Lions vs. All Blacks lineups announced

June 22, 2005

The Lions and All Blacks have announced their starting lineups for the First Test this Saturday at Jade Stadium in Christchurch.

There are no huge surprises in either lineup, both coaches electing to go with the tried-and-true. The main obstacle appears to be lack of game time for combinations on both teams.

The All Blacks have played one Test since their huge victory in Paris last November, and that was a 91-0 demolition job on Fiji that looked more like a hard training session than it did a match of Test Rugby. And of Saturday's lineup, five of the starters were on the bench for the Fiji Test.

Most interesting picks for the ABs are the selection of Leon MacDonald at fullback after a couple years in Japan, Tony Woodcock nails down the No. 1 jersey, and Sitiveni Sivivatu replaces his cousin Joe Rokocoko on the left wing. The retiring veteran halfback Justin Marshall regains his jersey, as does winger Doug Howlett, who coach Graham Henry may have selected on reputation alone. Rico Gear, New Zealand's form winger in the Super 12, can consider himself unlucky not to be starting, he gets the bench and may be brought on in the 2nd half as an impact player. Howlett will need to impress that he can still foot it.

The gutsy and motivational hooked Anton Oliver still has yet to recover from his calf injury, and Keven Mealamu gets the nod, he will need a huge game for the All Blacks to fire. Meanwhile, an injury cloud hangs over all-world flanker Richie McCaw, he takes a strained lower back into the game. Marty Holah may be a late replacement.

Clive Woodward runs out a fairly predictable Test side, mostly comprised of old battle-hardened English warhorses that served him so well in the last World Cup. However, the Lions performances so far on their New Zealand tour have been underwhelming, and with too many players and lack of game-time, one wonders if his Test squad can finally pull it all together at the last minute.

His biggest selection shocker is the inclusion of Jonny Wilkinson at No. 12. Welshman Stephen Jones gets the nod as starting flyhalf. Most believed Woodward would select Wilkinson in that position on reputation alone. But Wilkinson has played hardly any rugby since his heroism at the 2003 World Cup. He's played only one match on tour, and that was in the flyhalf position, and he didn't look sharp. There is a worry all over this selection, given Wilkinson's lack of experience in the position, his current lack of form, and that bothersome shoulder. Wilkinson is a dynamite tackler, but was noticably flinching from tackles and protecting his shoulder in the Wellington game.

But make no mistake. the Lions are packed with size, talent, experience and a world-class goal-kicker. The First Test looks to be an evenly contested match with individual genius and worry-signs in both sides. As always, the team that holds the ball, plays as a unit and minimizes mistakes will most likely walk away victors. Lions' senior-citizen flanker Neil Back must be crossing his fingers that Richie McCaw can't start, as the all-important fight for the ball at breakdown and fast ball look to be crucial areas for both sides.

The difference may come down to interpretations from French referree Joël Jutge. All Black lock Ali Williams and Lion' No. 8 Martin Corry would do well to keep their heads and not start into their habits of thuggery on the pitch, lest their side be down to 14 men and allow the series to get away from them.

Lions starting XV here.

All Blacks starting XV here.