed his Arsenal future into doubt after admitting he is angry at the lack of silverware he has won during his time with the Gunners.

The Gunners skipper has branded the north London club 'impotent' following four barren years without a trophy and appears to have welcomed transfer interest from Real Madrid.

Kia Joorabchian claims Manchester City is Carlos Tevez's likely destination with a deal expected to be confirmed within the next ten days.

Joorabchian, who is Tevez's advisor and controls the economic rights of the Argentina striker, has revealed that City, Chelsea and a third mystery club have all tabled offers to sign him.

The Citizens are now the sportsbook favourites to snap up the former Manchester United star.

Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa has paved the way for a move to Real Madrid after admitting he is flattered to be linked with the Spanish giants.

The 26-year-old right-back is reported to be wanted back at Madrid, where he came through the youth ranks before moving on to Deportivo La Coruna in 2006.

Arbeloa has spent two-and-a-half years at Anfield but is expected to slip down the pecking order should England right-back Glen Johnson complete an £18million move from Portsmouth.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth have rubbished reports suggesting they have lined up Vahid Halilhodzic as their new manager.

The Bosnian coach of the Ivory Coast national team was reported to be in line to take the reins at Fratton Park as part of Sulaiman Al-Fahim's prospective takeover of the club.

But executive chairman Peter Storrie insists the stories are wide of the mark.

In cricket, Worcestershire have denied making an approach to sign former England skipper Michael Vaughan from Yorkshire.

The Pears have, however, made 28-day approaches for Tykes pacemen Matthew Hoggard and Ajmal Shahzad, as they seek to increase their fast bowling options for next summer.

Both Hoggard and Shahzad are out of contract at the end of the season, with the former having previously hinted that he may consider a move away from Headingley.

Meanwhile, spinner Monty Panesar remains confident of playing a major role in this summer's Ashes series.

The 27-year-old left-armer has lost his England Test place to Graeme Swann in recent months, but has been named in a 16-man squad to prepare for the first Test in Cardiff - along with Swann and leg-spinner Adil Rashid.

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