Afternoon:
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Phil Vickery has been handed the Lions captaincy against Western Province and admitted it could be his last chance to win a Test place on this tour. With just two provincial matches left before head coach Ian McGeechan names his team to take on South Africa in eight days' time, the game in Cape Town tomorrow has huge significance for those involved.
Vickery will captain the Lions for the first time and has the responsibility of maintaining the tourists' four-game unbeaten run.
The prop admitted: "I don't want to be part of a Lions team that lose on this tour and I certainly don't want to be the captain who suffers defeat for the first time."
Vickery, who led England to the 2007 World Cup Final where they lost to South Africa, has defied long-term neck problems to still be vying for a Test place at 33. Today he paid tribute to London Wasps for reviving his career after Gloucester decided three years ago he was an injury liability.
"Getting on this tour was a huge ask and I believe I earned the right to be here," he said. "When I joined Wasps I remember the then owner Chris Wright being asked about the gamble he was taking signing me.
"I thought to myself it probably was a gamble for him. However, since joining Wasps, I have won a lot more caps and captained my country to the World Cup Final and now I am leading the Lions in South Africa.
"This could be my last chance to prove I deserve a shot at the Test side and I want to make sure my name is down there somewhere on the team sheet," said Vickery. "It never crossed my mind that I would get this huge honour and it's a great buzz."
However, the 2003 World Cup winner is aware of the potential pitfalls that await at Newlands tomorrow.
He said: "This is a very dangerous time of the tour with the First Test just eight days away and two matches to play before then. Test selection is up for grabs and there is everything to play for tomorrow. We all want to make it as difficult as possible for the management to pick that team.
"This is a really big game, everyone is aware of that and we want to keep the ball rolling. You cannot underestimate the danger of this game because Western Province will be very close-knit. If I was in their camp I would be thinking 'it's eight days away from the Test, will the Lions be going hell for leather as some of them may have one eye on selection?' We have to be careful not to be carried away with the peripheral stuff."
Vickery has an outstanding opportunity of claiming the Test No3 jersey ahead of Scotland's Euan Murray and that first clash with the Springboks in Durban is also a real possibility for wings Tommy Bowe and Ugo Monye, fly-half Stephen Jones and loose-head prop Andrew Sheridan.
Having opted to play middle jumpers Paul O'Connell and Alun-Wyn Jones in the win over the Sharks on Wednesday, the Lions have been forced to put Nathan Hines in the middle tomorrow with Donncha O'Callaghan at the front. As a result, Simon Shaw is not going to start his second tour match until next Tuesday against the Southern Kings, which leaves him a lot of ground to make up.
Martyn Williams appears at openside flanker after a shoulder injury knowing that David Wallace has all but sewn up the Test position but the experienced Welsh forward could force a rethink if he can produce a ball-winning performance tomorrow.
Riki Flutey, having saved his tour by following an intensive rehab programme, will aim to show that his right knee is fully fit although there is little chance he can oust Jamie Roberts from the inside-centre role for the Test.
Vickery will lead from the front and enjoys the very physical rugby South African's love to inflict on opponents and is taking heart from the arrival of more Lions fans who are flocking into Cape Town for this match.
"For the first time you notice the number of supporters who are in town and the Red Army is arriving in strength and all the talk is about the Test but we have to keep winning," said Vickery.
The Lions have posted 176 points in their four matches and McGeechan is delighted by the spirit among his men. He said: "The squad is very close as a group of players but there is now a competitive edge developing as we approach the Test series."
As for Vickery's appointment, McGeechan added: "It is just reward for a thoroughly professional player."
Lions (versus Western Province):
R Kearney (Ire), T Bowe (Ire), K Earls (Ire), R Flutey (Eng), U Monye (Eng), S Jones (Wal), H Ellis (Eng), A Sheridan (Eng), M Rees (Wal), P Vickery (Eng capt), D O'Callaghan (Ire), N Hines (Scot), J Worsley (Eng), M Williams (Wal), A Powell (Wal).
Replacements: R Ford (Scot), E Murray (Scot), S Shaw (Eng), T Croft (Eng), M Blair (Scot), J Hook (Wal), G D'Arcy (Ire)
Boys on tour
* They may not have made Britain's Got Talent but the Lions are attempting to show they have some musical skills. The tourists are proving to be pretty tuneful with a trio of guitarists, a pianist and a singing Maori. Although Simon Shaw insists that Joe Worsley can only play one tune on the piano he has been winning plaudits from fellow players while Andrew Sheridan, Tommy Bowe and Jamie Roberts provide the guitar backing for vocalist Riki Flutey. This week South Africa, next week the world.
