South Africa v Lions: Teams

Defence coach Shaun Edwards has told the British and Irish Lions that they must get stuck into South Africa early if they are to level the Test series.

The Lions go into the game 1-0 after losing the opening Test 26-21 in Durban.

However the Lions were made to pay for their slow start as they found themselves 26-7 down.

And Edwards insists that his side cannot afford to allow the Springboks to build up an early advantage in Pretoria.

"The big thing with South Africa is you cannot allow them to get into a lead," Edwards told Sky Sports News.

"England saw that in the World Cup final.

"If you let them into a lead they are very good at putting a stranglehold on the game.

"We need to be in touch with them after half-an-hour."

The Lions have made five changes for the match, with Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Simon Shaw, Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney all called into the starting XV.

And Edwards believes the inclusion of Shaw will be key for the Lions around the breakdown.

"There is no doubt that Simon Shaw is one of the best defensive players in the world," he said. "He is a colossus."

Defence

South Africa assistant coach Dick Muir insists the Boks have learned their lessons from the first Test.

The Boks looked to be cruising to victory before the Lions launched a stirring fightback.

And having seen Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts cause havoc in the midfield, the world champions will be looking at tightening their defence.

"They managed to cut a lot of holes in our defence and when you allow a side to do that, they grow in confidence," said Muir.

"So we'll be looking to shut them out from a first phase perspective.

"We enjoy that physical confrontation and challenge, so our players will be up for it defensively this week. I'm confident of that."

The Boks have made just one change to their side for the clash with, Schalk Burger replacing Heinrich Brussow in the back-row.

The Boks have also gone for a five-two split on the bench, with coach Peter de Villiers opting to go without scrum-half cover among the replacements.

South Africa: 15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adi Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Heinrich Brussow, 21 Jaque Fourie, 22 Morne Steyn.

British and Irish Lions: 15 R Kearney (Leinster and Ireland); 14 T Bowe (Ospreys and Ireland), 13 B O'Driscoll (Leinster and Ireland), 12 J Roberts (Cardiff Blues and Wales), 11 L Fitzgerald (Leinster and Ireland); 10 S Jones (Scarlets and Wales), 9 M Phillips (Ospreys and Wales); 1 G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues and Wales), 2 M Rees (Scarlets and Wales), 3 A Jones (Ospreys and Wales), 4 S Shaw (Wasps and England), 5 P O'Connell (Munster and Ireland, capt), 6 T Croft (Leicester and England), 7 D Wallace (Munster and Ireland), 8 J Heaslip (Leinster and Ireland).
Replacements: 16 R Ford (Edinburgh and Scotland), 17 A Sheridan (Sale and England), 18 AW Jones (Ospreys and Wales), 19 M Williams (Cardiff and Wales), 20 H Ellis (Leicester and England), 21 R O'Gara (Munster and Ireland), 22 S Williams (Ospreys and Wales).