The British and Irish Lions have dropped abrasive scrumhalf Mike Phillips and flanker Tom Croft in two shock selections for Saturday night’s second Test against the Wallabies.
With their first series success in 16 years beckoning, the Lions made five changes to the starting side which beat Australia 23-21 at Suncorp Stadium last weekend.
Tight-five members Paul O’Connell (broken arm) and Alex Corbisiero (calf) were ruled out with injury, but Phillips, Croft and winger Alex Cuthbert were all dropped.
Dynamic English halfback Ben Youngs replaces Phillips, hard-working Welsh flanker Dan Lydiate takes Croft’s spot while Irish winger Tommy Bowe has made a remarkable recovery from a broken hand to wear No.14.
Coach Warren Gatland said the changes just demonstrated how strong the depth was in his squad.
Gatland said the quality of his halfbacks and knee soreness contributed to the dumping of Phillips, who also missed a spot on the bench.
“The decision was to rest him for this week and he’s potentially a key component for next week,” he said
On the promotion of Lydiate, who captained the Lions’ mid-week team to a 35-0 tour win over the Melbourne Rebels on Tuesday night, has long been a Gatland favourite for Wales.
“This is a do-or-die match for Australia and we decided to bring more physicality to our side,” the Lions coach said.
Gatland said it was a “huge” recovery by Bowe, who was initially expected to be sidelined for six weeks.
Mako Vunipola replaces Corbisiero at loosehead prop while lock Geoff Parling has been promoted with Irish veteran O’Connell ruled out.
Back-rower Toby Faletau couldn’t force his way into the side despite a strong showing against the Rebels on Tuesday night. Manu Tuilagi has also missed out.
British & Irish Lions versus Wallabies, June 29, Melbourne
15. Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
14. Tommy Bowe (Ulster/Ireland)
13. Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster/Ireland)
12. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets/Wales)
11. George North (Scarlets/Wales)
10. Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/Ireland)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers/England)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland)
7. Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues/Wales) Captain
6. Dan Lydiate (Dragons/Wales)
5. Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers/England)
4. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
3. Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
2. Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers/England)
1. Makovina Vunipola (Saracens/England)
Replacements
16. Richard Hibbard (Ospreys/Wales)
17. Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
18. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers/England)
19. Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England)
20. Sean O’Brien (Leinster/Ireland)
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Ireland)
22. Owen Farrell (Saracens/England)
23. Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
– with AAP.
ScotandProud
Guest
Given the choices - Tipuric SOB Faletau who I have as slightly ahead of Heaslip in a choice between two short, lightweight and non-carrying no.8s who make picking a balanced back row pretty difficult. Ben Morgan should have been in this squad. Warburton was nowhere last weak and now he's partnered by the only player who's been defended as good on the basis that we don't ever see him in a game... Even Richard Hill may not have been mentioned that much but he stood out on TV. Let's see what happens at that breakdown. 2 weak LH options, a weak scrummaging second row and at the back 2 flankers who are at the bottom of the heap in terms of selections. I wanna see a Lions win but Gatland is looking to play a power game using Welsh wusses to 'steamroller' the Aussies. We'll see what happens.
Kevin Rudolph
Guest
Yeah. I'm not an Aussie though. :P
Anthony Hird
Roar Guru
It is against Les Bleus. I think I should have stated that the Aussie teams have closed the gap, and now the ABs aren't as dominant. Bledisloe is heating up to be a great contest.
Anthony Hird
Roar Guru
How so? He is a very talented winger, and he will surely do the green and gold justice!?
lions supporter
Guest
it should be tupiric / obrien and faleteu...dogs the three of them
lions supporter
Guest
agreed aussies owned the breakdown last week and turned the scrum around in the S.H.... lions ploy is keep it tight hold onto the ball starve Australia...it's a dull approach given the backs but the tour is a must win otherwise the brand is looking in jeopardy
lions supporter
Guest
very true but i reckon he was injured - conor murray plays the same game and was ireland scrum half when they stuffed you guys in the RWC..ben young will be on for a while and if the lions are on top he will flourish...going backward though he will disintegrate
lions supporter
Guest
yep if sean o brien was welsh he'd be no 1....croft is a joke and lydiate is out of game time..leinster have been the top european team for the past 5 years and that was built initially around rocky elsom then sean o brien....gatland is a knob..he hates Ireland as they gave him the boot in 2001
lions supporter
Guest
ha ha..they just cant take a beating ..not an england fan but they were smashed that day and had every excuse under the sun to spin it.
lions supporter
Guest
the all blacks would have smashed the lions last week...austrailia were very unlucky...the lions are an N.H all stars team but play a boring front 8 game as wining at all costs is the main agenda...bar north and Tommy bowe it's largely forgettable...check out 2001 to see the difference in quality of rugby... I'm hoping to be proved incorrect on Saturday by the way
Defier Pariah
Guest
Id play SOB, Heaslip and Croft.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
The try assists are an example of the teamwork that exists between the AB back three. Savea and Dagg aren't in top form but the All Blacks were still able to score great team tries. This happens time and time again, people think there's a match-up advantage against the ABs and the ABs win with teamwork. When Beale can put Folau into space or pass to him for that matter then maybe the Wallabies will have a better back three than the ABs. The Lions aren't a permanent team so there's no much point comparing them with the ABs unless you want to compare the all Welsh back three from the first test.
Dcnz
Guest
The Lions should be favourites based on experience ...if the Wallabies lose Robbie better call South Canterbury for a gig next year ...
Roarer
Guest
ScotandProud: Gatland was thinking wisely to pick Lydiate alongside Warburton and he'd be even wiser if he picked faletau at 8. What does that guy have to do to displace the vastly overrated Heaslip?
IronAwe
Guest
Speight will be in the Wallabies as soon as he's eligible, for sure.
fredstone
Guest
If all are fit Bok back three are Habana, le Roux and Pietersen, so who's better? Dagg, le Roux or Folau? Dagg and le Roux has vision, Folau hasn't been connected by a 110kg monster or mad samoan yet.
Defier Pariah
Guest
Kiwis will tell you thats because his dinner was also running through him.
Defier Pariah
Guest
You disagree with elite rugby coaches then. Phillips is a very good player and thats why they pick him. They are not silly, they are people who coach rugby at the highest level. Clearly those that rubbish Phillips are missing something that the best coaches in the world see. P.S. Barnes trolls?
Defier Pariah
Guest
No I dont agree. You do not judge a back 3 on how many try assists they give each other. Halfpenny has missed 1 kick for goal from about 28 attempts and is rock solid and has been for months. Dagg has played 1 or 2 really good games all year. North is in outstanding form. Savea has been down on form and I think its almost fair to say that the best performance at 11 came from Ranger for NZ so far in 2013. B.Smith is in very good form. Better than any 14 in world rugby probably but I havnt seen SA or Samoa play yet. I dont think it matters if the flyhalf, centre, fullback, opposite wing or prop gives the ball to the wing for a try. What matters is how the work within the team and not just with the other 2.
ScotandProud
Guest
The odds in the Uk got slashed on the news of OConnell and Corbisieros injuries.