Lions change seven for third test

South Africa's Fourie du Preez (C) attempts to break past British and Irish Lions players Alun-Wyn Jones (L), Phil Vickery and Gethin Jenkins (R) during the first rugby test match at King's Park in Durban June 20, 2009.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The injury-ravaged British and Irish Lions made seven changes on Thursday for the third and final test against South Africa as they seek to avoid a 3-0 series loss.

Injured Welsh props Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones were replaced by England duo Andrew Sheridan and Phil Vickery, who was given a torrid time by South Africa's Tendai Mtawarira in the first test and dropped for the second.

Centres Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts were also ruled out through injury so Tommy Bowe moves in from the wing alongside Riki Flutey, who will make his Lions test debut having played against the Lions in New Zealand for Wellington in 2005.

Ugo Monye, dropped after the first test, returned to the right wing and 2008 world player of the year Shane Williams will start on the left on Saturday.

FIRST STARTS

Flankers Martyn Williams and Joe Worsley get their first starts of the series.

Prop John Hayes, who flew out as a replacement for the injured Euan Murray, was named on the bench along with flyhalf James Hook.

The Springboks made 10 changes from the team which clinched the series with a last-gasp 28-25 win in Pretoria.

"This is a new test match in many respects because the players out there will want to respond very positively and if we play well enough to win it will be a very sweet victory," Lions coach Ian McGeechan told a news conference.

"We gave the players a break this week but we are back to it now and we are keen to finish off with a win.

"We could be sitting here with two wins under our belt. We had two fine games of rugby and I hope it will be the same again."

On the recall of former England captain Vickery, he said: "I am very confident, Phil is a world-class prop.

"He is an outstanding tourist and after the first test he put all of his efforts into supporting Adam Jones when he got the position. You could not have asked for anymore."

Vickery's Wasps team mate Worsley also tipped Vickery to bounce back well.

"When a game goes against you its a matter of pride and you wait for the opportunity to put it right," he said.

"I bet Vicks will be over the moon that he's got that chance now rather than stewing over the summer.

"He is a really strong character and I'm sure he'll take the chance."

(Editing by Ed Osmond)