Lions

• South Africa 9 Lions 28

  Lions roar to victory in third test

  The Lions secured victory in the third and final test against South Africa with a 9 - 28 win in Johannesburg. The tries of the match came from Lions wingers Shane Williams (2) and Ugo Monye to restore some pride in the visitors' camp. Despite the win, the Springboks claimed the series 2 - 1.

  England lock Simon Shaw, who was sent to the sin bin before half time, has been handed a two-week suspension for putting his knee into the back of the Springboks scrum-half, Fourie du Preez.

  Cardiff Blues centre Jamie Roberts has claimed the coveted 'Player of the series' title. Simon Shaw came second, whilst Tommy Bowe was third.

• Lions squad announcement

  Five Welsh players will start the final test of the Lions tour against the reigning World Champions, South Africa, in Johannesburg. Shane Williams, Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips, Matthew Rees and Martyn Williams start, while Ospreys duo James Hook and Alun Wyn Jones start on the bench.

  Backs: Rob Kearney (Leinster / Ireland), Ugo Monye (Harlequins / England), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys / Ireland), Riki Flutey (London Wasps / England), Shane Williams (Ospreys / Wales), Stephen Jones (Scarlets / Wales), Mike Phillips (Ospreys / Wales)

  Forwards: Andrew Sheridan (Sharks / England), Matthew Rees (Scarlets / Wales), Phil Vickery (London Wasps / England), Simon Shaw (London Wasps / England), Paul O'Connell (Munster / Ireland), Joe Worsley (London Wasps / England), Martyn Williams (Blues / Wales), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster / Ireland)

  Replacements: Ross Ford (Edinburgh / Scotland), John Hayes (Munster / Ireland), Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys / Wales), David Wallace (Munster / Ireland), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers / England), Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers / England), James Hook (Ospreys / Wales).

  South Africa squad announcement

  A new-look South Africa side will head into the final test against the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday, with a staggering ten changes in place. Only captain John Smit, scrum-half Fourie du Preez, flanker Juan Smith, lock Victor Matfield and prop Tendai Mtawarira have kept their places.

  Backs: Kirchner (Bulls); Ndungane (Sharks), Fourie (Lions), Olivier (Bulls), Nokwe (Cheetahs); M Steyn (Bulls), Du Preez (Bulls);

  Forwards: Mtawarira (Sharks), Ralepelle (Bulls), Smit (Sharks), Muller (Sharks), Matfield (Bulls), Brussow (Cheetahs), Smith (Cheetahs), Kankowski (Sharks).

  Replacements: B du Plessis (Sharks), Steenkamp (Bulls), Carstens (Sharks), Sykes (Sharks), Spies (Bulls), R Pienaar (Sharks), F Steyn (Sharks).

• O'Driscoll out

  The Lions' injury woes continue before final test

  Lions centre Brian O'Driscoll has been ruled out of playing any part in the third and final test in Johannesburg because of injury.

  This latest news comes after the coaching team announced that Wales and Lions' front-row duo Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones will be forced to watch the final test from the sidelines because of injuries sustained in the second test.

  Ian McGeechan will announce his final Lions' squad of the tour on Thursday.

• Springboks 28 – 25 Lions

  The Boks steal the series

  South Africa secured the series in a nail biting finale in Pretoria. In a classic game, JP Pieterson, Brian Habbana and Jaque Fourie scored the home teams tries.

  A try from Leinster full-back, Rob Kearney, and Stephen Jones immense boot was not enough for the visitng side. During a fiery encounter, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Jamie Roberts and Brian O’Driscoll were forced to leave due to injury.

• South Africa v Lions

  Six Welsh players have been announced as part of the Lions squad to face South Africa at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. The Lions have to win the match if they want to stay in contention for the three match series.

  Backs: Rob Kearney (Leinster/Ireland);  Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster/Ireland); Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster/Ireland); Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales); Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland); Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales); Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales)

  Forwards: Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues/Wales); Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales); Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales); Simon Shaw (Wasps/England); Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland); Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England); David Wallace (Munster/Ireland); Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland)

  Replacements: Ross Ford (Edinburgh/Scotland); Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks/England); Martyn Williams (Blues/Wales); Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England); Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland); Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales); Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales)

• Gwyn Jones

  The Lions' chances in The Second Test

  What did Ian McGeechan's coaching team learn from the performance against The Emerging Springboks?

  Not much would be my response. Of the positions under the microscope, very little occurred.

  Backs

  Ugo Monye seems destined for the drop after missing two try-scoring opportunities in The First Test. However, the shoot-out between Shane Williams and Luke Fitzgerald for the left wing berth is no closer to any resolution.

  The Lions must be bold in their decisions and when there is nothing to choose between the two wingers, then Williams' proven ability to finish tries must be telling. Williams must start.

  I will be amazed if Rob Kearney does not start at full-back even if Lee Byrne is declared match fit.. Byrne looked nervous in the biggest game of his career in Durban and Kearney's assured performance will have secured the full-back spot for the Irishman.

  Forwards

  In the pack, I will be amazed if it isn't a Welsh front row that starts in Pretoria. If the IRB had a category for 'most improved international player' then Adam Jones would be a cert.

  Mathew Rees' extra bulk will help him on that mission but my concern regarding Rees centres around the line-out, and Matfield had him in his back pocket in Cardiff against Wales last November.

  There was a feeling that Powell could be an impact player from the bench, but he has not done enough to claim that role. His inclusion would not be bold but reckless.

  If the Lions are to win then the architects of their success will be Roberts and O'Driscoll. They had too much of just about everything for the Boks' midfield and getting the ball into their hands early and often is the Lions' only hope.

  Sadly, I think the Lions will yet again be gallant losers and we will spend another night pondering the 'if onlys' after The Second Test. The difference this time is that there will be no opportunity for redemption.

• Springboks squad announcement

  Burger returns to the squad for the second test

  South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has announced the team to feature in the second test against the Lions in Pretoria. The home side have the advantage going into the match after securing a narrow win in the first test, and with Schalk Burger returning to the squad following an injury, the eight minutes will be crucial for the Lions.

  Backs: F Steyn (Sharks); JP Pietersen (Sharks); A Jacobs (Sharks); J de Villiers (Stormers); B Habana (Bulls); R Pienaar (Sharks); F du Preez (Bulls)

  Forwards: T Mtawarira (Sharks); B du Plessis (Sharks); J Smit (Sharks); B Botha (Bulls); V Matfield (Bulls); S Burger (Stormers); J Smith (Cheetahs); P Spies (Bulls)

  Replacements: C Ralepelle (Bulls); D Carstens (Sharks); A Bekker (Stormers); D Rossouw (Bulls); H Brussow (Cheetahs); J Fourie (Lions); M Steyn (Bulls)

• Emerging Springboks 13 - 13 Lions

  Drama in Cape Town

  A last minute conversion by Willem de Waal denied the Lions a victory in their latest match in their tour of South Africa. Irish wing Luke Fitzgerald impressed in the heavy rain, as the Lions head coach Ian McGeechan, ponders his choices for the second test against South Africa on Saturday.

• Emerging Sprinboks v Lions

  Irish outside half,  Ronan O'Gara will captain the Lions against the Emerging Springboks on Tuesday. Following a disappointing result against South Africa on Saturday, the visitors will hope to win this game before the second test this weekend.

  Backs: Keith Earls (Munster/Ireland); Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales); Riki Flutey (London Wasps/England); Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster/Ireland); Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster/Ireland); Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland); Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England).

  Forwards: Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues/Wales); Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales); Joe Worsley (London Wasps/England); Nathan Hines (Perpignan/Scotland); Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster/Ireland); John Hayes (Munster/Ireland); Ross Ford (Edinburgh/Scotland); Tim Payne (London Wasps/England)

  Replacements: Lee Mears (Bath/England); Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England); Simon Shaw (London Wasps/England); David Wallace (Munster/Ireland); Mike Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland); James Hook (Ospreys/Wales); Ugo Monye (Harlequins/England)

• Springboks 26 - 21 Lions

  The Springboks take the first test

  The Springboks have claimed the advantage over the Lions by securing victory in the first test of the Lions tour of South Africa with a 26 - 21 win in Durban. Tries from John Smit and Heinrich Brussow and the boot of Ruan Pienaar ensured a South African victory.

  England's Tom Croft(2) and Wales Mike Phillips scored the Lions' concelation tries.

• South Africa v Lions- the first test

  Six Welsh players are announced as part of the Lions squad to face South Africa in Durban on Saturday. The Lions will hope to stamp their authority and grab a win in the first of a three test series against the Springboks.

  Backs: Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales); Ugo Monye (Harlequins/England); Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster/Ireland); Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales); Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland); Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales); Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales)

  Forwards: Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues/Wales); Lee Mears (Bath/England); Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England); Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales); Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland); Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England); David Wallace (Munster/Ireland); Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland)

  Replacements: Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales); Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales); Martyn Williams (Blues/Wales); Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster/Ireland); Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England); Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland); Rob Kearney (Leinster/Ireland)

• Gwyn Jones

  The Lions' chances in the series

  Six out of six. You couldn't ask for anything more. Well, actually you could. You would have hoped that there would have been a big difference in class between the Lions and most of their opponents on the tour so far.

  You wouldn't have expected the Lions to be outmuscled so often in the contact area. You would certainly not have expected the Lions to rely so heavily on the scrum to get them out of jail. But their victories on their last two games have by and large depended on their dominance in the scrum.

  Pick of the pack

  It seems that the debate regarding the Lions' loose-head position is over - much to the dismay of the English press that appear obsessed with the merits of Andrew Sheridan.

  They love him because in the English Premiership power is everything. But he contributes little else to the tackle area when he's not carrying the ball and that's why, in my view, Gethin Jenkins must play.

  The other position that is surrounded by intrigue is who will play at seven. With Martyn Williams rested completely for the midweek game and David Wallace on the bench but not used, it remains a mystery who the Lions' selectors will pick.

  If Williams plays with Tom Croft at six then the backrow appears lightweight. I think that they will opt for Wallace and use Williams as a substitute as the game opens up.

  Centres

  Jamie Roberts has been a sensation over here and it will be interesting to see if the Springboks have a plan to nullify him.

  Although the specific tactics by England and France against Roberts worked in the Six Nations, he didn't have arguably the best centre in the world outside him. However, Brian O'Driscoll is a different proposition. Too much attention on one will give huge opportunities to the other.

  Tests chances

  Can the Lions win the series? Yes, but it will require a number of extraordinary events for that to happen.

  They will have to hope that the Springboks are under prepared and over confident. It's a far stretch, I know, but those were the same sort of events that led to the 1997 series win.

  Hand on heart, I cannot see the Lions pulling off such an unexpected win again. The Springboks have waited for redemption for too long. Their stars have turned their backs on huge salaries abroad just to play in the next three games.

  Is it feasible that they could make the same mistakes again? Well, anything is possible...

• Injury update

  Hook set to miss first test

  Ospreys fly-half James Hook has been ruled out of this weekend's first test against South Africa because of a head injury. Hook sustained the injury during the 8 - 20 win against the Southern Kings. Scotland's Euan Murray will also be forced to watch the first test from the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury.

  The Lions' squad announcement for the match against the World Champions is expected to be made by the coaching team on Thursday.

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