Sharks v B&I Lions: Teams
Sharks captain Johann Muller is expecting his side to be tested across the field on Wednesday.
Last Updated: 09/06/09 3:26pm
Sharks captain Johann Muller is expecting his side to be tested across the field on Wednesday.
Despite just edging out the Cheetahs 26-24, the Sharks are refusing to read too much into that scoreline - with Muller bracing himself for a tough afternoon.
"Their score against the Cheetahs was close, but they (the Lions) are still a very good team," said Muller.
"It takes a special effort to go 20-0 up in Bloemfontein and I think the Lions players fell asleep after that.
"They throw the ball around a lot and they have a good pack and backs, so our guys are going to be tested in all facets of the game.
"There was also a big focus on the scrums and the breakdowns in their last two games, so we are going to have to try to dominate there."
Despite missing a number of their current crop of Springboks, the Sharks will still have a big experience pack to call on.
Keegan Daniel, Jacques Botes and big Jean Deysel are named in the back-row, while the Shark have two experienced Springbok props in Deon Carstens - released from the Bok squad for the game by coach Peter de Villiers - and Jannie du Plessis.
The Lions have continued to rotate their line-up ahead of the Test series with the Boks - however coach Ian McGeechan has still named a strong side.
Chance
The centre combination of Jamie Roberts and Brian O'Driscoll looks nailed on to be the pairing for the Tests, while Tom Croft, David Wallace and Jamie Heaslip could start against South Africa on June 20 if they perform as well against the Sharks as they did the Golden Lions.
Skipper Paul O'Connell will lead the side for the second successive game, with Alun-Wyn Jones given the chance to partner him in the second row.
There is an interesting partnership at half-back with Ronan O'Gara and Mike Phillips looking to gel, while Lee Byrne, Shane Williams and Luke Fitzgerald will make up the back three.
The front-row will see Lee Mears partnered by Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones in the front row.
The Lions have received a late injury set-back with Leigh Halfpenny pulling out, so James Hook comes in on the bench. However Riki Flutey has been declared fit to take his place among the replacements.
Sharks: S Terblanche; C Jordaan, A Strauss, R Swanepoel, L Vulindlu; M Dumond, R Kockott; D Carstens, S Badenhorst, J du Plessis, S Sykes, J Muller (capt), J Botes, J Deysel, K Daniel.
Replacements: C Burden, P Cilliers, A van den Berg, M Rhodes, C McLeod, G Cronje, L Mvovo.
British and Irish Lions: L Byrne (Ospreys and Wales); S Williams (Ospreys and Wales), B O'Driscoll (Leinster and Ireland), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues and Wales), L Fitzgerald (Leinster and Ireland); R O'Gara (Munster and Ireland), M Phillips (Ospreys and Wales); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues and Wales), L Mears (Bath and England), A Jones (Ospreys and Wales), A-W Jones (Ospreys and Wales), P O'Connell (Munster and Ireland, capt), T Croft (Leicester and England), D Wallace (Munster and Ireland), J Heaslip (Leinster and Ireland).
Replacements: M Rees (Scarlets and Wales), P Vickery (Wasps and England), S Shaw (Wasps and England), J Worsley (Wasps and England), M Blair (Edinburgh and Scotland), R Flutey (Wasps and England), J Hook (Ospreys and Wales).