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Magnificent seven for Lions?

Author: Rose Young
Date: 23/06/2009

The British & Irish Lions aim to manage the rare feat of making it seven wins from seven tour games as they take on the Emerging Springboks in Cape Town on Tuesday.

The last time the Lions won every tour match, they went on to win the Test series in Australia in 1989.

However, the game against the Emerging Boks is likely to be the sternest test of the tour aside from the Test matches as the young team packed with talent is heavily fancied in the online betting markets.

The 2001 Lions lost to Australia 'A', while the party of 2005 lost to the New Zealand Maori.

South Africa's equivalent will all hope to impress, as they seek to break their way into the world champion Test team.

The 'midweek' Lions side has in the past suffered from a divide to the Test team, though the 2009 squad has been mixed and matched throughout the tour.

Head coach Ian McGeechan will hope that the 22 selected on Tuesday will be playing to achieve selection for Saturday's second Test with South Africa.

Can the Lions bounce back in Saturday's second Test and beat the Boks? - Latest Rugby Union Betting

Captaining the side is Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara, who becomes the fifth different captain of the tour.

As Stephen Jones struggled in Saturday's first Test, a number 10 shirt could be up for grabs on Saturday.

Andrew Sheridan does not make the squad, however, as he continues to struggle with a back injury. Starting at prop are recent call-ups John Hayes and Tim Payne.

James Hook has recovered sufficiently from a concussion suffered in last Tuesday's bruising defeat of the Southern Kings to take a place on the bench, which ruled the Welshman out of the first Test.

Hook was the favourite for a bench slot in Durban, before a heavy knock to the head forced him out of the game early on.

2008 IRB World player of the year Shane Williams will hope to get a nightmare tour back on track against the Emerging Boks.

Williams, who has suffered from a loss of form and illness, lost out on Test selection to Ugo Monye.

An impressive performance on Tuesday may put him back in McGeechan's plans for Test selection.

Other wing Luke Fitzgerald will also hope to catch the eye as he gets more game time.

The ever-improving Keith Earls shone at full-back against the Southern Kings. As Lee Byrne struggles with a foot injury, another good display from Earls could see him earn a surprise call up to the 22 for the second Test, with his versatility providing cover across the backline.

Harry Ellis did not appear from the bench in Saturday's loss to South Africa, but the England scrum-half starts against the Emerging Boks.

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