The final Test of the three-match series is also the last game of the 10-match tour, with many of the party unlikely to wear Lions colours again.

Cardiff Blues flanker Martyn Williams finally gets his first Test start on his third Lions tour previously been among the replacements in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Williams is one of nine Magners League Players named in the starting XV for the Coca Cola Park clash as head coach Ian McGeechan makes seven personnel changes and one positional switch from the side that lost 28-25 to the same opposition last weekend.

Ospreys wing Shane Williams comes into the backline, with club colleague Tommy Bowe moving to outside centre and Ugo Monye and Riki Flutey also starting in Johannesburg.

Leinster full back Rob Kearney will be looking for a repeat of his magnificent display in Pretoria, while halfbacks Mike Phillips of the Ospreys and Stephen Jones of the Scarlets join captain Paul O’Connell and Leinster No8 Jamie Heaslip in starting their third successive Lions Test.

Injuries to Magners League Test players Brian O’Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins have forced McGeechan into making changes as the Lions look to bounce back from their narrow defeats in the opening two internationals that have put a series victory beyond them.

Andrew Sheridan and Phil Vickery replace Jones and Jenkins in the front row, with McGeechan dropping blindside flanker Tom Coft to the bench in favour of England team-mate Joe Worsely.

“Injuries have had an impact on the tour as you would expect including selection for the third Test as we were unfortunate to lose Brian O’Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones through injury last Saturday,” explained McGeechan.

“However, the players coming into the starting XV are all talented international players and are as keen as ever to turn the tables on the Springboks. Last Saturday we were minutes away from winning and that is a huge positive to take into the Third Test.

“As a squad, they have met many challenges on the tour including playing two matches per week, the inevitable injuries and two narrow Test losses. Despite this they have remained a tight, focussed squad and I know those playing in the Third Test will give their all to ensure that we achieve a victory on Saturday.

“A Lions tour is a unique experience for players in the busy, modern professional rugby calendar. The 2009 Lions have thrown themselves into the spirit of the tour, have interacted with the people of South Africa and shown themselves to be great ambassadors for northern hemisphere rugby.”

The Springboks have made 10 changes to their starting line up, with Zane Kirchner handed a debut at full back and only John Smit, Beast Mtawarira, Victor Matfield, Juan Smith and Fourie du Preez keeping their places in the South African XV.

British & Irish Lions (v South Africa, Saturday, July 4)

15 Rob Kearney (Leinster / Ireland)
14 Ugo Monye (Harlequins / England)
13 Tommy Bowe (Ospreys / Ireland)
12 Riki Flutey (London Wasps / England)
11 Shane Williams (Ospreys / Wales)
10 Stephen Jones (Scarlets / Wales)
  9 Mike Phillips (Ospreys / Wales)

  8 Jamie Heaslip (Leinster / Ireland)
  7 Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues / Wales)
  6 Joe Worsley (London Wasps / England)
  5 Paul O’Connell (Munster / Ireland, Captain)
  4 Simon Shaw (London Wasps / England)
  3 Phil Vickery (London Wasps / England)
  2 Matthew Rees (Scarlets / Wales)
  1 Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks / England)

Replacements

16 Ross Ford (Edinburgh / Scotland)
17 John Hayes (Munster / Ireland)
18 Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys / Wales)
19 David Wallace (Munster / Ireland)
20 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers / England)
21 Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers / England)
22 James Hook (Ospreys / Wales)