Team Announced to Play the Cheetahs

[Longshanks]

As posted on the Lions Official website:

British & Irish Lions (vs Vodacom Free State Cheetahs)

15. Lee Byrne (Ospreys / Wales)
14. Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues / Wales)
13. Keith Earls (Munster / Ireland)
12. Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster / Ireland)
11. Shane Williams (Ospreys / Wales)
10. James Hook (Ospreys / Wales)
9. Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers / England)

8. Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues / Wales)
7. Joe Worsley (London Wasps / England)
6. Stephen Ferris (Ulster / Ireland)
5. Paul O’Connell (Munster / Ireland – Captain)
4. Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster / Ireland)
3. Euan Murray (Northampton Saints / Scotland)
2. Ross Ford (Edinburgh / Scotland)
1. Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks / England)

Replacements

16. Matthew Rees (Scarlets / Wales)
17. Adam Jones (Ospreys / Wales)
18. Simon Shaw (London Wasps / England)
19. Nathan Hines (Perpignan / Scotland)
20. Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster / Ireland)
21. Ronan O’Gara (Munster / Ireland)
22. Mike Blair (Edinburgh / Scotland)

[TigrisLeicesteris]

I hope Worsley and Earls play a darn sight better than they did last time, and so much for the 'By the end of the 3rd game everyone will have played a full match', I seem to remember Tom only playing 60 mins

[westy154]

I have a few concerns:
- No real concern with the tight 5, although Sheridan will have to massively up his game around the park.
- There is no recognised fetcher in back row. Lots of power and tackling, but no one to win the ball at the rucks.
- Half back are fair enough. Both are fresh and both can boss a game.
- Centres have a total of 1 Lion appearance between them. One is a winger/centre and the other a fullback/wing/centre. Neither of them are even that accustomed to the international scene. Even without Earls horror show last weekend this partnership would look weak. I would have liked to see Earls start at 13 with a more experienced man inside him (either D'Arcy or Hook, but that would mean ROG playing again)
- No problems with the back three. They know each other and play their internationals together.

There doesn't even seem to be that many options to change it up from the bench, just more of the same.

This could be a real test.

[kingol22]

I hope Worsley and Earls play a darn sight better than they did last time, and so much for the 'By the end of the 3rd game everyone will have played a full match', I seem to remember Tom only playing 60 mins

tom did limp off so hopefully there safing him for the tests

[mightymouse]

looks like problems of injury in the back row if Hines and Shaw are on the bench - is Williams crocked already?

[pacificleicesterer]

That is a strong looking team to face the Free State Cheetahs tomorrow.

Disagree Mr Gray. This looks a little frail to me. See the lineup thread for more details!

I agree this side looks the weakest so far.

Talented backs but a bit lightweight, they are lacking a bit of raw power i think.

Can't complain about the forwards except maybe Ross Ford's a bit weak at the lineout

[bluntiger]

tom did limp off so hopefully there safing him for the tests

I don't think Tom has done enough yet to nail a test place. He needs to put in another stand-out performance before he nails that test place, hopefully next week! Job half done for me.

[chris whelan]

Cheetas have unfortunately shown Springboks how to thrash Lions at the breakdown - we were turned over 6 or 7 times, once when we should have scored.
SA would do it every time - O'Connell did not have commanding game at all

[Darc Tiger]

Ellis was probably the Lions best players along with Hook and Ferris.

Crofts got competition!

[Starburst]

Ferris had a good game. Powell was one dimensional but at least he did one thing. The other six forwards were anonomous.

Ellis and Hook played well eough. The centre pairing just didn't work for me and today was never a day for the back 3 to shine. Ickle is obviously feeling the pressure and tried to force it to much.

Byrne one mistake apart looked solid despite the shambles around him.

[SkippyTiger]

Murray did well at scrum time

Lineouts were fairly solid

O'Connell ran well but needs to learn about this thing called the 'offload',

Ferris played ok in a poor backrow effort that got destroyed at the breakdown.

Powell and Worseley both very poor.

Ellis did well with some very slow ball apart from one poor pass.

Hook had some nice moves but didn't control the game very well.
Centres were too lightweight so were often muscled off the ball.

Wingers were both poor, the only time I saw Shane was when he gave up the ball for the try. Both looked like deer in the headlights in defense.

Byrne did well but coughed up a stinker of a knock-on near the end that could have cost the match. Picked some nice lines and kicked well. Run over by a prop for a try.