The British and Irish Lions named a near-full-strength team today to play New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday in the fifth match of their 10-game tour of Australia.
Lions coach Graham Henry made 12 changes to the side beaten 28-25 by Australia A yesterday.
Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll and Keith Wood return to the team at centre and hooker. Ronan O’Gara, an unused sub in yesterday’s game, is again named on the bench.
Henry said the team to play the NSW Waratahs was close to the side that will play Australia in the first test in Brisbane on June 30th.
Welsh scrumhalf Rob Howley was not considered for the match because of a hip injury, so England's Matt Dawson will wear the number nine shirt.
In-form English flanker Richard Hill was named on the subs bench to give Lawrence Dallaglio another chance to prove his fitness after injury forced him to miss the first three games of the tour.
The Lions selectors said they would wait until next Tuesday's match against NSW Country before finalising their test team.
Lions team:15-Iain Balshaw; 14-Dafydd James, 13-Brian O'Driscoll, 12-Will Greenwood, 11-Dan Luger; 10-Jonny Wilkinson, 9-Matt Dawson; 8-Scott Quinnell, 7-Neil Back, 6-Lawrence Dallaglio, 5-Danny Grewcock, 4-Martin Johnson (captain); 3-Phil Vickery, 2-Keith Wood, 1-Darren Morris.
Replacements:16-Tom Smith, 17-Robin McBryde, 18-Martin Corry, 19-Richard Hill, 20-Austin Healey, 21-Ronan O'Gara, 22-Jason Robinson.
New South Wales Waratahs squad:Al Baxter, Peter Besseling, Cameron Blades, Tom Bowman, Brendan Cannon, Ed Carter, Manuel Edmonds, Lee Green, Sam Harris, Drew Hickey, Luke Inman, Duncan McCrae, Rod Moore, Patricio Noriega, Sam Payne, Stuart Pinkerton, Sikeli QauQau, Sili Sinau, Scott Staniforth, Richard Tombs, Phil Waugh, Jono West.