Lions 2013: Melbourne Rebels v British and Irish Lions By Bryn Palmer BBC Sport in Melbourne Manu Tuilagi aims to give British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland a selection headache for Saturday's second Test against Australia.
The England centre starts against Melbourne Rebels on Tuesday, barely two weeks after fearing his tour was over.
Continue reading the main story “It was a massive win for us at the weekend and we have a chance now to keep that momentum going ” Dan Lydiate Tuesday's Lions captain After a promising outing against Western Force, Tuilagi, 22, was forced off after 20 minutes against Queensland Reds with a 'stinger' to his shoulder.
"This is an opportunity for those that didn't play on Saturday," he said.
"After the Reds game I couldn't really move my arm.
"I have had a lot of tests with the doctors and physios, and have been doing a lot of rehab trying to get it back to full strength. It is just exciting to be back playing now."
In the absence of both Tuilagi and Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies and Brian O'Driscoll started together in midfield in the first Test victory in Brisbane.
But with Gatland expected to formulate a tighter game-plan on Saturday, a fit-again Tuilagi may be a tempting option as a battering-ram centre capable of generating gain-line momentum.
If Tuilagi proves his fitness on Tuesday in the final mid-week game of the tour, the in-form Davies could find his place under threat, with compatriot Alex Cuthbert also a potential casualty now Irish wing Tommy Bowe is available again.
With lock Paul O'Connell's tour over with a fractured arm, and prop Alex Corbisiero a major doubt for the second Test with a calf problem, the Lions may make at least four changes to their side.
Lions tight-head Cole will be keen to make an impression after a rocky time in the first Test
Forwards coach Graham Rowntree confirmed Geoff Parling - withdrawn from the Rebels match - will take over from O'Connell, with Mako Vunipola likely to start if Corbisiero doesn't make it, although Scottish prop Ryan Grant could also enter the equation with a strong performance on Tuesday.
Fellow front-rowers Richard Hibbard and Dan Cole, both on the field in Brisbane when the Lions lost their own put-in at one scrum and then conceded the penalty in another that might have cost them victory in the last minute, will be keen to make amends in Melbourne.
Lock Ian Evans - a late call-up to the starting side after Parling's withdrawal - now has a chance to force his way onto the bench for the second Test after a slightly underwhelming tour so far.
The Lions will also be praying Owen Farrell comes through the game unscathed with no other specialist fly-half cover for Jonny Sexton in the squad.
Flanker Dan Lydiate, who could yet force a change in the make-up of the Test back row, will lead a side determined to bolster Gatland's options for both this Saturday and the final Test in Sydney.
"It was a massive win for us at the weekend and we have a chance now to prove ourselves and keep that momentum going towards what is going to be an even bigger test this weekend," said the Welshman.
The Rebels are missing four Wallabies but include three capped players in their match-day squad, with scrum-half Luke Burgess starting his first game on his return from France, and former Wales international Gareth Delve leading the side from number eight.
Team line-ups:
Rebels: Jason Woodward; Tom English, Mitch Inmar, Rory Sidey, Lachlan Mitchell; Bryce Hegarty, Luke Burgess; Nic Henderson, Ged Robinson, Laurie Weeks, Cadeyrn Neville, Hugh Pyle, Jarrod Saffy, Scott Fuglistaller, Gareth Delve (capt). Replacements: Pat Leafa, Cruze Ah-Nau, Paul Alo-Emilie, Luke Jones, Jordy Reid, Nic Stirzaker, Angus Roberts, Cooper Vuna. Lions: Rob Kearney; Sean Maitland, Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt, Simon Zebo; Owen Farrell, Conor Murray; Ryan Grant, Richard Hibbard, Dan Cole, Richie Gray, Ian Evans, Dan Lydiate (capt), Sean O'Brien, Toby Faletau. Replacements: Rory Best, Tom Court, Matt Stevens, Tom Croft, Justin Tipuric, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell , Billy Twelvetrees, Stuart Hogg. Comments Sign in with your BBC iD, or Register to comment and rate comments All posts are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules.
Manu Tuilagi aims to give British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland a selection headache for Saturday's second Test against Australia.
The England centre starts against Melbourne Rebels on Tuesday, barely two weeks after fearing his tour was over.
“It was a massive win for us at the weekend and we have a chance now to keep that momentum going ” Dan Lydiate Tuesday's Lions captain
After a promising outing against Western Force, Tuilagi, 22, was forced off after 20 minutes against Queensland Reds with a 'stinger' to his shoulder.
"This is an opportunity for those that didn't play on Saturday," he said.
"After the Reds game I couldn't really move my arm.
"I have had a lot of tests with the doctors and physios, and have been doing a lot of rehab trying to get it back to full strength. It is just exciting to be back playing now."
In the absence of both Tuilagi and Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies and Brian O'Driscoll started together in midfield in the first Test victory in Brisbane.
But with Gatland expected to formulate a tighter game-plan on Saturday, a fit-again Tuilagi may be a tempting option as a battering-ram centre capable of generating gain-line momentum.
If Tuilagi proves his fitness on Tuesday in the final mid-week game of the tour, the in-form Davies could find his place under threat, with compatriot Alex Cuthbert also a potential casualty now Irish wing Tommy Bowe is available again.
With lock Paul O'Connell's tour over with a fractured arm, and prop Alex Corbisiero a major doubt for the second Test with a calf problem, the Lions may make at least four changes to their side.
Lions tight-head Cole will be keen to make an impression after a rocky time in the first Test
Forwards coach Graham Rowntree confirmed Geoff Parling - withdrawn from the Rebels match - will take over from O'Connell, with Mako Vunipola likely to start if Corbisiero doesn't make it, although Scottish prop Ryan Grant could also enter the equation with a strong performance on Tuesday.
Fellow front-rowers Richard Hibbard and Dan Cole, both on the field in Brisbane when the Lions lost their own put-in at one scrum and then conceded the penalty in another that might have cost them victory in the last minute, will be keen to make amends in Melbourne.
Lock Ian Evans - a late call-up to the starting side after Parling's withdrawal - now has a chance to force his way onto the bench for the second Test after a slightly underwhelming tour so far.
The Lions will also be praying Owen Farrell comes through the game unscathed with no other specialist fly-half cover for Jonny Sexton in the squad.
Flanker Dan Lydiate, who could yet force a change in the make-up of the Test back row, will lead a side determined to bolster Gatland's options for both this Saturday and the final Test in Sydney.
"It was a massive win for us at the weekend and we have a chance now to prove ourselves and keep that momentum going towards what is going to be an even bigger test this weekend," said the Welshman.
The Rebels are missing four Wallabies but include three capped players in their match-day squad, with scrum-half Luke Burgess starting his first game on his return from France, and former Wales international Gareth Delve leading the side from number eight.
Team line-ups:
Rebels: Jason Woodward; Tom English, Mitch Inmar, Rory Sidey, Lachlan Mitchell; Bryce Hegarty, Luke Burgess; Nic Henderson, Ged Robinson, Laurie Weeks, Cadeyrn Neville, Hugh Pyle, Jarrod Saffy, Scott Fuglistaller, Gareth Delve (capt).
Replacements: Pat Leafa, Cruze Ah-Nau, Paul Alo-Emilie, Luke Jones, Jordy Reid, Nic Stirzaker, Angus Roberts, Cooper Vuna.
Lions: Rob Kearney; Sean Maitland, Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt, Simon Zebo; Owen Farrell, Conor Murray; Ryan Grant, Richard Hibbard, Dan Cole, Richie Gray, Ian Evans, Dan Lydiate (capt), Sean O'Brien, Toby Faletau.
Replacements: Rory Best, Tom Court, Matt Stevens, Tom Croft, Justin Tipuric, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell , Billy Twelvetrees, Stuart Hogg.
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