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General Sports News

Lions reveal first Test squad

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 19/06/2009

Head coach Ian McGeechan has sprung few surprises after naming his British & Irish Lions squad for Saturday's first Test against South Africa in Durban.

The side that will face the World Cup winners includes six Welshmen, five Irishmen and four Englishmen.

Captain Paul O'Connell is joined in the second row by Alun-Wyn Jones while Gethin Jenkins and Phil Vickery are selected at prop, with Lee Mears completing the front row.

Tom Croft is named at blindside flanker, with Irish duo David Wallace and Jamie Heaslip at openside and number eight respectively.

Welsh duo Mike Phillips and Stephen Jones start at half-back while Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts have been given the nod at centre.

The line-up is completed by Lee Byrne and Tommy Bowe, who will start at full-back and right wing respectively, while Ugo Monye is selected on the left wing.

McGeechan's selection has done little to alter the online betting odds as the sportsbooks still can't separate the two teams.

Owen Coyle has pledged his future to Premier League new-boys Burnley after agreeing a two-year contract extension.

The highly-rated young manager is now under contract at Turf Moor until the end of the 2012-13 season after the Clarets moved swiftly to reward him for guiding the club into the top-flight for the first time in over 30 years.

Elsewhere, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has conceded that Manchester United target Karim Benzema could leave the French club this summer.

Benzema is currently one of the hottest properties in European football and the France striker has been linked with moves to both Old Trafford and Barcelona.

Aulas hopes the £30million frontman decides to stay at the Stade Gerland for a further season before moving on, but has admitted there is little he could do should the player decide that now is the right time to move on.

United's interest in the frontman has increased following their decision to cash in on Cristiano Ronaldo in an £80million deal with Real Madrid.

However, United, Chelsea and Liverpool are set to miss out on the signing of David Villa after the in-demand striker dropped a strong hint that he will be joining Real.

Villa is wanted by several leading Premier League clubs and also Real Madrid and Barcelona following his goalscoring exploits with Valencia and Spain.

But after scoring Spain's winner in a 1-0 Confederations Cup success over Iraq on Wednesday, the £35million-rated striker revealed he has already decided where his future lies.

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