New Zealand team for first Lions test

[ThrashViking]

15 Leon MacDonald (Canterbury) 26 Tests
14 Doug Howlett (Auckland) 46 Tests
13 Tana Umaga (Wellington) (C) 64 Tests
12 Aaron Mauger (Canterbury) 24 Tests
11 Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato) 1 Test
10 Daniel Carter (Canterbury) 18 Tests
9 Justin Marshall (Canterbury) 78 Tests
8 Rodney So'oialo (Wellington) 10 Tests
7 Richie McCaw (Canterbury) (VC) 27 Tests
6 Jerry Collins (Wellington) 21 Tests
5 Ali Williams (Auckland) 21 Tests
4 Chris Jack (Canterbury) 37 Tests
3 Carl Hayman (Otago) 17 Tests
2 Keven Mealamu (Auckland) 23 Tests
1 Tony Woodcock (North Harbour) 7 Tests
Reserves:
16 Derren Witcombe (Auckland) 1 Test
17 Greg Somerville (Canterbury) 42 Tests
18 Jono Gibbes (Waikato) 7 Tests
19 Sione Lauaki (Waikato) 1 Test
20 Byron Kelleher (Waikato) 33 Tests
21 Mils Muliaina (Auckland) 26 Tests
22 Rico Gear (Nelson Bays) 2 Tests
Hooker Anton Oliver and number 8 Mose Tuali'i were not considered for selection due to injury.

 

[douglasallen91]

pretty obivious team apart from nonu not on the bench for gear.

 

[ThrashViking]

I thought James Ryan & Conrad Smith were pretty unlucky.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Good to see Jonno Gibbes make the bench, he well and truly earned the call-up with his performance captaining the Maori. Conrad Smith is unlucky.

 

[Scott]

Mils should be there for McDonald. Mils was the plyer of the tour late last year!

Smith should be in 13, Umaga in 12.

 

[ThrashViking]

Lions team to play New Zealand
15 Jason ROBINSON (Sale Sharks, England) 39 Tests
14 Josh LEWSEY (London Wasps, England 34 Tests
13 Brian O’DRISCOLL (Leinster, Ireland) CAPTAIN 59 Tests
12 Jonny WILKINSON (Newcastle Falcons, England) 52 Tests
11 Gareth THOMAS (Toulouse, Wales) 83 Tests
10 Stephen JONES (Clermont Auvergne, Wales) 48 Tests
9 Dwayne PEEL (Llanelli, Wales) 41 Tests

1 Gethin JENKINS (Cardiff, Wales) 31 Tests
2 Shane BYRNE (Leinster, Ireland) 38 Tests
3 Julian WHITE (Leicester Tigers, England)
4 Paul O’CONNELL (Munster, Ireland) 29 Tests
5 Ben KAY (Leicester Tigers, England) 40 Tests
6 Richard HILL (Saracens, England) 71 Tests
7 Neil BACK (Leicester Tigers, England) 66 Tests
8 Martin CORRY (Leicester Tigers, England) VICE CAPTAIN 37 Tests
Reserves:
16 Steve THOMPSON (Northampton Saints, England) 39 Tests
17 Graham ROWNTREE (Leicester Tigers, England) 52 Tests
18 Danny GREWCOCK (Bath, England) 57 Tests
19 Ryan JONES (Ospreys, Wales) 8 Tests
20 Matt DAWSON (London Wasps, England) 70 Tests
21 Will GREENWOOD (NEC Harlequins, England) 55 Tests
22 Shane HORGAN (Leinster, Ireland) 37 Tests

 

[ThrashViking]

The All Blacks have called flanker Marty Holah into camp as a precaution while Richie McCaw recovers from a minor back strain.

The Waikato man joins the All Blacks in Christchurch on Wednesday night direct from the Junior All Blacks squad in Queensland.

McCaw is in the starting line-up for Saturday's first test in the DHL Series and, after participating in all team training this week, medical advice is that he will be fully fit. Holah's call-up is a precaution should McCaw's back worsen.

McCaw confirmed the back problems had not hindered him at training at all this week and he would continue to prepare

"I just felt if for some reason there was a chance all of a sudden of blowing to pieces on Friday, it would disrupt us for one of our biggest games so why not just take the precaution."

"To be honest, today it has improved a bit, so hopefully it's not going to be a problem.

"I have to be certain I'll get through the game. Something drastic would have to happen really to keep me out. But if I wasn't right I wouldn't play."

All Blacks coach Graham Henry is confident McCaw, who is seen as a major weapon for the All Blacks in the vital br3eakdown area, will play.

"Richie has come through the hardest part of the training week and is good to go," said Henry. "Marty's presence is insurance just in case Richie's back should worsen unexpectedly. All the signs are that his back will be fine, but backs can be a little unpredictable so we've taken this extra step."

Henry said there was no cut-off point as far as McCaw's availability was concerned. When questioned how much time he would have to give Holah to prepare if he was to start, Henry said that wasn't an issue.

"He [Holah] is not playing at the moment. He's not even in consideration. You just don't wan to leave any stone unturned. Marty knows he's coming back as cover. He's a very professional player and he will be able to switch on as and when required."

McCaw says he has dealt with a similar strain in previous seasons. "My experience is that I can play and train with this niggle and it usually comes right after a few days," the Canterbury flanker said. "But in case it does something unusual, it's good for the team to be ready."

After a strong game for the New Zealand Maori two weeks ago, Holah has been training with the Junior All Blacks side.

"We know Marty is in good form and has stayed sharp in recent weeks," said Henry. "That's part of the value of the Junior All Blacks tour."

Holah's call up means that Josh Blackie moves onto the bench for the Junior All Blacks in Wednesday night's match against Queensland.

 

[aqua_duck]

God Leon MacDonald, there should've been a big thick red line through his name and the words 'never to be selected again' after his performance in the world cup semi final.
Mils has 4 times as much talent as Leon McCan't tackle

 

[ozbash]

God Leon MacDonald, there should've been a big thick red line through his name and the words 'never to be selected again' after his performance in the world cup semi final.
Mils has 4 times as much talent as Leon McCan't tackle

i feel exactly the same way about howlett. did nothing during S12 and gets picked on rep.
Rico Gear or Joe Rocokoko are better players on current form and thats even conceding joe didnt have his usual flash S12 season.

byron kelleher should tell the selectors hes going to japan,

cant wait to see lauaki go on, there will be lions fur flying in all directions.

 

[ThrashViking]

What exactly did Leon do wrong this year? Easily the fullback of the year so far, it's not his fault he was played out of position by that moron John Mitchell.
It was up there with putting Cullen at Centre in the 99 world cup.
& he was easily one of the best players for the Maori's, he made O'Driscoll look rank average.
Oz - Howlett has never let NZ down & Rokocoko needs to go learn how to tackle.

 

[Scott]

Well said TV - although I do feel a bit for Mils. Ma'a Nonu should be in that team on the bench, he is the most devastating ball runner in the world!

 

[Resident Warrior]

Yeah Leon deserves his spot! Howlett on the other hand.....

 

[bayrep]

Rokocoko scored 3 tries against Queensland last night for the junior AB's team. I would have had him in ahead of Howlett. Mils was unfortunate to play for a Blues out fit this year that was crap. Though I still would have had Mils over Leon.

 

[AliN]

Yeah good on Joe, show them up..

And agree Mils is unlucky.
Still a good side with no trouble on Saturday night I'd say.

Sir Clive certainly does his homework well but I don't think it'll be enough..

AB's by 17

 

[Phillips]

15 Leon MacDonald

](*,)

 

[ozbash]

i guess when it comes down to it, graham henry knows his stuff and he would know the guts of this lions side probably better than sir clive.

wonder if sir clive is still smiling after we put 20 points on him ?

 

[Resident Warrior]

Lions team to play New Zealand
15 Jason ROBINSON (Sale Sharks, England) 39 Tests
14 Josh LEWSEY (London Wasps, England 34 Tests
13 Brian O’DRISCOLL (Leinster, Ireland) CAPTAIN 59 Tests
12 Jonny WILKINSON (Newcastle Falcons, England) 52 Tests
11 Gareth THOMAS (Toulouse, Wales) 83 Tests
10 Stephen JONES (Clermont Auvergne, Wales) 48 Tests
9 Dwayne PEEL (Llanelli, Wales) 41 Tests

1 Gethin JENKINS (Cardiff, Wales) 31 Tests
2 Shane BYRNE (Leinster, Ireland) 38 Tests
3 Julian WHITE (Leicester Tigers, England)
4 Paul O’CONNELL (Munster, Ireland) 29 Tests
5 Ben KAY (Leicester Tigers, England) 40 Tests
6 Richard HILL (Saracens, England) 71 Tests
7 Neil BACK (Leicester Tigers, England) 66 Tests
8 Martin CORRY (Leicester Tigers, England) VICE CAPTAIN 37 Tests
Reserves:
16 Steve THOMPSON (Northampton Saints, England) 39 Tests
17 Graham ROWNTREE (Leicester Tigers, England) 52 Tests
18 Danny GREWCOCK (Bath, England) 57 Tests
20 Matt DAWSON (London Wasps, England) 70 Tests
21 Will GREENWOOD (NEC Harlequins, England) 55 Tests
22 Shane HORGAN (Leinster, Ireland) 37 Tests

Not a bad looking team, the forward pack looks alright but we will have to see how they hold up against the AB's.

But why the f*ck must they insist on putting a out of form Wilkinson in the side?!

They don't need his kicking Jones is a decent goalkicker.
He hasn't even played inside center for some time and putting him ahead of Henson (who should be without a doubt the first choice inside center imho) or even O'Darcy is a insult to these 2 great players.

Clive does know that the RWC was 2 years ago right?

 

[ozbash]

good game, good win and now good amounts of whinging from sir clive.

i looked at "the" tackle and couldnt see anything wrong, o'driscoll came back into tana and mealamu after the tackle was completed and got biffed out.
blowed if i could see any lifting. actually looked illegal what o'driscoll did- coming in from the side....

excellent game, power footy at its best.
i take back my criticisms of handbag howlett and ali williams.

looked a bit nippy towards the end.

 

[strong_latte]

Pretty dissapointing on Umaga's behalf though wouldn't you say... poor bloody O'Driscoll will never get another chance to play in a lions tour against the All Blacks, and no one in the All Blacks team other than Marshal said a word to him when he was stretchered off. I've always had alot of respect for Umaga, but the least he could have done was gone over and showed some sympathy or even called him the next day...

 

[ThrashViking]

Speaking of 'thugs', Danny Grewcock has been cited for biting - he can enjoy the rest of the series with Brian on the sidelines & Richard Hill looks like he will be out of the tour.
I think the Ali Williams haters have been shut up for a while, he was incredible.