All change for the Lions
Published on: 5th June, 2009
All change for the Lions | Related News
The British and Irish Lions have handed first starts of the tour to nine players for the clash against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
Donncha O’Callaghan, Leigh Halfpenny and Luke Fitzgerald will all be involved in their first match since arriving in South Africa, while Andy Powell, Stephen Ferris, Euan Murray, Ross Ford, Harry Ellis and James Hook start having previously been among the replacements.
Gordon D’Arcy, who has just teamed up with the Lions as cover, is also named on the bench meaning that all players should have had some game time come the end of Saturday’s match.
Head coach Ian McGeechan said: “With the selection of Donncha O’Callaghan, Leigh Halfpenny and Luke Fitzgerald in the starting XV it means that all the squad players will have taken to the field according to plan.
“We also have new arrival Gordon D’Arcy on the bench which gives him a chance to get straight into the action.
“Although there are no players backing up from the starting XV against the Golden Lions several of the replacements who saw action in that match have now been selected for their first start.
“For the Cheetahs match Andy Powell, Stephen Ferris, Euan Murray, Ross Ford, Harry Ellis and James Hook are all in the starting XV team for the first time.”
“The team includes an all Welsh back three, an Irish combination in midfield and a Munster second row pairing.
“We are also are continuing to build partnerships and combinations among the players from the four nations and this is reflected in the front row where Scottish team-mates Euan Murray and Ross Ford will pack down in the front row alongside Andrew Sheridan, and the backrow where three players from three different nations will play alongside each other.”
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