McGeechan picks Simon Shaw as Lions bulk up for second test

Shaw is one of only two Englishmen - the other is flanker Tom Croft - who will start in the Second Test in Pretoria against the Boks after prop Phil Vickery, hooker Lee Mears and wing Ugo Monye were all dropped.

Welsh pair Adam Jones and Matthew Rees come in to make it the first all Welsh front row since 1955.

Luke Fitzgerald replaces Monye on the left wing to make an all-Irish back three with full-back Rob Kearney, who is in for the injured Lee Byrne, and the excellent Tommy Bowe.

Alun-Wyn Jones has been consigned to the bench and replaced by Shaw, who has waited 12 years for his first Lions Test start.

He will play alongside captain Paul O'Connell as McGeechan bolsters his pack following last week's defeat.

The head coach said: "There were a number of close calls and we have opted for what we believe are the best combinations for Saturday.

"We have adjusted the way we want to play and Luke Fitzgerald had a good game on Tuesday and deserves his chance on the wing.

"Simon Shaw is playing his 18th Lions match and his first Test and has enormous experience. We believe he can do a good job for us."

Shaw was part of the 1997 squad that defeated South Africa 2-1 and went to New Zealand in 2005 but was only in the midweek side. He said: "It has been a hell of journey.

"I was chuffed to bits when I was told and struggled not to smile because I didn't want to be seen to be smug as I've been on the other side of the equation."

LIONS v SOUTH AFRICA

15 R Kearney (Ireland)
14 T Bowe (Ireland)
13 B O'Driscoll (Ireland)
12 J Roberts (Wales)
11 L Fitzgerald (Ireland)
10 S Jones (Wales)
9 M Phillips (Wales)
1 G Jenkins (Wales)
2 M Rees (Wales)
3 A Jones (Wales)
4 S Shaw (England)
5 P O'Connell (capt, Ireland)
6 T Croft (England)
7 D Wallace (Ireland)
8 J Heaslip (Ireland)

Replacements:- R Ford (Wal), A Sheridan (Eng), A W Jones (Wal), M Williams (Wal), H Ellis (Eng), R O'Gara (Ire), S Williams (Wal)