That would render him unavailable for Lions selection until the Otago game in Dunedin on June 18 – incredibly halfway through the 2005 campaign – and just a week before the first Test.

Thomas, having inspired Wales to the Grand Slam, was considered a favourite for the Test side when the initial Lions squad was announced. Now it appears he will have little chance to prove his credentials before the June 25 showdown in Christchurch.

“The longer this goes on then the less chance he has to play in the first Test,” said Woodward.

“We were hoping winning the European Cup would be enough for them but we are still negotiating hard with the club.

“Bill Beaumont (Lions tour manager) is on the case at the moment. We’ve spoken to Gareth and he is desperate to get out here.”

Jason Robinson, who had remained home to spend time with his pregnant wife, will arrive in New Zealand on June 7, in time to feature in the Wellington game.

Thomas’s Welsh team-mate Stephen Jones arrived in New Zealand yesterday after helping his own French club, Clermont Auvergne, to seventh place in the championship and qualification for the Heineken Cup.

Jones has spoken regularly with Thomas and knows how difficult and frustrating a position his Welsh team-mate is in.

“Gareth finds himself between a rock and a hard place,” said Jones.

“I’ve been in touch and I know how badly he wants to be a part of the Lions. There again, he is on the verge of achieving something very special with Toulouse.”

Those off-field distractions do not help help Woodward’s ambitions to make this the “best prepared Lions tour ever”, but elsewhere things seem to be falling into place.

The squad trained in two sessions today, with half under the Saturday coaching staff preparing for the forthcoming game against Bay of Plenty, the others readying themselves for Wednesday’s clash with Taranaki.

And while the environment and the challenge may be new for Woodward, the same age-old principles that carried his England team to World Cup glory still apply.

Victory over a physical Bay of Plenty side is all that matters this weekend, so the Lions can kick-start their tour and begin to build momentum towards that first Test.

“It doesn’t matter how you win, it doesn’t matter how you get there. Winning is what sport is about,” said Woodward.

“If we play attractive rugby that is a huge bonus. But history in sport only remembers those who win.

“I am confident we can achieve something special. I am flanked by winners here in Brian O’Driscoll and Lawrence Dallaglio. My experience shows me that if we win a game but don’t play well, we can get momentum going. It is difficult to get momentum going if we lose.

“My stated aim is that when we arrive at the first Test, we will be the best prepared Lions side and hopefully the freshest team.

“We are here to play rugby and I am looking forward to the first game. This starting XV has got first crack and they know how difficult it’s going to be.”

The Lions were forced into making a change to the replacements today when Malcolm O’Kelly suffered a recurrence of the abdominal strain that had ruled him out of the Argentina game.

The Irish lock had only just returned to full training when he suffered similar symptoms during today’s session and was immediately withdrawn as a “precautionary measure”.

His place on the bench for Saturday’s game in Rotorua has been taken by fellow Irishman Donncha O’Callaghan.

Woodward said: “It is obviously disappointing for Malcolm but this is why we have the strength in depth of the touring squad which enables us to provide cover to ensure that we get the players back to full fitness needed to tackle the tough games ahead.”

The Lions expect a tough encounter with a Bay of Plenty side who last season beat Auckland to claim the Ranfurly Shield and reached the semi-finals of New Zealand’s National Provincial Competition.

The Steamers announced a team today featuring 10 players with Super 12 experience, nine of whom enjoyed a storming end to the competition with the Waikato Chiefs.

Captain Brian O’Driscoll said: “I am sure they will be very much up for the game. The opportunity doesn’t come round very often for players not in the international frame to play teams like the Lions.

“They will be very physical and pumped up. We will have to match them on all fronts and then some. We could get a shock surprise if we don’t start playing the way we know we can.”