Moment of truth near for British Lions June 18, 2009
The agonising wait for the British and Irish Lions is almost over with the team for the first Test against South Africa to be named Thursday.
Head coach Ian McGeechan will reveal the starting 15 and seven replacements to his squad during morning training and inform the media at noon in a plush hotel in this Indian Ocean city.
Injured Wales utility back James Hook and Scotland prop Euan Murray are the only touring players who will not be considered for selection against world champions South Africa here on Saturday.
They were early casualties in a bruising battle against Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth Tuesday, which the Lions won 20-8 with a Ugo Monye try 10 minutes after half-time the turning point.
Fly-half Hook received a blow to the head and tighthead Murray twisted his ankle in the opening sports fixture at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, the first of six new 2010 FIFA World Cup venues to be completed.
Although assistant coach Rob Howley claimed there was a "cynical mark on the game" in the coastal city, no Kings player was cited by the tourists when the 12-hour window elapsed.
"There were a number of off-the-ball incidents that were not picked up by the referee. Incidents, particularly with Gordon D'Arcy, went undetected," Howley told a media conference.
Scot McGeechan, mastermind behind a 2-1 Test series triumph when the Lions last toured South Africa 12 years ago, faces a welcome "headache" of strong competition for places.
And he will decide which players are best suited to tame the powerful Springboks boosted by six victories from six outings in the build-up to the three Tests.
After launching their 10-match tour by defeating a Royal XV (37-25), the Lions conquered Golden Lions (74-10), Free State Cheetahs (26-24), Coastal Sharks (39-3), Western Province (26-23) and Southern Kings.
The Lions scored 26 tries and kicked 22 conversions and 16 penalties, but did not manage to drop a goal in Potchestroom, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Durban, Cape Town or Port Elizabeth.
McGeechan last entered a Test series boasting a 100 percent tour record 20 years ago in Australia and they went on to defeat the Wallabies 2-1 after losing the first encounter.
Possible team (15-1)
Lee Byrne (WAL); Tommy Bowe (IRL), Brian O'Driscoll (IRL), Jamie Roberts (WAL), Shane Williams (WAL); Stephen Jones (WAL), Mike Phillips (WAL); Jamie Heaslip (IRL), Martyn Williams (WAL), Tom Croft (ENG); Nathan Hines (SCO), Paul O'Connell (IRL, capt); Phil Vickery (ENG), Lee Mears (ENG), Gethin Jenkins (WAL).
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