BRIAN O’DRISCOLL WILL start as captain of the British and Irish Lions for the second time in six days when they take on a Combined Country selection on Tuesday in Newcastle.
The former Ireland skipper is joined by three more Irishmen, including his successor as Irish captain, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien and Conor Murray. Rory Best will hope to get a chance to prove his worth off the bench.
O’Driscoll will, for the first time since 2009, renew his centre partnership with Jamie Roberts in a squad with no recognised experienced out-half.
Stuart Hogg starts at number 10 after being designated third choice for that role behind Owen Farrell and Jonathan Sexton. The two leading out-halves have been involved in all three tour matches to date and, during yesterday’s 12-22 win over the Reds, Sexton complained of a tight hamstring.
Hogg will be one of four starters who also played a large part in Brisbane. Alex Cuthbert is given another chance on the wing, opposite George North who played over an hour against Queensland following a stinger injury to Manu Tuilagi’s shoulder.
Lock Richie Gray also started at Suncorp Stadium. He is partnered here by Ian Evans behind a front row containing the newly arrived Alex Corbisiero.
The English prop arrived in Australia yesterday, in time to tag out the injured Gethin Jenkins and Cian Healy. The loose-head is joined in the front row by Richard Hibbard and Dan Cole.
O’Brien will pack down at blindside flanker with Justin Tipuric playing number seven and Jamie Heaslip anchoring the scrum.
Murray partners Hogg at half-back with Sean Maitland given an opportunity at fullback. And the Kiwi Scot may well be called upon to run in the 10 channel at some point with Mike Phillips, Jonathan Davies and Leigh Halfpenny the only back-line options among the replacements.
Lions XV(v Combined Country): Sean Maitland, Alex Cuthbert, Brian O’Driscoll (c), Jamie Roberts, George North, Stuart Hogg, Conor Murray: Alex Corbisiero, Richard Hibbard, Dan Cole, Richie Gray, Ian Evans, Sean O’Brien, Justin Tipuric, Jamie Heaslip.Replacements: Rory Best, Ryan Grant, Matt Stevens, Alun AW Jones, Toby Faletau, Mike Phillips, Jonathan Davies, Leigh Halfpenny.
