Lions name squad for ACT game

Irish outhalf Ronan O'Gara, second-row Jeremy Davidson and flanker David Wallace are in the Lions team named to face the ACT …

Irish outhalf Ronan O'Gara, second-row Jeremy Davidson and flanker David Wallace are in the Lions team named to face the ACT Brumbies tomorrow.

But injuries and suspension have forced the Lions to include some of their test players in the squad for theBrumbies game.

Lions coach Graham Henry had wanted to save his best players for next weekend's second test against Australia, but he was forced to include nine of the top team for the clash with the Super 12 champions.

"It's not ideal, we didn't want to do it but we didn't have a choice," Henry said.

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English backrower Martin Corry was the only player who began last weekend's first test win over Australia required to start against the Brumbies.

But Lions captain Martin Johnson and Welsh wing Dafydd James were named on the replacements' bench, and six of the seven test reserves were also called into the squad.

The only exception was Welsh back-row forward Colin Charvis, who is currently serving a two-match suspension for kneeing Australian prop Nick Stiles during the first test.

Lions:15-Iain Balshaw; 14-Ben Cohen, 13-Mark Taylor, 12-Scott Gibbs, 11-Austin Healey; 10-Ronan O'Gara, 9-Matt Dawson; 8-Martin Corry, 7-Martyn Williams, 6-David Wallace, 5-Scott Murray, 4-Jeremy Davidson; 3-David Young (captain), 2-Dorian West, 1-Darren Morris.

Replacements: 16-Jason Leonard, 17-Gordon Bulloch, 18-Martin Johnson, 19-Malcolm O'Kelly, 20-Neil Jenkins, 21-Dafydd James, 22-Tyrone Howe.

ACT:15-Mark Bartholomeusz; 14-Damien McInally, 13-Graeme Bond, 12-James Holbeck, 11-Willie Gordon; 10-Pat Howard, 9-Travis Hall; 8-Jim Williams (captain), 7-Des Tuiavii, 6-Daniel Vickerman, 5-Peter Ryan, 4-Justin Harrison; 3-Matt Weaver, 2-Adam Freier, 1-Angus Scott.

Replacements: 16-David Palavi, 17-Damien Drew, 18-David Pusey, 19-Radike Samo, 20-Matt Henjak, 21-Julian Huxley, 22-Cameron Pither.