Spear to heart forces Woodward into rethink

Another Lions theory will get the bullet if any of tonight's side to play Manawatu persuade the coaching staff they are ready for the make-or-break second test with the All Blacks.

Much was made on this tour by coach Sir Clive Woodward of the need to rest his test side properly and have them primed for action.

That idea is now past tense if Woodward's latest treatise can be believed.

When he announced the side to play Manawatu, he also said there would be some players who would also be involved at the CakeTin this weekend.

"Obviously, injuries such as those to Brian O'Driscoll and Richard Hill will force us to make changes, but there will be changes beyond that," Woodward said yesterday.

The concept is interesting, but it is difficult to see it carrying much weight when the Lions selectors sit down to choose their next test group.

How can the Lions place a huge amount of credence on performance tonight against second-division Manawatu?

If first five-eighths Charlie Hodgson, who has played two sound matches on tour, is the man of the match, will that give him an edge. Would he oust Stephen Jones, or will Jonny Wilkinson do that without playing again?

Wing Jason Robinson and loose forward Martin Corry are the only test players asked to back up tonight, suggesting they are under the hammer for places in Wellington.

Robinson and Shane Williams may be shooting for one place in the squad, while locks Donncha O'Callaghan and Simon Shaw may also be bidding for one test vacancy.

If flanker Corry is bypassed for Wellington it will be a major rebuff because he took over the captaincy when Brian O'Driscoll's shoulder was dislocated after 77 seconds in what the Lions are labelling a "spearing" tackle by Tana Umaga.

One player missing is midfielder Gavin Henson, who a day after being declared a starter for the game in Palmerston North, was withdrawn because of a slight groin strain.

Jones, Dwayne Peel, Ben Kay and Gethin Jenkins are also unavailable because of minor injuries.

Players not required tonight and who appear to have moved closer to the playing XV must be wing Shane Horgan, halfback Matt Dawson, loose forwards Lewis Moody and Simon Easterby, and front-rowers Graham Rowntree and Steve Thompson.

The All Blacks will announce their second test combination today and, with no injuries reported after such a significant opening victory, convention would suggest an unchanged selection.

But coach Graham Henry and his sidekicks Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith have not always been content with the status quo. They must keep their side improving and want to keep the Lions on edge.

A change or two would attract the Lions' attention. Perhaps this could occur at fullback where Mils Muliaina needs to keep ticking over and was only just pipped by Leon MacDonald for Christchurch.