The Ospreys dazzler came on as a 65th minute replacement last weekend in the second Test, but will start for the first time in the series, replacing Luke Fitsgerald.
“It’s been a tough, physical tour and losing the series is not what we came out here for, so there’s still work to do,” said Williams. “But we were not far off and we have enjoyed ourselves, we’ve had fun.
“I’m at my best when I’m smiling on the field so I’m determined to go out and enjoy myself and play my own game on Saturday. Of course, I was disappointed not to start in the first two tests. I realise we are 2-0 down but myself and all the other players who missed out earlier have a point to prove.
“We feel hard done by to have lost the series, we were unlucky, so we are more determined than ever now. We’re a very proud bunch of players and we want to show on Saturday that we could have won the series.
“I don’t believe there’s any danger of a whitewash, we’re up for the game and we’re going in with the right attitude,”
Injured Welsh props Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones are replaced by the England duo of Andrew Sheridan and Phil Vickery, while concussion victim Brian O’Driscoll’s centre spot goes to Tommy Bowe in a positional split .
Bowe moves into the midfield from the right wing to join another newcomer, England’s Riki Flutey, who takes over from Jamie Roberts, whose sprained wrist sustained in the second half of last weekend’s second Test in Pretoria hasn’t fully healed.
Up front, Vickery returns for his fifth Lions Test and Sheridan makes his first Test start in the front row. The second row remains the same, but the back row has been revamped following the 28-25 defeat at Loftus Versfeld.
Irish No8 Jamie Heaslip remains the one constant throughout the three Tests, while Wales flanker Martyn Williams gets his first Test start on his third Lions tour. He switches with David Wallace, who drops to the bench, while 30-year-old Joe Worsley replaces fellow Englishman Tom Croft on the blindside of the scrum.
Croft drops to the replacements bench, where the Lions have employed a 5-2 split between forwards and backs. Ross Ford, Alun Wyn Jones and Harry Ellis are retained from last weekend’s bench, while Irish tight-head prop John Hayes, who flew out as a replacement for the injured Euan Murray, provides cover for the front row.
Wallace switches with Martyn Williams and James Hook is included in the Test 22 for the first time.
British & Irish Lions (vs South Africa, 3rd Test)
15 Rob Kearney (Leinster / Ireland)
14 Ugo Monye (Harlequins / England)
13 Tommy Bowe (Ospreys / Ireland)
12 Riki Flutey (London Wasps / England)
11 Shane Williams (Ospreys / Wales)
10 Stephen Jones (Scarlets / Wales)
9 Mike Phillips (Ospreys / Wales)
8 Jamie Heaslip (Leinster / Ireland)
7 Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues / Wales)
6 Joe Worsley (London Wasps / England)
5 Paul O’Connell (Munster / Ireland, Captain)
4 Simon Shaw (London Wasps / England)
3 Phil Vickery (London Wasps / England)
2 Matthew Rees (Scarlets / Wales)
1 Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks / England)
Replacements
16 Ross Ford (Edinburgh / Scotland)
17 John Hayes (Munster / Ireland)
18 Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys / Wales)
19 David Wallace (Munster / Ireland)
20 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers / England)
21 Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers / England)
22 James Hook (Ospreys / Wales)
