Test side reeks of reputation ahead of form

Jonny Wilkinson

The Lions routinely dusted off their dinosaur selections yesterday, but added a dose of eccentricity by announcing positional switches for Jonny Wilkinson and Jason Robinson.

In a selection that smelled of reputation rather than production, but one which had been telegraphed, eight Englishmen form the core of the first test side with four Welshmen and three Irishmen.

If it was galling for Gavin Henson to be omitted from the squad, his trademark hairstyle would have turned an electric hue when he discovered his midfield place had gone to Wilkinson, a transplanted five-eighths.

And Robinson, the sidestepping speedster, has swapped places with Josh Lewsey and returned to fullback, where coach Sir Clive Woodward prefers him and where England have used him almost exclusively in his four-year rugby career.

Neither Wilkinson nor Robinson were any great shakes in their solitary tour game against Wellington and, with Richard Hill and Ben Kay, seem to have won selection because of their nationality and historical excellence.

They may all have been sharp behind the red fences around the Lions' training fields, but in tour games they have had a stately tread rather than made any statements.

Wilkinson was used for just 18 minutes at second five-eighths outside Stephen Jones in a pairing which made little impression against a tiring Wellington.

On that evidence, their reunion this weekend had to be pre-determined.

Woodward claimed yesterday that was not always the plan.

The performance of Dwayne Peel and Jones for Wales under intense pressure against France in the Six Nations told him they would be his halfback-first-five pairing. The question was, who to use outside them in midfield.

"When Jonny Wilkinson became fit, watching him play and knowing him as a player, it always became an option," Woodward said.

Henson had done everything right and had been unlucky to miss the cut.

"If anything Jonny is in his better position, playing outside someone," Woodward said.

The Lions back division has been training together since last Wednesday and Woodward does not see a deal of difference between the first and second five-eighths positions.

The last time Wilkinson played at second five-eighths in an international was for England in the final Five Nations game, when he was a solid defender.

Welsh midfielder Scott Gibbes scooted in for a late winning try.

Since then Wilkinson has become one of the most accomplished backline directors, a man whose all-round game and outstanding goalkicking sent England to the pinnacle of world rugby.

But his career since has been blighted by neck, shoulder and bicep injuries - damage which has reduced his ability to repel opponents with his strong defence.

All Black ball-carriers such as Tana Umaga and Jerry Collins are sure to alter their attacking compasses by a couple of degrees to test Wilkinson's repetitive tackling technique.

The midfield selection will have incensed former Welsh great Jonathan Davies, who claimed Wilkinson was not ready to play at second five-eighths - and whose play even at first five-eighths was rusty.

Davies thought the Lions needed a target player in midfield for their loose forwards to work to.

He advocated that Wilkinson play against Southland, while he thought Lewsey rather than Henson was the man for the midfield.

Instead, Woodward has moved Lewsey from fullback to wing in an all-fullback back three who should be proficient at resisting any aerial bombardment from the All Blacks.

Irish hooker Shane Byrne has been one player picked on form he has showed on tour, along with replacement tourist Ryan Jones, who has made the bench.

Assistant coach Eddie O'Sullivan said the only All Black selection which surprised them was the recall of Leon MacDonald at fullback. Otherwise, it was a selection they expected.

The Lions continued their charm offensive yesterday when they met test referee Joel Jutge and explained their ideas about how the scrums should be controlled in Christchurch.

* Jade Stadium, Saturday 7.10pm

ALL BLACKS

Leon MacDonald, Doug Howlett, Tana Umaga (c), Aaron Mauger, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Daniel Carter, Justin Marshall, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw, Jerry Collins, Ali Williams, Chris Jack, Carl Hayman, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock

Reserves: Derren Witcombe, Greg Somerville, Jono Gibbes, Sione Lauaki, Byron Kelleher, Rico Gear, Mils Muliana.

LIONS

Jason Robinson, Josh Lewsey, Brian O'Driscoll (c), Jonny Wilkinson, Gareth Thomas, Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel, Martin Corry, Neil Back, Richard Hill, Ben Kay, Paul O'Connell, Julian White, Shane Byrne, Gethin Jenkins

Reserves: Steve Thompson, Graham Rowntree, Danny Grewcock, Ryan Jones, Matt Dawson, Will Greenwood, Shane Horgan.