Worsley backs Vickery to come through

Joe Worsley has backed his Wasps and England colleague Phil Vickery to recover from a first Test 'beasting' when the British and Irish Lions conclude their tour of South Africa on Saturday.

Vickery returns to the front-line for another appointment with Springboks prop Tendai 'The Beast' Mtawarira - just a fortnight after his Lions career looked in tatters.

The England World Cup winner is one of eight changes, including a switch from wing to centre for Ireland Grand Slam star Tommy Bowe, following last weekend's agonising second Test defeat in Pretoria.

Mtawarira scrummaged Vickery into such an unrecognisable state that Lions boss Ian McGeechan had little option other than to substitute him just five minutes after half-time in Durban.

But the 33-year-old, who is currently shaking off a throat infection, will attempt to redress the balance against a Springboks side seeking its first Test series whitewash in 118 years of Lions history.

'I have known the guy for years,' said flanker Worsley, who makes his Lions Test debut at Ellis Park.

'When you do have a bad game or things go against you, then you are just waiting for the next opportunity to go out there and do something about it.

'I bet he's over the moon that he has got a chance this weekend, rather than stewing all summer. There are a lot of tough nuts out there, and he's one of the toughest.'

Vickery is among four changes forced on McGeechan, as Adam Jones and his fellow prop Gethin Jenkins, together with centres Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts, are all injured.

And McGeechan added: 'Phil is a world-class prop and an outstanding tourist. He put all his efforts into supporting Adam (Jones) when he got the position for the second Test, and you couldn't have asked for any more.

'Technically, he helped him, working with him, and that's the way he has kept himself very close to what we have been doing. He has been tremendous in the support he has given.'

Andrew Sheridan packs down instead of Jenkins, with Bowe and England's Riki Flutey forging a new midfield partnership, while Shane Williams and Ugo Monye take the wing slots.

For Monye, like Vickery, it is a grateful return following his costly failure to execute two gilt-edged try chances during the 26-21 first Test defeat.

Worsley, meanwhile, takes over from Tom Croft, with Wales openside Martyn Williams gaining a first Test start on his third Lions tour just two months before turning 34.

And with a hint of what a punishing physical battle the Lions might be expecting this weekend, there are five forwards among their replacements as Harry Ellis and James Hook cover the back division.

Five players - Bowe, fly-half Stephen Jones, scrum-half Mike Phillips, skipper Paul O'Connell and number eight Jamie Heaslip - will head home next week having had the distinction of starting all three Tests.

And the Lions are determined to bow out in style against a much-changed Springboks outfit, minus suspended forwards Schalk Burger and Bakkies Botha, that also includes just a solitary survivor from Pretoria among their backs - scrum-half Fourie du Preez.

McGeechan said: 'We've tried to freshen it up - there have been some tight calls over the first two Tests. We gave the players a break earlier in the week, but we are back to it now and very keen to finish with a win.

'They (the first two Tests) have been two fantastic games of rugby, with a lot of plusses, and I hope it will be the same again on Saturday.

'We certainly don't want to go back on the way we've been playing or on our approach and attitude. If we get enough right, we hope we will be in there with a shot of winning the game.

'We've got a new challenge. Those players are very keen they show their own capabilities, and I am very encouraged by just what they've done in training this week.

'The players out there will want to respond very positively. If we play well enough to win, it will be a very sweet victory.'

Both McGeechan and Lions manager Gerald Davies, meanwhile, moved to ease any tension between the rival camps following a fraught third Test build-up.

Not only did Burger and Botha collect bans, but Springboks coach Peter de Villiers also suggested there had been no official congratulations from the Lions on South Africa's Test series triumph.

But McGeechan countered: 'I certainly said "well done" on the series. Twice, when we were both coming away from different media things (last Saturday), I shook his (De Villiers') hand and said "well done".

'I think it has been a fantastic series. South Africa's finishing has been top-class, as has their defence. To have two games like that, and hopefully have a third, I think everyone will have got a lot from it.'

And Davies said: 'Our relationship with the Springboks has been excellent throughout. We've had a wonderful arrangement with them.

'I've shaken hands with all the management and the (South Africa Rugby Union) president at every game I have witnessed. Once the whistle has blown, the game is over.

'If there was controversy arising out of the last game, I am saddened about that and disappointed about that because that incident (Burger making contact with the eye area of Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald), dare I say it, has no place in the game.'