AUSTRALIA v LIONS (Third Test Decider, Saturday, KO 11.05)

NEWPORT Gwent Dragons star Toby Faletau has been backed to shine on his British and Irish Lions Test debut in Saturday’s winner-takes-all game against Australia.

After missing out all together, at the expense of Ireland’s Jamie Heaslip, for the first two clashes against the Wallabies, the number eight gets his big chance.

Head coach Warren Gat-land has turned to the 22-year-old number eight from Pontypool in a Lions starting XV including ten Welshmen – their biggest representation since 1950.

Fans of the tourists hope it provides a good omen for the visitors because they beat Australia 19-6 in that Test in Brisbane 63 years ago.

The other nine to play this weekend are captain and lock Alun Wyn Jones, full back Leigh Halfpenny, centres Jonathan Davies and Jamie Roberts, wing George North, scrum half Mike Phillips, tighthead Adam Jones, hooker Richard Hibbard and blindside Dan Lydiate.

With the series all square at 1-1 with the deciding Test in Sydney to come, Gatland said of Faletau: “Toby’s been unlucky because he has played well on tour.

“Like I said, there were some tight calls in the first few games and he gets an opportunity to come in on Saturday.

“We feel it’s going to be, another tough, physical encounter as it was in Melbourne last week.”

There are six changes to the Lions side who lost 16-15 to Australia last Saturday after winning an equally fraught first Test 23-21 in Brisbane the week before.

Three Irishmen start – wing Tommy Bowe, outside half Jonny Sexton and Sean O’Brien at No 7 – along with two England players – loosehead prop Alex Corbisiero and lock Geoff Parling – with no Scots, although second row Richie Gray is among the replacements.

Perhaps the surprise omission from the 23-man match-day squad is the legendary Brian O’Driscoll who, at the age of 34, has played his last game for the Lions.

He had been tipped to lead the tourists but the reserve centre is Leicester and England powerhouse Manu Tuilagi, also set to make his Lions debut.

Openside flanker Justin Tipuric is the sole Welsh-man on the bench, the other substitutes, not mentioned above, are England’s Owen Farrell (outside half), Faletau’s Pontypool-raised cousin Mako Vunipola (loosehead prop), Tom Youngs (hooker) and Dan Cole (tighthead prop) with Ireland scrum half Conor Murray providing cover for Phillips. Australia name their team today.

British and Irish Lions: L Halfpenny (Wales), T Bowe (Ireland), J Davies (Wales), J Roberts (Wales), G North (Wales), J Sexton (Ireland), M Phillips (Wales), A Corbisiero (England), R Hibbard (Wales), A Jones (Wales), A W Jones (Wales, capt), G Parling (England), D Lydiate (Wales), S O’Brien (Ireland), Toby Faletau (Wales).

Replacements: T Youngs (England), M Vunipola (England), D Cole (England), R Gray (Scotland), J Tipuric (Wales), C Murray (Ireland), O Farrell (England), Manu Tuilagi (England).