Saints pair start for Lions in Sydney showdown

HE'S BACK - Alex Corbisiero has returned to the Lions team for the third Test on Saturday

Saints duo George North and Alex Corbisiero will start for the Lions in their third and final Test in Sydney on Saturday.

Corbisiero missed last weekend’s clash, which the Wallabies won 16-15, due to a calf injury.

But with the Lions scrum creaking in the Melbourne match-up, the England prop has been handed a recall in place of Mako Vunipola.

North, who has been one of the stars of the tour for Warren Gatland’s men, will start for the third time in as many Test matches.

Gatland has made six changes for the Sydney showdown, with Brian O’Driscoll the biggest omission.

O’Driscoll had been tipped to skipper the side in Sam Warburton’s absence, but the Ireland centre is not even in the matchday squad.

Lions: Halfpenny; Bowe, Davies, Roberts, North; Sexton, Phillips; Corbisiero, Hibbard, Jones; Wyn Jones (captain), Parling, Lydiate, O’Brien, Faletau.

Replacements: T Youngs, Vunipola, Cole, Gray, Tipuric, Murray, Farrell, Tuilagi.