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Ian McGeechan made swingeing changes today as he axed five players from last Saturday's defeat by South Africa and handed a first Lions Test start to 35-year-old Simon Shaw.
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)
Reader views (7)
What a sad indictment for the Guinness Premiership that only 4 of the 22 British Lions selected today to face the World Champions playin that league while the rest, 18, play in the Magners League. And selected a 36 year old English lock could rebound very badly.
- Keith Price, Luton, England
It is truly unbelievable to select Shaw ahead of O'Callaghan. On tuesday O'Callaghan was the only Lion to shine. This management team should not have been appointed. It is no coincidence that Shaw is a wasp. How does Sheridan rate selection he hasn't played for weeks how can he be match fit/hardened. What was the point of flying Palmer out, other than he is another wasp, surely if Sheridan is fit to play saturday he was fit to play tuesday against a team of juniors?
Also how does Croft keep his place not one line-out take and not one steal from a loose ruck. Great that he was up with the play to score two tries the first of which was forward because he overran O'Driscoll. Again what has Shane Williams done on tour? He should not be selected on form, he was very good but he has not had a good tour.I would also question Wyn Jones selection as sub. As an ex sec row playing 1st team rugby I have never rated Wyn Jones. He play on the fringe, never gets stuck-in or secures enough line out possession. For a man of his height. Unfortunately we are headed for another defeat with this selection.
- Des Egan, london england
I hope its "game on" Mr Ritchie and no doubt the Lions scratch team will give it everything in the 2nd test as will the Boks. But if the Lions get badly beaten by the Boks, simply because they have hardly played together at test level, its time for "game off" for Lions scratch team tours which feed the egos and the pockets of tri-nations teams that need no feeding.
Yes 4 years ago Carter and co. were awesome but that didn't fully explain just how embarassingly one sided the 3 tests were - the fact that the Lions are a scratch side mainly did. This time we have Geech, not Clive the magician, but unlikely to be enough for the Lions.
- Jim, London
So the Lions Tours are only justified if they win Jim? What utter tosh. I am a Bok fan and know that luck, not skill won the first Test for the Boks! The Lions won last time in SA but lost to a brilliant NZ team. That performance from Carter was awesome! So far the Lions are unbeaten bar tthe first Test. The series is there for them to win but they are playing the World 15 & 7's Champions, have a tiny bit of respect when your much vaunted NH scrum is destroyed. You Lions supporters believed your own propaganda that the SANZAR teams cannot scrum, oh yeah? Game on!
- James Ritchie, Oyster Bay Cove, NY
Chris, Williams only made the tour on reputation, after a poor 6 nations. He should not be picked on past glories. One good season & you Welsh go mad for him
- Liphook Nonsense, UK
I am fed up with all the comment about the supposedly poor form of Shane Williams. I have watched all the lions matches and have yet to see him receive a half way decent pass. Given the opportunities Monye had in the first test, Williams would have had two tries for sure. He is a proven finisher at the highest level and has the unique ability to turn nothing into a try - see his second try for Wales against the springboks last year.
- Chris Rowe, Liphook UK
I want to believe in the Lions - that a team of the best players from the 4 home nations is better than any one of the 4 national teams.
But they need to win this test to continue to justify their existence. Otherwise, I will cynically feel it is being continued as a concept to make money for SANSAR local economies, the rugby unions and players involved (who get up to £50k each), the sponsors and media broadcasters.
In these recessionary times, we fans are not mugs.
We can smell the difference between world class competitive sport and a cynical commercially driven tour where everyone makes money, never mind the contest, while the fans pay hard earned money for it all (even when some of them are losing their jobs) and show incredible loyalty which is not being reciprocated by those in control.
- Jim, London
