O’Callaghan leads a Lions team featuring Earls at full-back

MUNSTER and Irish lock Donncha O’Callaghan will lead the British & Irish Lions against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth this afternoon (2pm, Sky Sports) while Limerick’s Keith Earls will start at full-back.
O’Callaghan leads a Lions team featuring a number of Irish players (Keith Earls, Gordon D’Arcy & Luke Fitzgerald) who are still considered to be in with a shout of getting their place in the match day 22 for the first test against the Spingboks in Durban on Saturday.


It is understood however that Saturday’s narrow 26-23 victory over the Western Province constituted a final trial for the first game against the South Africans.
At this stage it looks likely that Paul O’Connell, Jamie Heaslip, Brian O’Driscoll and Tommy Bowe can be considered ‘definites’ to face the Springboks while David Wallace also looks like taking his place in the back-row although the fact that Martyn Williams isn’t included in the match day 22 to face the Southern Kings today in Port Elizabeth is a worry.
There may be the consolation of a place on the bench against South Africa on Saturday next for Munster’s Keith Earls and Ronan O’Gara while Luke Fitzgerald’s inclusion in the team to face the Southern Kings has surprised many observers.
Despite Fitzgerald’s good form the starting XV for today’s game suggests that Ugo Monye is now favoured to join Lee Byrne and Tommy Bowe in Saturday’s back three. When the team was named yesterday Monye was selected on the bench, but Shane Williams, who is suffering from a stomach ailment, has now dropped to the bench for today’s game.
British & Irish Lions Tour Manager Gerald Davies and Head Coach Ian McGeechan announced the Lions’ team to face the Southern Kings.
Commenting on the team selection Ian McGeechan said: “This is test week and there is a noticeable change in attitude within the touring party. We are now heading towards the business end of the tour and the reason why we have come to South Africa. As you would expect the immediate focus is the next match against the Southern Kings on Tuesday before attention turns to selection for the first test for which all players will be considered.
“The Southern Kings (an invitational side) is not a regular team, but we understand there are some very talented players in the squad.
“Experience tells me that you can never underestimate any South African team and like the other teams we have faced on the tour so far we will not take them lightly.
“Seven players are backing up from the Western Province match with Nathan Hines, Joe Worsley, Riki Flutey and Keith Earls given the opportunity in the starting XV in different positions. The team will be captained by proud Munster man Donncha O’Callaghan, an experienced Lions tourist, who is a very popular member of the squad. This will be his tenth Lions match including two tests against New Zealand during the 2005 tour.”

British & Irish Lions: Keith Earls (Ireland), Ugo Monye (England), Riki Flutey (England), Gordon D’Arcy (Ireland), Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland), James Hook (Wales), Mike Blair (Scotland), Andy Powell (Wales), Joe Worsley (England), Nathan Hines (Scotland), Donncha O’Callaghan (Ireland), Simon Shaw (England), Euan Murray (Scotland), Ross Ford (Scotland), Andrew Sheridan (England). Replacements: Matthew Rees (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), Tom Croft (England), David Wallace (Ireland), Harry Ellis (England), Ronan O’Gara (Ireland), Shane Williams (Wales).

Brian McDonnell