Hayes starts against the Emerging Springboks

CAPPAMORE’S John Hayes, who only joined the British & Irish Lions squad late last week, has been parachuted straight into the tourist’s side to face the Emerging Springboks today at Newlands in Cape Town (kick-off 6.10pm).
Ronan O’Gara will captain the side which also includes Munster colleagues Donncha O’Callaghan and Keith Earls with flanker David Wallace named on the bench.
The clash with the Emerging Springboks represents the Lions’ final mid-week fixture of their 10-match tour and comes just four days before the second Test against South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday - head coach Ian McGeechan is due to name his Test team on Thursday.
Dr. James Robson, who leads the tourists’ medical team, was thrilled with Munster’s John Hayes explaining on Sunday that “the good news is that John Hayes is fit. He arrived yesterday and looks in good fettle.”
Ronan O’Gara has become the fifth different player to captain the Lions following Paul O’Connell, Brian O’Driscoll, Phil Vickery and Donncha O’Callaghan while the Cork man leads a side which contains six players who were involved in Saturday’s 21-26 Test defeat against the world champions. Test replacements Donncha O’Callaghan and Martyn Williams both start while line-up members Ugo Monye, Lee Mears, Phil Vickery and David Wallace are all on the bench. Hayes, who has replaced ankle injury victim Euan Murray, will join England’s Tim Payne in the front row.
And, the Munster legend is still in with a shout to face the Springboks in Pretoria next weekend. Last Saturday, during the first eight scrums, the Lions conceded three penalties and shipped nine points as a direct result which surely opens the door to a complete re-structuring of the front-row for the second Test.
Commenting on the team selection head coach Ian McGeechan said: “There were many positives that came out of the Test match on Saturday.
“The Emerging Springboks match, and our training this week, will allow us to build on these plus address areas we know we need to improve on.
“There is still a lot to play for and the players are well aware of that.
“The mood in camp is still very positive due to the fact that we did come very close to winning on Saturday and the fact that we created so many scoring opportunities.
“The players are well aware of the importance of the match against the Emerging Springboks. We need to step up our performance against a talented outfit whose players, like ours, will be determined to show that they are worthy of a Test place. It should be a great match.
“The two latest squad members Tim Payne and John Hayes will start against the Emerging Springboks to give them immediate field time.
“This is important in terms of the balance of the squad as three of our other props played in the Test match only two days ago and Andrew Sheridan is recovering from injury.”

British & Irish Lions versus the Emerging Springboks: Keith Earls (Ireland), Shane Williams (Wales), Riki Flutey (England), Gordon D’Arcy (Ireland), Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland), Ronan O’Gara (Ireland), Harry Ellis (England), Tim Payne (England), Ross Ford (Scotland), John Hayes (Ireland), Donncha O’Callaghan (Ireland), Nathan Hines (Scotland), Joe Worsley (England), Martyn Williams (Wales) & Andy Powell (Wales).
Replacements: Lee Mears (England), Phil Vickery (England), Simon Shaw (England), David Wallace (Ireland), Mike Blair (Scotland), James Hook (Wales) & Ugo Monye (England).

Brian McDonnell