Vickery handed captaincy role

Updated: Friday, 12 Jun 2009 09:42

Vickery will be among those trying to stake a place in the first XV for the opening Test

Phil Vickery will captain the British and Irish Lions in tomorrow's clash against Western Province at Newlands.

The Wasps prop and former England skipper takes leadership duties for the unbeaten tourists' fifth game in South Africa.
And Vickery will look to press his claims for the first Test match clash with world champions South Africa in Durban a week tomorrow.

He is joined by several other strong Test-team candidates, including wings Tommy Bowe and Ugo Monye, fly-half Stephen Jones and loosehead prop Andrew Sheridan.

England centre Riki Flutey, meanwhile, makes his first start of the tour, while flanker Martyn Williams also features after recovering from a shoulder injury.

British and Irish Lions XV v Western Privince on Saturday at 2.00pm.

R Kearney; T Bowe, K Earls, R Flutey, U Monye, S Jones, H Ellis, A Sheridan, M Rees, P Vickery, D O'Callaghan, N Hines, J Worsley, M William, A Powell .

Replacements: R Ford, S Shaw, T Croft, M Blair, J Hook, G D'Arcy.