No Wilkinson for Maori clash
British and Irish Lions boss Clive Woodward has gone for size and power – but still no Jonny Wilkinson – in Saturday’s unofficial “fourth Test” against the New Zealand Maori.
The Lions front-row alone – England trio Andrew Sheridan, Steve Thompson and Julian White – weighs in at more than 54 stone, with second-row giants Simon Shaw and Paul O’Connell providing further bulk.
Wilkinson though, remains in the wings as Test team fly-half rival Stephen Jones takes centre stage.
Wales Grand Slam hero Jones follows Ronan O’Gara and Charlie Hodgson into the Lions number 10 jersey, with Wilkinson’s tour bow seemingly set for Wellington next Wednesday.
While Wilkinson waits, the likes of Sheridan, centre Gordon D’Arcy, scrum-half Matt Dawson and fit-again Scottish number eight Simon Taylor all have golden opportunities to press their Test match claims.
Sheridan’s solitary England cap was gained as a replacement against Canada last autumn, but after the Lions scrum struggled to make an impact during opening tour victories over Bay of Plenty and Taranaki, it is an area which will concentrate Woodward and his coaching think-tank.
And the 26-year-old Sale Sharks forward, renowned as one of English rugby’s physically strongest players, could hardly have been handed a better chance.
“We have a lot of respect for the Maori front-row,” said Lions coach Andy Robinson.
“Everybody has been saying that New Zealand forward play in general has not been as it was, but I don’t think that’s been the case. I think they have put a lot of attention into their set-plays, and as we saw in the Taranaki game, these guys are very good scrummagers.
“It is going to be a huge battle up front, and it is important to dominate in that area.”
Taylor, meanwhile, has recovered from a hamstring injury, and will look to thrust his name into Test back-row contention following Lawrence Dallaglio’s sadly premature tour exit.
With Wales flanker Martyn Williams a red-hot favourite for the Test openside berth, it appears to be a two from three battle to join him between Taylor, Martin Corry and Richard Hill.
“Simon is raring to go,” added Robinson. “Having seen the good performances of the back-row over the past two games, we want Simon to perform to that level and put pressure on everybody in fighting for that Test spot.”
Woodward fields six of the side that started against Bay of Plenty last weekend, including tour skipper Brian O’Driscoll, while Wales number eight Michael Owen is on bench duty before a flying visit home to be with his wife Lucy for the birth of the couple’s second child.
The team comprises seven Englishmen, four Welsh players, three Irish and one Scottish, with O'Connell given vice-captaincy duties to O’Driscoll.
Victory for the Lions over a Maori side that contains nine All Blacks would undoubtedly crank the tour up a gear and send clear warning signals to their Test series opponents.
The Maori, as ever, fancy their chances, but they’ve never beaten the Lions in seven previous attempts between 1930 and 1993.
British and Irish Lions team to play New Zealand Maori in Hamilton on Saturday.
J Lewsey (Wasps and England); T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues and Wales), B O’Driscoll (Leinster and Ireland, capt), G D’Arcy (Leinster and Ireland), S Williams (Ospreys and Wales); S Jones (Clermont Auvergne and Wales), M Dawson (Wasps and England); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks and England), S Thompson (Northampton and England), J White (Leicester and England), S Shaw (Wasps and England), P O’Connell (Munster and Ireland), R Hill (Saracens and England), M Williams (Cardiff Blues and Wales), S Taylor (Edinburgh and Scotland).
Replacements: S Byrne (Leinster and Ireland), G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues and Wales), B Kay (Leicester and England), M Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons and Wales), D Peel (Llanelli Scarlets and Wales), R O’Gara (Munster and Ireland), S Horgan (Leinster and Ireland).
