Pride and anger should ensure lively "dead rubber"

By Ken Borland

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Saturday's third and final test between South Africa and the British Irish Lions is anything but a 'dead rubber' to those involved, despite the series being settled and 17 changes in the two starting teams.

Morne Steyn's last-minute, 53-metre penalty in Pretoria last week secured a 28-25 victory and an unassailable 2-0 lead for the world champions following their five-point win in Durban.

Injuries, suspension and, in South Africa's case, experimentation, have led to a raft of changes, with the Springboks keeping only five of their starting team from Loftus Versfeld and the Lions eight for the finale at Ellis Park

(1300GMT).

That might point to a devalued match but, with both sides aware that there has never been a series whitewash between them in 118 years and with a huge amount of personal pride at stake, another mighty confrontation is on the cards.

"I think we can show the same intensity. Everything isn't on the line like it was last Saturday but still for a lot of us, it is a chance to pull on a Lions test jersey again," said Lions captain Paul O'Connell.

"I think we will be eager to prove ourselves. I don't think the last two weekends' results are a true reflection of where we are so I think we will be motivated to show ourselves."

Injuries have forced the Lions to change both centres and both props, with Phil Vickery given the chance to prove himself against loosehead Tendai Mtawarira, who gave him one of the worst 44 minutes of his rugby career in the first test.