All change for the Lions

The British and Irish Lions have handed first starts of the tour to nine players for the clash against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

Donncha O'Callaghan, Leigh Halfpenny and Luke Fitzgerald will all be involved in their first match since arriving in South Africa, while Andy Powell, Stephen Ferris, Euan Murray, Ross Ford, Harry Ellis and James Hook start having previously been among the replacements.

Gordon D'Arcy, who has just teamed up with the Lions as cover, is also named on the bench meaning that all players should have had some game time come the end of Saturday's match.

Head coach Ian McGeechan said: "With the selection of Donncha O'Callaghan, Leigh Halfpenny and Luke Fitzgerald in the starting XV it means that all the squad players will have taken to the field according to plan.

"We also have new arrival Gordon D'Arcy on the bench which gives him a chance to get straight into the action.

"Although there are no players backing up from the starting XV against the Golden Lions several of the replacements who saw action in that match have now been selected for their first start.

"For the Cheetahs match Andy Powell, Stephen Ferris, Euan Murray, Ross Ford, Harry Ellis and James Hook are all in the starting XV team for the first time."

"The team includes an all Welsh back three, an Irish combination in midfield and a Munster second row pairing.

"We are also are continuing to build partnerships and combinations among the players from the four nations and this is reflected in the front row where Scottish team-mates Euan Murray and Ross Ford will pack down in the front row alongside Andrew Sheridan, and the backrow where three players from three different nations will play alongside each other."

Marker

Paul O'Connell returns to the line-up to lead the side after being rested for the 74-10 rout against the Golden Lions.

And following a sparkling display from a number of players in that thrashing, tour manager Gerald Davies believes the game against the Cheetahs gives some of the other members of the squad the chance to shine.

Davies said: "The starting XV to play the Cheetahs is an interesting one with club and country combinations in many areas.

"The boys who played against the Golden Lions put down a marker in terms of the way we want to play and I know those playing against the Cheetahs will be very keen to keep the momentum going and produce another strong Lions performance."

The Cheetahs have named Springboks Heinrich Brüssow, Meyer Bosman, Wian du Preez and Adriaan Strauss in their side to tackle the Lions.

The four had been part of the South Africa training squad in the build up to the series against the Lions, however they failed to make the final cut.

The Cheetahs will be without Juan Smith, though, with Hendro Scholtz leading the side in the absence of the Boks blindside flank.

Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Danwel Demas, 13 Corne Uys, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 JW Jonker, 10 Jaques- Louis Potgieter, 9 Tewis De Bruyn, 8 Hendro Scholtz (captain), 7 Francois Uys, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 David De Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian Du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 WP Nel, 18 Frans Viljoen, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Gerrie Odendaal, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 Fabian Juries.

British and Irish Lions: 15 Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales), 14 Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues/Wales), 13 Keith Earls (Munster/Ireland), 12 Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster/Ireland), 11 Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales), 10 James Hook (Ospreys/Wales), 9 Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England), 8 Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues/Wales), 7 Joe Worsley (London Wasps/England), 6 Stephen Ferris (Ulster/Ireland), 5 Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster/Ireland), 3 Euan Murray (Northampton Saints/Scotland), 2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh/Scotland), 1 Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks/England).
Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales), 17 Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales), 18 Simon Shaw (London Wasps/England), 19 Nathan Hines (Perpignan/Scotland), 20 Mike Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland), 21 Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland), 22 Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster/Ireland)