South Africa v British & Irish Lions First Test - Team Named
By Lion's Eye
June 18 2009
LIONS TOUR SOUTH AFRICA 2009 South Africa v British & Irish Lions - First Test Team Named Saturday 20th June - ABSA Park, Durban Kick-off: 1400 BST (1500 local time)
LIONS TOUR SOUTH AFRICA 2009
South Africa v British & Irish Lions
First Test
Saturday 20th June - ABSA Park, Durban - Kick-off: 1400 BST (1500 local time)
Lions team to face the Springboks this Saturday in the first test has been announced!
Head coach Ian McGeechan has named his First Test side of the 2009 series, against world champions South Africa in Durban.
Lions Team to face Springboks:
5 Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales), 14 Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland), 13 Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster/Ireland), 12 Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales), 11 Ugo Monye (Harlequins/England), 10 Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales), 9 Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales), 8 Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland), 7 David Wallace (Munster/Ireland), 6 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England), 5 Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland - captain), 4 Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales), 3 Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England), 2 Lee Mears (Bath/England), 1 Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues/Wales).
Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales), 17 Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales), 18 Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster/Ireland), 19 Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales), 20 Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England), 21 Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland), 22 Rob Kearney (Leinster/Ireland).
South Africa: 15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adi Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit (c), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Jaque Fourie, 22 Morné Steyn.
On a secondary note you have to feel sorry for two players who must be gutted right now James Hook who was ruled out of the Lions’ first Test plans due to injury on Tuesday against the Southern Kings and Euan Murray who looks like he will play no further part in the Lions Tour according to a leading orthopaedic surgeon.
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Looks a fantastic team though, picked on form. Can't wait.
Disappointed that Sheridan not on bench, but understand why. But I do feel that Smit might get an easier ride than he could have.
Unhappiness, where's when I was young
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life as a fun and take it if we can