Tommy Bowe and Keith Earls will both make their Lions debuts against a Royal XV in Phokeng on Saturday after being named in the starting line-up for the tour opener. Paul O’Connell will take charge of the side for the first time, while Ronan O’Gara has been handed the No 10 shirt, with Scotland’s Mike Blair making his debut at scrumhalf.
Bowe slots in on the right-wing as part of an all-Ospreys back three with debutant Lee Byrne at full back and Shane Williams on the left. Earls is named at outside centre alongside Cardiff’s Jamie Roberts in an exciting midfield partnership.
Lions head coach Ian McGeechan gives debuts to nine players in his starting side, while five of the run-on replacements have yet to wear the famed red jersey.
“I think it is really exciting that we have a lot of players making their debuts. I remember my debut against Western Transvaal at Potchefstroom in 1974 and it is a career highlight,” he said.
“For young men such as Keith Earls and Jamie Roberts it will be a day to remember and they will be thrilled to get an early taste of match action on the tour.”
England’s Simon Shaw is named alongside O’Connell in the secondrow, while Matthew Rees and Adam Jones take their bow in the frontrow.
Martyn Wiliams provides the experience in the backrow, with Joe Worsley and Andy Powell the newcomers.
Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris is the only Irish players named in the replacements.
O'Connell today stressed the importance of learning how to play as soon as possible on tour.
“It’s about making sure we develop as a team as quickly as we can,” said the Munster captain. “It is really about ourselves at this stage of the tour.
"Sure, we want to perform, we want to play well and score tries, but it is all about making steps in the right direction and becoming a team.”
In looking ahead to the rest of the tour, O’Connell first looked back, to 1974 and the victorious Lions led by Willie John McBride.
“Probably 1974 is what made those players legends and that is what we are here to do," he said. “If we can win a Test series against South Africa it would be massive for our careers. I think it is the ultimate for any player’s career.
“The Lions in South Africa tends to be the pinnacle of any player’s career in the four home nations.
“And for us to come here and win, that’s what legends are made of. That is what our goal is.”
LIONS (v Royal XV):Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales); Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland), Keith Earls (Munster/Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales); Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland), Mike Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland); Andrew Sheridan (Sales Sharks/England), Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales), Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Simon Shaw (London Wasps/England), Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland) (capt), Joe Worsley (London Wasps/England), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
Replacements:Lee Mears (Bath/England), Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England), Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Stephen Ferris (Ulster/Ireland), Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales), Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales), Riki Flutey (London Wasps/England)
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