O'Driscoll and Roberts start for Lions

Alex Lowe,Pa
Monday 08 June 2009 08:32 EDT
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Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts will reprise their destructive centre partnership when the Lions tackle the Sharks in Durban on Wednesday.

Head coach Ian McGeechan has continued to mix and match his selections as the first Test against South Africa looms on the horizon.

But he has also returned to proven combinations in the form of O'Driscoll and Roberts, who proved almost unstoppable in the Lions' record 74-10 victory over the Golden Lions, and in the back row.

The dynamic trio of Tom Croft, Jamie Heaslip and David Wallace will all start against the Sharks, who finished sixth in the Super 14.

Lions captain Paul O'Connell and O'Driscoll have both been named in the same team for the first time on tour.

O'Connell is one of four players to be thrust back into action after starting Saturday's tough win over the Cheetahs.

The others are Luke Fitzgerald, who returns to his more natural position on the wing, Shane Williams and Lee Byrne.

O'Connell will pack down with his third different second row partner of the tour in Alun Wyn Jones.

The Lions are also trying new starting combinations in the half-backs, where Mike Phillips will link up with Ronan O'Gara, and in the front row with Lee Mears to hook between Welsh props Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins.

McGeechan will use Wednesday's clash in Durban and Saturday's encounter with Western Province to finalise his selection plans for the first Test.

Martyn Williams is the only member of the squad unavailable for selection but Lions doctor James Robson expects the Wales flanker to recover from a shoulder problem in time for the weekend.

England centre Riki Flutey has been included on the bench after recovering from a knee injury which almost forced him off the tour.

McGeechan said: "I am delighted that as we head into the fourth match we only have one player who is unavailable for selection.

"The players and the medical staff have managed the injuries that have been sustained in a very professional manner.

"This is crucial as we enter matches against two of South Africa's strongest provinces in the Sharks and Western Province in the space of four days.

"Paul will start with his third different second row partner in Alun-Wyn Jones, while we also have new starting partnerships in the back three, the halfbacks and in the front row.

"While we have these new starting partnerships for the Sharks match we also have a centre pairing in Jamie Roberts and Brian O'Driscoll, and a backrow of Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace and Tom Croft that have played together on tour in the Golden Lions match."

Flutey has been troubled with a knee injury since appearing as a replacement during the Lions' opening fixture against the Royal XV in Rustenburg nine days ago.

The Brive-bound centre has been undergoing treatment every two hours night and day and will be anxious to make an impact off the bench.

The Lions are unbeaten so far on tour but the record victory over the Golden Lions was sandwiched by unconvincing wins against a Royal XV and the Cheetahs.

Tour manager Gerald Davies said: "We are now halfway through the provincial matches prior to the first Test and the important factor is that the Lions are unbeaten.

"The next challenge is the Sharks in Durban. The selected team will want to ensure that the 100% playing record is maintained with a victory at ABSA Stadium which is also the venue of the First Test."

Team: 15-Lee Byrne, 14-Shane Williams, 13-Brian O'Driscoll, 12-Jamie Roberts, 11-Luke Fitzgerald, 10-Ronan O'Gara, 9-Mike Phillips, 8-Jamie Heaslip, 7-David Wallace, 6-Tom Croft, 5-Paul O'Connell (captain), 4-Alun-Wyn Jones, 3-Adam Jones, 2-Lee Mears, 1-Gethin Jenkins.

Replacements: 16-Matthew Rees, 17-Phil Vickery, 18-Simon Shaw, 19-Joe Worsley, 20-Mike Blair, 21-Riki Flutey, 22- Leigh Halfpenny.

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