Ireland's O'Connell to lead Lions versus Barbarians
Source: Agencies |
May 31, 2013, Friday
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IRELAND lock Paul O'Connell has been selected to lead the British and Irish Lions in their tour-opening match against the Barbarians in Hong Kong tomorrow.
The Lions are kicking off a 10-match tour with their first outing in Asia. The combined British and Irish squad will then play nine games in Australia, including a three-test series.
O'Connell, captain of the 2009 Lions in South Africa, will be standing in for squad captain Sam Warburton - the Welsh flanker who is resting a knee injury - against the Barbarians.
Lions coach Warren Gatland, who is also coach of the Wales national team, included nine Welshmen in his starting XV for the Hong Kong match. Eleven players will be making their run-on debut for the Lions. "We have a lot of players making their debuts for the Lions," Gatland said. "At the same time we have a hard core of experience, with six former Lions sharing 430 caps between them and 19 Lions tests."
Wales scrumhalf Mike Phillips and England flyhalf Owen Farrell will form the No. 9-10 combination, with the Welsh center pairing of Jonathan Davies and Jamie Roberts in midfield and Scottish outside backs Sean Maitland on the wing and Stuart Hogg at fullback.
The Lions tour every four years to the southern hemisphere, but haven't had a series win since 1997 in South Africa. On the last trip to Australia in 2001, the Lions lost the test series 1-2.
The Lions are kicking off a 10-match tour with their first outing in Asia. The combined British and Irish squad will then play nine games in Australia, including a three-test series.
O'Connell, captain of the 2009 Lions in South Africa, will be standing in for squad captain Sam Warburton - the Welsh flanker who is resting a knee injury - against the Barbarians.
Lions coach Warren Gatland, who is also coach of the Wales national team, included nine Welshmen in his starting XV for the Hong Kong match. Eleven players will be making their run-on debut for the Lions. "We have a lot of players making their debuts for the Lions," Gatland said. "At the same time we have a hard core of experience, with six former Lions sharing 430 caps between them and 19 Lions tests."
Wales scrumhalf Mike Phillips and England flyhalf Owen Farrell will form the No. 9-10 combination, with the Welsh center pairing of Jonathan Davies and Jamie Roberts in midfield and Scottish outside backs Sean Maitland on the wing and Stuart Hogg at fullback.
The Lions tour every four years to the southern hemisphere, but haven't had a series win since 1997 in South Africa. On the last trip to Australia in 2001, the Lions lost the test series 1-2.
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