British & Irish Lions v Western Province

Saturday 13/6/2009 - Kick Off 1500

Newlands - Cape Town - South Africa

The British & Irish Lions up to now are unbeaten in South Africa and are two games away from the first test against the Springboks.  Ian McGeechan and team will have no doubt been working on the breakdown ahead of this game but they will not want to be giving too much of their game plan or moves away, as the Springbok team and Peter de Villiers seem to be watching their every move from the stands of the various stadia they have played in.

 British & Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan - All pictures by Empics

McGeechan said:  "I am very pleased.  We showed very strong discipline and patience - it was a very strong performance.   "You don't get carried away with things. The Test matches will be another level completely.   "We need to keep our feet on the ground. Our discipline and patience, and the fact we finished very strongly, showed the players are enjoying playing with the ball and without it."

The excitement is definitely mounting none more so than for the players who want that first Test Jersey, two games left and a great deal to play for.

Shane Williams, British and Irish Lions

Shane Williams today was quoted as saying:-  No one has an idea of who is going to be selected for the Test," said Williams. "The nerves are always there. It is nerve-wracking but you have got to do your talking on the field."   So he will be looking for a big game along with a number of other players. 

British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland  

Warren Gatland is also pleased with the way his team have been performing saying:-

"We have got to be prepared to go the full 80 minutes against South Africa. If we get into a slow, set-piece game and we let them dominate us with their potential power game we are going to struggle."   "We have got to be able to compete, take South Africa through phases and everyone will have to empty the tank. The players are doing that at the moment and we can't ask any more of them."

Very surprised to see Vickery as Captain, maybe it is to get him to use his head more?

Lions Team to face Western Province:-

15. Rob Kearney (Leinster/Ireland)
14. Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland)
13. Keith Earls (Munster/Ireland)
12. Riki Flutey (London Wasps/England)
11. Ugo Monye (Harlequins/England)
10. Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales)
9. Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England)
8. Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
7. Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
6. Joe Worsley (London Wasps/England)
5. Nathan Hines (Perpignan/Scotland)
4. Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster/Ireland)
3. Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England, captain)
2. Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales)
1. Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks/England)



Replacements
16. Ross Ford (Edinburgh/Scotland)
17. Euan Murray (Northampton Saints/Scotland)
18. Simon Shaw (London Wasps/England)
19. Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England)
20. Mike Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland)
21. James Hook (Ospreys/Wales)
22. Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster/Ireland)

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