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Lions reveal all-Welsh front-row
Rugby Union, 15:37, June 25, 2009 ,
The British and Irish Lions have made five changes for the second Test against South Africa with Phil Vickery left out of the squad.
The Englishman makes way for Adam Jones at prop and Matthew Rees comes in for Lee Mears at hooker to complete an all-Welsh front row for the vital second encounter with the Springboks at Loftus Versveld.
Elsewhere in the pack England's Simon Shaw replaces Alun Wyn Jones in the second row, while Rob Kearney replaces the injured Lee Byrne at full-back and Luke Fitzgerald ousts Ugo Monye from the left wing.
Coach Ian McGeechan has made it clear that, despite changing one third of the team, the Lions will maintain the style of play that very nearly saw them complete a memorable comeback in the first Test last Saturday.
"As a squad, the Lions still have everything to play for," said the Scotsman. "The players know that the outcome of the Test series comes down to Saturday, and they are determined to take the series to a decider in Johannesburg.
"We have made five changes to the starting XV, but it will not change the way we want to play.
"Both teams will be better for the run last weekend, and we know we will have to step up our performance to ensure that we again take the game to the opposition and are more accurate in taking our opportunities."
The changes mean there are now seven Irishmen in the starting XV, with six Welshmen and two Englishmen.
British and Irish Lions:
R Kearney (Leinster and Ireland); T Bowe (Ospreys and Ireland), B O'Driscoll (Leinster and Ireland), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues and Wales), L Fitzgerald (Leinster and Ireland); S Jones (Scarlets and Wales), M Phillips (Ospreys and Wales); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues and Wales), M Rees (Scarlets and Wales), A Jones (Ospreys and Wales), S Shaw (Wasps and England), P O'Connell (Munster and Ireland, capt), T Croft (Leicester and England), D Wallace (Munster and Ireland), J Heaslip (Leinster and Ireland).
Replacements: R Ford (Edinburgh and Scotland), A Sheridan (Sale Sharks and England), A-W Jones (Ospreys and Wales), M Williams (Cardiff Blues and Wales), H Ellis (Leicester and England), R O'Gara (Munster and Ireland), S Williams (Ospreys and Wales).