South Africa v British & Irish Lions (Second Test)

The British and Irish Lions go into Saturday's second Test against South Africa with both history and altitude against them in Pretoria. There are five changes, four tactical and one enforced, for a game to be played at an altitude of over 1,200m.

Rob Kearney takes over at full-back with Luke Fitzgerald coming on to the wing, while Adam Jones, Matthew Rees and Simon Shaw beef up the front five.

After being totally outmuscled in the scrums and mauls last week, the Lions management have opted for an entirely different approach with the forward pack for the second test. Whilst last week’s emphasis was on mobility, bringing in the likes of Jones, Rees, Shaw, Ford and Sheridan into the 22 signifies the tourists won’t allow themselves to be bullied up front quite as much as they were in Bloemfontein.

The arrival of Shaw signals clear intent on the Lions part. Greater ballast at the scrum, a disruptive presence at the lineout to upset the Botha-Matfield machine, a strong mauling game, all qualities Shaw will bring to the field in Pretoria.

The complete removal of Lee Mears from the match day 22 is puzzling to say the least, even when taking into account his uncharacteristically below-par performance in the lineout last week. One can’t help but think his enthusiasm, energy and skills around the pitch would have been a fantastic attribute to have come off the bench with thirty minutes to go against a tired Bok team. An extremely harsh decision to get rid of Mears completely.

Another tough call is the removal of Ugo Monye, again, completely from the match day 22, after his disappointing finishing the week before in Bloemfontein. Excellent defense or not, Monye is being touted as a quality finisher and has paid the price for it with Luke Fitzegerald getting his chance in the starting line up.

“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," said McGeechan.

"As a squad the Lions still have everything to play for. 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 (on 4 July).”

"I would be very surprised if any of the Lions players take a backward step to any physical threat imposed by the South Africans. There is definitely no threat of us sitting back and playing negatively - we've got to go out and get stuck in."

South Africa make just one change with former International Rugby Board (IRB) player of the year Schalk Burger returning at open-side flanker in place of Heinrich Brussow, who drops to the bench.

There were a fair few positives in the second half, once the forward pack gave the Lions backs a good platform. Quick, quality ball from the breakdown will be key in the second test if the Lions will have any hopes of bringing their key attacking weapons in the centres into the game as they did in the final twenty minutes last week. Defensively the centre combination of Jamie Roberts and Brian O’Driscoll proved far too much for the Springboks and the Lions management will be hoping that this time, the tourists will be able to take their chances better.

South Africa on the other hand will have other ideas and you sense they will be relieved to have come through their first game in a long while with a victory. A week on and with a Test under their belt, the South Africans will be confident that the horrors of the final quarter will not be repeated. However, the Lions see their late collapse as proof that they lack an edge in terms of fitness and I believe that if they keep the ball moving and cut out the penalties, they will win in Pretoria.

South Africa:
F Steyn (Sharks); J P Pietersen (Sharks), A Jacobs (Sharks), J de Villiers (Stormers), B Habana (Blue Bulls); R Pienaar (Sharks), F du Preez (Blue Bulls); T Mtawarira (Sharks), B du Plessis (Sharks), J Smit (Sharks, capt), B Botha (Blue Bulls), V Matfield (Blue Bulls), S Burger (Stormers), J Smith (Cheetahs), P Spies (Blue Bulls).

Replacements: C Ralepelle (Blue Bulls), D Carstens (Sharks), A Bekker (Stormers), D Rossouw (Blue Bulls), H Brussow (Cheetahs), J Fourie (Golden Lions), M Steyn (Blue Bulls).

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).

Referee:
Christophe Berdos (France).