LIONS coach Sir Clive Woodward has done a complete U-turn and pinned a Test series reprieve on the shoulders of Welsh wizards Shane Williams and Gavin Henson.

Battered by the media and supporters alike for his first Test selection, Woodward has finally turned to the 2005 Six Nations Grand Slam winners, naming eight Welshman in his 22 for this weekend's Second Test . Woodward has made 11 changes to his starting XV, including four positional switches in his back division, following last weekend's 21-3 mauling by New Zealand in Christchurch.

Many will see Woodward's decision to call on Williams and Henson and bank on Welsh flair behind the scrum as an admission the Lions coach made a selection blunder for the first Test.

Henson, controversially overlooked for Christchurch, will partner stand-in skipper Gareth Thomas in a new-look midfield, though Wales fly half Stephen Jones has been dropped to the bench, Woodward unable to contemplate dropping Jonny Wilkinson.

Williams has been rewarded for his five tries against Manawatu with a start on the wing, with England's Jason Robinson moving from full back to the flank and Josh Lewsey moving the other way.

Robinson, who featured against Manawatu, will feel particularly fortunate to have earned a stay of execution with the likes of Denis Hickie, Shane Horgan and Geordan Murphy breathing down his neck.

Welsh scrum half Dwayne Peel has hung on to his jersey and will partner England's Wilkinson, the latter starting his first international game at fly half since the 2003 World Cup final.

Newport-born Ryan Jones completes the transformation from Lions reject to first choice No 8 after being named in a new-look back row. Originally omitted from Woodward's 45-man squad for New Zealand, Jones was called up as a late replacement for the injured Simon Taylor. However, a string of impressive displays, including a wonderful 60-minute showing in the first Test, against the All Blacks after replacing Richard Hill, has seen Jones handed his chance.

Another Lions late-comer, Ireland's Simon Easterby, who was only called up when Lawrence Dallaglio picked up an injury against the Bay of Plenty, will also feature in a totally new back row alongside England's Lewis Moody.

Props Gethin Jenkins and Julian White, along with Irish lock Paul O'Connell, are the only survivors in the pack, with English hooker Steve Thompson and Ireland's Donncha O'Callaghan called up to bolster the front five. Hooker Shane Byrne and number eight Martin Corry have been dropped to the replacements' bench, while veteran Neil Back and lock Ben Kay have been omitted altogether from the 22.