HAD THE Lions produced, at any stage of this tour, a truly convincing spell of rugby for longer than half an hour, it would be easier to say where they might make changes for the second international at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium on Saturday. But they have not, so, though there must be change, there can be little certainty that it will be for the better.
Having lost four more players for the final fortnight of the tour, three injured and one suspended, with others, Ben Kay and Dwayne Peel among them, requiring treatment, it was no surprise when the Lions delayed until this morning the announcement of the team to play Manawatu. Even a second division side seems a mountain now and some players will be involved both tomorrow in Palmerston North and on Saturday.
Replacements must be found for Brian O’Driscoll and Richard Hill, with the obvious answers being Gavin Henson and Ryan Jones since Tom Shanklin, with a badly inflamed knee, has also been ruled out. Henson is not a direct replacement for O’Driscoll since he is an inside centre, but he is in form. That would also argue a case for the retention of the two Wales half backs, who Henson knows so well, but would leave no place for Jonny Wilkinson.
The repair job must begin up front. Jones deserves to start on the blind side but, of the front five that played at Jade Stadium, only Gethin Jenkins can be sure of his place and he also took a knock. He may find himself switched to tight-head instead of Julian White, leaving a berth for the deserving Graham Rowntree or the substantial Andrew Sheridan.
Despite his inconsistencies at the lineout, Steve Thompson is likely to start at hooker ahead of Shane Byrne but his locks could be any two of four: Grewcock is out, Kay was replaced in the second half on Saturday and Paul O’Connell has not imposed himself. Nevertheless, the Irishman is likely to remain and there is a possibility that Donncha O’Callaghan, who has been working hard all tour, mostly alongside Simon Shaw, will be asked to step up.
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Were Henson to play, it would make sense to give him an experienced midfield partner, which could be Will Greenwood or even Gareth Thomas, the new tour captain. In the back three, there seems little prospect of Jason Robinson remaining. Josh Lewsey has played full back all tour and should have started there on Saturday, rather than on the wing, where Geordan Murphy or Shane Williams would introduce something different.