Magners players to dominate Lions Test team

Hot on the heels of Ireland's Grand Slam victory and Leinster's Heineken Cup triumph, Munster's Paul O'Connell is set to lead a Lions side against the Springboks in Durban this weekend with up to 11 other Magners League players behind him.
It shows just how far the tournament has come and the clash with the reigning world champions will be the ultimate test for the players from the 10 team league.

According to Lions legend Gavin Hastings, who is in Durban this week working as an HSBC Ambassador at their Rugby Festivals, the selection of Ian McGeechan's Test side will be proof of the advances made in the Magners League.

"There are some very good players playing in Ireland and Wales and the fact that three of the four Heineken Cup semi-finalists came from the Magners League shows it is a testing competition," said Hastings.

"Some people may still knock it, but it is turning into a very competitive league."

McGeechan looks set to plump for an all Magners League back division to battle the Boks, with the Ospreys back three of Lee Byrne, Tommy Bowe and Shane Williams taking up the challenge. Leinster's Brian O'Driscoll and Cardiff Blues' Jamie Roberts pick themselves at centre and a fourth Osprey, Mike Phillips, does the same at scrum half.

The one real conundrum is who wears the No 10 jersey - Munster's Ronan O'Gara or the Scarlets' Stephen Jones? Jones won the battle four years ago and could well get the vote because of his more established partnership with Phillips at half-back.

The front row will feature Gethin Jenkins, of Cardiff Blues, at loose head prop with the England duo of Lee Mears and Phil Vickery joining him. O'Connell will lead the side from the boiler house with young Ospreys and Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones likely to pack down with him.

The back row is another contentious area. Leinster's Jamie Heaslip is guaranteed the No 8 berth, while either Munster's David Wallace or Cardiff Blues' Martyn Williams will wear No 7. But it could well be that McGeechan uses both Wallace and Williams, leaving Leicester's Tom Croft out in the cold.

The team is due to be announced at 12.30pm BST.