Lions win, but big doubts remain

Wellington
The Lions rugby team say their confidence has been restored despite winning ugly over Wellington last night and admitting time could be running out to gel their first test combinations.
On an awful night for rugby, the crowd of 39,000 were dealt a forgettable contest in southerly rain, dominated by handling errors as the Lions won 23-6 without conceding a try.
Just over a week out from the first test against the All Blacks, the Lions still don't look a polished unit four matches into their tour.
Tries at the end of each half from standout prop Gethin Jenkins and wing Gareth Thomas sealed the win, while first five-eighth Jonny Wilkinson had a tough night in general play and kicked five out of seven goals in the swirling wind.
Wellington coach John Plumtree, previously coach of Welsh side Swansea, was unimpressed and said the All Blacks would have scored 60 points with the amount of possession and territory the Lions had.
Any win was going to be a tonic after their 13-19 loss to New Zealand Maori last Saturday, and last night's came against a Wellington side on a two-day buildup without four of their All Blacks.
Lions flanker Neil Back, playing his first match of the tour after sitting out a one-month ban for punching, was still satisfied.
"It wasn't about playing pretty rugby it was a1out winning, and that's the same mindset we'll take into the test series," Back said.
"I think we're a long way off, and that's purely because of the game time we've had together.
"It's very limited and there's still a lot of work to be done. To be back winning is where you want to be and you can build on it."
Captain Brian O'Driscoll echoed the positive spin around the camp, saying the ball was like a bar of soap and the swirling wind impossible to read.
"It wasn't poor rugby, it was very hard to put five or six phases of play together.
"We're feeling a little bit more confident now in our own performance, having played pretty well tonight.
"It's still about getting to know one another's game, trying to trust each other defensively and playing as a unit."
The Lions return to their Christchurch base today unlikely to field the same test-strength side in the matches against Otago on Saturday and Southland on Tuesday. The headache for the coaches at today's debrief will be who of the top lineup needs another game before the first test.
Wilkinson, Back, Thomas and wing Jason Robinson were having their first matches of the tour.
Wilkinson looked in need of the run in his first tour outing, and in an interesting move was shifted to second five-eighth when Gavin Henson was replaced inside the final quarter.
The forward display was a step up from the Maori game , and Woodward will at least have his test forward pack almost sorted.
Jenkins was as mobile as a loosehead prop could be and pushed a strong test claim while Welsh hooker Shane Byrne was also prominent in the forward exchanges as the Lions hit the rucks and mauls hard.
Back was given a glowing vote of confidence by coach Jenkins for his work in the contact area along with No 8 Martin Corry.
"He fronted up and is proving to us that he is ready, if selected, to play test rugby," Jenkins said.
Wellington's forwards struggled to compete at set pieces and had to work even harder when flanker Ben Herring departed at halftime with a hip injury.
All Blacks midfielder Ma'a Nonu tried his best to spark the backline but the Lions defence held firm.
"We were well in it, but didn't take our opportunities and you can't make mistakes against a side like that," Nonu said.-NZPA