Lions nervously await starting team

LATER today, when Ian McGeechan names the starting XV to face the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth tomorrow (2pm, Sky Sports), the auditions for the British & Irish Lions team to face South Africa will come to an end.
Ian McGeechan has persistently stated that the team for the first test will not be determined until after Tuesday’s match, but it is almost certain that the players selected to face the Southern Kings will consider that a dubious honour knowing that the team to face the 2007 world champions on Saturday next in Durban will already have their feet up.
Irrespective of the make-up of the team Paul O’Connell has demanded the British & Irish Lions’ bring their ‘A’ game for the first test against South Africa in King’s Park, Durban when the tourists collide with the world champions for the first time.
Speaking on Saturday O’Connell said: “If we all bring our A game to Durban next Saturday there is no doubt we can be successful. The odds are still stacked against us. It is a massive challenge to come over here and beat the world champions, who have a very settled side and a lot of leaders in their team.
“The odds are still against us. Individually, we are good enough talent-wise to be successful, but we have to play as a team to be successful and that process is on-going.”
O’Connell was speaking in the aftermath of the Lions’ clash with Western Province.
The Lions did collect their fifth win (26-23) of the tour, but were left to rely on a 77th-minute penalty from replacement full-back James Hook on a wet and windy afternoon.
Ian McGeechan’s men out-scored their hosts by three tries to one (Tommy Bowe, Ugo Monye & Martyn Williams), but were fortunate to survive after Joe Pietersen’s late try threatened to blotch their 100 per cent record.
The make-up of the British & Irish Lions team to face South Africa in Durban on Saturday is consuming the minds of rugby fans everywhere. Wales’ Lee Byrne is hot favourite to start at full-back, Tommy Bowe also looks sure of his starting spot while Shane Williams’ poor form could see Luke Fitzgerald or England’s Ugo Monye complete the back three.
Unfortunately Keith Earls looks likely to miss out in the centre with Brian O’Driscoll and Wales’ Jamie Roberts hotly tipped to constitute the starting midfield partnership.
Sadly it looks as if Ronan O’Gara will miss out on the first test entirely. With the Welsh partnership of Stephen Jones and Mike Phillips touted to start and James Hook likely to occupy a stop on the replacements bench no room is left for the Munster out-half in the match day 22 to face South Africa. Props Gethin Jenkins and Phil Vickery look likely to partner hooker Lee Mears in the front-row while Paul O’Connell’s partner at lock looks wide open with Scotland’s Nathan Hines, England’s Simon Shaw, Wales’ Alun Wyn Jones and Donncha O’Callaghan all vying for the number four shirt. While Tom Croft and Jamie Heaslip are favoured to start in the back-row Martyn Williams’ performance on Saturday could threaten David Wallace’s place in the starting XV.
Meanwhile there was some encouraging news for British & Irish Lions fans this weekend with the news that Springboks flanker Schalk Burger may miss Saturday’s first test - Burger is suffering with a calf injury.

BRIAN MCDONNELL