Lock O'Callaghan to skipper Lions
SOUTHERN KINGS v LIONS
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth Date: Tuesday, 16 June Kick-off: 1400 BST (1500 local time) Coverage: Text commentary and score updates on BBC Sport website, updates BBC Radio 5 Live Live
 O'Callaghan will be playing in his 10th match for the Lions |
Munster lock Donncha O'Callaghan will captain the British and Irish Lions against the Southern Kings on Tuesday.
Simon Shaw partners O'Callaghan in the second row while Euan Murray, Ross Ford and Andrew Sheridan form the front row.
Lock Nathan Hines is pressed into action at blind-side flanker with Joe Worsley switched to the open-side.
Gordon D'Arcy will make his first start of the tour alongside Riki Flutey, with Shane Williams and Luke Fitzgerald on the wings and Keith Earls at full-back.
Andy Powell has been given another chance to impress at number eight following his eye-catching performance against Western Province at the weekend.
Mike Blair has been named at scrum-half but faces a fitness test on the ankle injury which forced him to pull out of the squad for Saturday's victory.
The general belief is that the bulk of the side that faces the Southern Kings will not face South Africa in the first Test on Saturday.
But Lions coach Ian McGeechan insisted: "I've been up front with the players from the word go. They know we will not be picking the Test team until this final game is finished."
O'Callaghan will captain the side in his 10th appearance for the Lions.
"It's an incredible honour, it's the highlight of my rugby career," said the 30-year-old.
"When Geech told me earlier I was taken aback and I still am, looking through that team and the respect I have for the guys in it."
McGeechan described the Munster lock as "a very popular member of the squad".
He added: "Lions tours come together because of player and personalities and he brings something special to it.
"You don't have to have led a lot to know people will follow you, and he has done a lot of things that have given huge credibility among the players."
Flutey will play at outside centre instead of his normal position at 12 while Worsley switches from his usual blind-side role to open-side.
Tom Croft and David Wallace, considered favourites in many quarters to start in the Test back row, are both included on the bench to cover the Lions' shortage of loose-forward options.
Winger Ugo Monye and fly-half Ronan O'Gara will also start among the replacements in Port Elizabeth.
The Lions have notched up five wins from five games on tour so far, with three Tests to come on back-to-back weekends.
Lions team: K Earls (Munster & Ireland); S Williams (Ospreys & Wales), R Flutey (Wasps & England), G D'Arcy (Leinster & Ireland), L Fitzgerald (Leinster & Ireland), J Hook (Ospreys & Wales), M Blair (Edinburgh & Scotland); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks & England), R Ford (Edinburgh & Scotland), E Murray (Northampton & Scotland), S Shaw (Wasps & England), D O'Callaghan (Munster & Ireland) (capt), N Hines (Perpignan & Scotland), J Worsley (Wasps & England), A Powell (Cardiff Blues & Wales).
Replacements: M Rees (Scarlets & Wales), A Jones (Ospreys & Wales), T Croft (Leicester Tigers & England), D Wallace (Munster & Ireland), H Ellis (Leicester Tigers & England), R O'Gara (Munster & Ireland), U Monye (Harlequins & England).
