Emerging Springboks v British & Irish Lions

After the bitter disappointment of the Lions’ first defeat on tour in the First Test a few days ago, the Lions face the tricky task of dividing their attentions between the must-win second Test on Saturday and the small matter of the final midweek game against the Emerging Springboks later today.

True to his word, head coach Ian McGeechan has not only given every player the chance to stake a claim for the Test match team, but also conversely to Sir Clive Woodward’s strategy four years ago, has motivated the midweek players with the potential for Test selection, should their performance justify it.

For many players this may be the last Lions match for them. The coaches’ jobs will be to inspire the starting XV selected to face the Emerging Boks to go out and give it their all, not only to restore some wounded pride, but also put themselves in the best possible position should a call up to the Test side be necessary or warranted.

You get the impression though that behind closed doors, this fixture represents an awkward challenge at a time when Geech and his team would like to have the time to regroup and brace for the game on Saturday in Pretoria, which they need to win to keep the series alive.

Due to something of a prop shortage at the moment, with Andy Sheridan struggling with a back injury and Euan Murray sent home at the weekend, recent additions to the squad, John Hayes and Tim Payne have been selected to start the match in what could be their first and last games on this tour.

England prop Tim Payne, arrives at training straight from the airport

Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara becomes the tour's fifth skipper whilst Phil Vickery, who struggled in the scrum on Saturday, is named on the bench along with fellow members of the first Test team Lee Mears, David Wallace and Ugo Monye.

Martyn Williams, who came off the bench in Durban, gets a chance to stake a claim for the Test number seven jersey - with Andy Powell, Nathan Hines and Shane Williams also pushing for call-ups.

In the wake of Saturday's first Test defeat forwards coach Graham Rowntree admitted the pack may be shuffled for the second meeting with the Springboks, and head coach McGeechan encouraged the belief that there could be other promotions.

"It's quite important for us to play some of the players and give them game time with a view to selection for Saturday," he said. "We are not picking the Test team until Wednesday. The way the players trained today, there is no doubt they want to put themselves in the front line as much as possible. For a coach it's ideal. There is still a lot to play for and the players know that."

Ireland prop John Hayes, called up for the injured Euan Murray

Eight of the Emerging Springboks starting side have already faced the Lions for their provincial sides.

Steven Sykes, Jean Deysel, Luzuko Vulindlu were part of the Sharks side beaten 39-3 by the tourists, while centre Morgan Newman and Duane Vermeulen appeared in Western Province's 26-23 loss.

Winger Bjorn Basson (Royal XV), scrum-half Jano Vermaak (Golden Lions) and prop Wian du Preez (Free State Cheetahs) have also already tasted defeat to the Lions.

Zane Kirchner, who has been in good form for Super 14 champions the Bulls, will start at full-back while Earl Rose, who played number 15 in the Springboks warm-up match against Namibia, reverts to fly-half.

With a twenty two full of players looking to make a big impression, either to restore some damaged pride after a poor performance on Saturday or those wanting to remind the coaching staff of their quality with two big Tests on the horizon, there shouldn’t be any lack of intensity or commitment come this evening.


Lions team to play the Emerging Springboks:

K Earls (Munster and Ireland); S Williams (Ospreys/Wales), R Flutey (Wasps/England), G D'Arcy (Leinster/Ireland), L Fitzgerald (Leinster/ Ireland); R O'Gara (Munster/Ireland, capt), H Ellis (Leicester/England) T Payne (Wasps/England), R Ford (Edinburgh/Scotland), J Hayes (Munster/Ireland), D O'Callaghan (Munster/ Ireland), N Hines (Perpignan/Scotland), J Worsley (Wasps/England), M Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales), A Powell (Cardiff Blues/Wales).

Replacements: L Mears (Bath/England), P Vickery (Wasps/England), S Shaw (Wasps/England), D Wallace (Munster/Ireland), M Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland), J Hook (Ospreys/Wales), U Monye (Harlequins/England).

Emerging Springboks:

Z Kirchner (Bulls), L Vulindlu (Sharks), D Van Rensburg (Leopards), M Newman (Western Province), B Basson (Griquas), E Rose (Gauteng), J Vermaak (Gauteng), W Kruger (Bulls), B Maku (Bulls), W Du Preez (Cheetahs), W Steenkamp (Bulls), 4-Steven Sykes (Sharks), J Deysel (Sharks), D Potgieter (Bulls), D Vermuelen (Western Province)

Replacements: T Liebenberg (Western Province), P Cilliers (Sharks), F Van Der Merwe (Gauteng), J Botes (Sharks), H Adams (Bulls), W de Waal (Western Province), D Demas (Cheetahs)

Date: Tuesday, June 23
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referee: Nigel Owens (Wales), Craig Joubert
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman