Neil Back is the only change announced by Graham Henry ahead of the Lions' second Test with Australia on Saturday in Melbourne. The Leicester and England flanker missed the first Test victory because of a rib problem, but he returns to the back row at the expense of his Tigers team-mate Martin Corry.
Back's reintroduction also means Richard Hill will switch from openside flanker to blindside to accommodate the England international, with the unlucky Corry to start from the bench. Ireland's influential trio of Keith Wood, Brian O'Driscoll and Rob Henderson keep their places in the side as expected, but there is no place for Munster's David Wallace, who had been named in the provisional 27-man squad yesterday.
Full-back Matt Perry, who was withdrawn at half-time in the first Test with a groin injury, regains his place in the side despite being unable to train this week. Iain Balshaw will return to the bench where he is joined by Corry, who replaces the suspended Colin Charvis, and England's Dorian West, who is preferred to Gordon Bulloch.
A win for the Lions under the closed roof at Melbourne's Colonial Stadium will secure the series for the visitors, but anything less would serve up an appetising third and final Test at Sydney's Stadium Australia on Saturday week.
The starting team is:
M Perry (England); D James (Wales), B O'Driscoll (Ireland), R Henderson (Ireland), J Robinson (England); J Wilkinson (England), R Howley (Wales); T Smith (Scotland), K Wood (Ireland), P Vickery (England), M Johnson (England, captain), D Grewcock (England), R Hill (England), N Back (England), S Quinnell (Wales).
Replacements: J Leonard (England), D West (England), M Corry (England), M Williams (Wales), M Dawson (England), A Healey (England), I Balshaw (England).
Filed by Shane Murray
