Wynne Gray: Woodward’s leap of faith - and squad could be expanded

About the only person not selected for the Lions' first professional tour of New Zealand is a faith healer.

But if Sir Clive Woodward can find an authentic ministrant he may have to add him to the extensive support staff to get the original touring group of 44 players to this country.

The coach himself has made a leap of faith, banking on several former England players being able to still cut it in the test arena and a number of other invalids returning to full health.

But Woodward was unable to convince himself - yet - that Jonny Wilkinson should be chosen.

You know the coach wants his talismanic five-eighths, but there are obviously more medical problems for Wilkinson after his knee, neck, shoulder and bicep damage, than we imagined.

Either that or there have been further insurance complications for Wilkinson who has not played a test since his famous dropped goal to win England the 2003 World Cup and is about to make his fourth comeback attempt.

Wilkinson's absence is staggering and I am certain it will stun All Black coach Graham Henry.

I am sure Henry was being sincere when he spoke about his belief that Wilkinson would make the trip, and he will still hold that view.

With such a huge touring squad, Woodward gave himself room to pick a few of his semi-retired or damaged favourites - it was no surprise Lawrence Dallaglio, Richard Hill, Neil Back and Co made the selection.

The first official mistake came when the squad was released on the official Lions website. There were only 43 names listed, but later it was possible to deduce that Irish midfielder Gordon D'Arcy had been the missing player.

Quite what shape the squad will be in will be disclosed in 46 days when the Lions arrive in Auckland.

If a handful are already hobbling when they go through customs that should be a warning that they risk problems like previous Lions squads.

On the last trip here 12 years ago, the selectors failed to pick a rock-solid tighthead prop for the tour and were ultimately forced to switch Jason Leonard to give their scrum some solidity.

They may have similar issues this time with tighthead props. Julian White is one of the injured picked for the trip, Phil Vickery remains hopeful he can pass a fitness test, while others such as Graeme Rowntree and Gethin Jenkins can play both sides of the scrum.

Andy Sheridan is a prop who plays for Sale and is reputed to be one of the strongest men in the game, but he also lands in the small surprise selection category alongside Irish lock Donnacha O'Callaghan.

None of the other wildcards mooted by the British media earned Woodward's approval.

With 20 Englishmen in the squad and three more possible if they pass their fitness tests, it will be fascinating to see what reaction that draws in Britain, especially with no injury allowances for other former Lions like Colin Charvis and Tom Smith.

Fiesty halfback Matt Dawson will return to confront Henry again after their personality battles in 2001 when Henry coached the Lions on the tour to Australia.

There is no room, however, for another of that tour's mischiefmakers, Austin Healey.

This tour is expected to attract about 20,000 visitors in what will be a test case for New Zealand's bid to host the 2011 World Cup.