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Brian O'Driscoll British and Irish Lions career over after squad axe

O'Driscoll Lions career over after squad axe
© PA Photos
Brian O'Driscoll's British and Irish Lions career looks to be over after being axed from the matchday squad to face Australia.

Brian O'Driscoll's British and Irish Lions career is all but over having been dropped from the matchday squad for the final Test against Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

The 34-year-old was tipped to captain the side in the absence of usual skipper Sam Warburton, but head coach Warren Gatland has opted against picking the Ireland international for the decider.

Alun-Wyn Jones will lead out the new-look tourists side and go head-to-head with Wallabies' captain James Horwill, who has twice been cleared of deliberately stamping on the Lions lock during the first meeting between the two sides.

Gatland makes six changes to his starting XV, which includes 10 Welshmen, as Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips, Alex Corbisiero, Richard Hibbard, Sean O'Brien and Toby Faletau all come into the side.

Lions XV: 15 Leigh Halfpenny. 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Mike Phillips, 1 Alex Corbisiero, 2 Richard Hibbard, 3 Adam Jones, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 5 Geoff Parling, 6 Dan Lydiate, 7 Sean O'Brien, 8 Toby Faletau.

Replacements: 16 Mako Vunipola, 17 Tom Youngs, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Richie Gray, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Manu Tuilagi.

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Written by
Matt Cotton
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Lions coach Warren Gatland at a press conference on May 13, 2013
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