Every game is a huge test for tourists

Ben Kay has some serious competition for a place in the Lions team. Picture / Fotopress

For the first stages of this Lions tour, fanatical Liverpool fan Ben Kay was more interested in how his soccer team was faring against AC Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul.

Depressed at their halftime 0-3 deficit, Kay reluctantly answered the request to board his New Zealand-bound plane after a mid-trip stopover with Liverpool heading into a remarkable penalty shootout.

The Lions lock kept his phone on, waiting for takeoff as his wife Virginia texted him after each penalty was taken. Kay concealed his anxiety with all sorts of bravado like "we have got them just where we want them" as he entertained his teammates.

At one stage he resorted to one of Sir Clive Woodward's favourite little sayings, "It only takes a second to score," as the tension rose.

"Why I did not buy a hand-held TV at the airport I do not know," he said this week, recalling Liverpool's extraordinary victory.

Kay acquired a few more Liverpool fans among the Lions that day and appeals as the sort of tourist who will bring a formidable strength of camaraderie to the squad.

The 29-year-old understands what is needed in huge campaigns - he went through the 2003 World Cup as the regular second-row partner for captain Martin Johnson.

Kay will work for the common goals of the side but also knows the calibre of his personal contribution in his debut tomorrow will have a significant impact on his test chances.

His position is contested by Paul O'Connell, Danny Grewcock, Malcolm O'Kelly, Donncha O'Callaghan and perhaps Martin Corry and Michael Owen.

Kay said the key to securing a test place was dealing with pressure and coping with limited opportunities.

"If there is pressure now it will be nothing like the pressure compared to the tests," he said.

"If you have a shocker [first-up] you will be right at the back of the queue for a test spot."

Kay said a poor game would not be the end of his Lions test claims but he would then be at the mercy of others contenders' form.

It was a case of being at the forefront of the selectors' minds, getting into the pecking order which would determine who would start against the All Blacks in the first test in Christchurch.

Kay said he believed everyone would start equal but he was very mindful that form would be crucial. There was no room for sentiment.

He recalled tours where players went away as outsiders but returned as the test stars. A prime example was Corry, who was not an original selection for the 2001 Australia trip but ended up man of the series.

That should suit Kay, who has been battling clubmate Lewis Deacon for a place alongside Johnson in the Leicester lineup.

He also acceded to Woodward's wishes last year that he bypass that tour to New Zealand because he needed some recovery time.

"I had a dip after the World Cup - not as big as some people said - I was confident I was playing okay."

But Woodward persuaded the 1.98m, 118kg son of a High Court judge that long term, Kay would benefit more from missing England's 2004 visit to New Zealand.

Kay was disappointed but slept on the proposal and agreed the next day that a month off and a decent pre-season training would be a boon.

"I was sat on the bench in Bermuda when the results started coming in and I thought I had made the right decision," he said.

Woodward has returned to Kay for this tour, a 40-test veteran and the man who will call the lineouts tomorrow against Bay of Plenty.

Kay and O'Connell will front the second row duties in a pack that should be too powerful for their opponents.

It is time to lay down personal credentials for Kay, who does not think the All Blacks will be vulnerable in the tight five.

"Whenever I have played in New Zealand it has been a good battle up front. Chris Jack is an awesome player and whoever plays with him is going to give us a tough time," he said.

"It's going to be a combative All Black side we face. They are very skilful but they have that killer edge. There will be a lot of bite about them."

O'Connell shares his sentiments and wants to get going.

"Every game is a test trial. Every time you pull on the jersey you will be on trial for the tests," O'Connell said.

"Every time you treat it as a trial and play your heart out. I don't think history is a burden."

Kay thought the Bay would reveal a summary of how he depicted New Zealand rugby, the involvement of a physical pack and making space for their outside backs. Both teams would be aware of the honour involved in this tour start.

The Lions had only gathered snippets of reconnaissance about the Bay and Kay is not as aware of the style of locks Bernie Upton and Mark Sorenson as he would be of his regular test or club opponents back home.

Kay wished his old mate Johnson well for his farewell match this weekend at Twickenham and felt O'Connell was a player from a similar mould.

"Paul's stronger in the lineout and has a great effect on the Irish team," said Kay. "But he would have to go some to match Jonno in that [leadership] area."