Five Irish make first Test team

Five Irish players, including captain Paul O'Connell, have been named by head coach Ian McGeechan on the British and Irish Lions team to face South Africa in the first Test match in Durban on Saturday.

O'Connell is joined in the starting lineup by Munster teammate David Wallace, as well as Brian O'Driscoll, Tommy Bowe and Jamie Heaslip.

Ronan O'Gara has been named among the replacements, along with Donncha O'Callaghan and Rob Kearney.

There were two notable omissions from the match 22 with no place on the bench for winger Shane Williams, the 2008 world player of the year, and England prop Andrew Sheridan.

"The Test team has been picked on form following the six provincial matches,” said McGeechan.

"There were some very difficult calls to make as the players as a group and individually have done everything that we have asked of them and performed on the field.

"The preparation for the first Test has been very positive. It has been a challenge to reach the first Test with an unbeaten record as we have played a variety of provincial teams across the country".

Lions (vs South Africa, first Test, Saturday June 20)

15. Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales)

14. Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland)

13. Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster/Ireland)

12. Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales)

11. Ugo Monye (Harlequins/England)

10. Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales)

9. Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales)

8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland)

7. David Wallace (Munster/Ireland)

6. Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England)

5. Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland) Captain

4. Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales)

3. Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England)

2. Lee Mears (Bath/England)

1. Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues/Wales)

Replacements

16. Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales)

17. Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales)

18. Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster/Ireland)

19. Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales)

20. Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England)

21. Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland)

22. Rob Kearney (Leinster/Ireland)