McGeechan: different faces, same passion (From Campaign Series)

McGeechan: different faces, same passion

10:00pm Friday 3rd July 2009

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IAN McGeechan has backed a much-changed British and Irish Lions team to produce another combative performance in tomorrow's Test series finale against South Africa at Ellis Park.

The Lions, 2-0 down with one game left, are desperate for a successful tour conclusion following agonising failures in Durban and Pretoria.

But another Springboks win would make it eight successive overseas Test defeats for the Lions and see them suffer a first series whitewash at South Africa's hands in 118 years.

To compound the Lions' tough task, they must go into battle without four injured players - centres Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts, plus props Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones.

McGeechan has made seven changes following a last-kick 28-25 defeat at Loftus Versfeld six days ago, while Ireland Grand Slam wing Tommy Bowe moves into midfield.

The alterations include a recall for England prop Phil Vickery, who was dropped last weekend following his mauling at the hands of revered Springboks scrummager Tendai 'The Beast' Mtawarira in Durban.

"We've tried to freshen it up - there have been some tight calls over the first two Tests,’’ said Lions head coach McGeechan.

"They (the first two Tests) have been two fantastic games of rugby, with a lot of plusses, and I hope it will be the same again on Saturday.

"We certainly don't want to go back on the way we've been playing, or on our approach and attitude.

"If we get enough right, we hope we will be in there with a shot of winning the game.

"We've got a new challenge. Those players are very keen they show their own capabilities, and I am very encouraged by just what they've done in training this week.

"The players out there will want to respond very positively. If we play well enough to win, it will be a very sweet victory.’’ South Africa are without banned forwards Schalk Burger and Bakkies Botha, with a raft of changes made by coach Peter de Villiers including starts for full-back Zane Kirchner, wing Jongi Nokwe, fly-half Morne Steyn and hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle, who have just eight caps between them.

Most attention will inevitably be concentrated on the scrum, given 33-year-old Vickery's reappearance opposite Mtawarira, but McGeechan added: "Phil is a world-class prop and an outstanding tourist.

"He put all his efforts into supporting Adam (Jones) when he got the position for the second Test, and you couldn't have asked for any more.

"Technically, he helped him, working with him, and that's the way he has kept himself very close to what we have been doing. He has been tremendous in the support he has given.’’ Elsewhere, Andrew Sheridan packs down instead of Jenkins, with Bowe and England's Riki Flutey forging a new midfield partnership, while Shane Williams and Ugo Monye take the wing slots.

For Monye, like Vickery, it is a grateful return following his costly failure to execute two gilt-edged try chances during the 26-21 first Test defeat.

England flanker Joe Worsley, meanwhile, takes over from Tom Croft, with Wales openside Martyn Williams gaining a first Test start on his third Lions tour just two months before turning 34.

Five players - Bowe, fly-half Stephen Jones, scrum-half Mike Phillips, skipper Paul O'Connell and number eight Jamie Heaslip - will head home next week having had the distinction of starting all three Tests.

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