Henry says Welsh players standing out

Wales has provided the form players of the Lions tour, says All Blacks rugby coach Graham Henry, adding further spice to their second test team announcement tomorrow.

Following the Lions' 3-21 first test hammering and the injuries and suspensions stemming from that game, a markedly different side is likely to called on to reverse the tourists' fortunes at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

Coach Sir Clive Woodward's reliance on experienced English players backfired badly in Christchurch, raising the hackles of critics who believed more players from Six Nations champions Wales were warranted.

Henry has been reluctant to comment on Lions selection issues but couldn't help but observe that it was Welsh players, both in the test squad and out of it, who had stood out so far.

"To be fair, the Welsh boys are the ones who have put their hands up on this tour," said Henry, a former Welsh coach of three years.

Henry believed Wales' Six Nations triumph was no fluke, comparing their fluent style to what the All Blacks were trying to achieve -- playing a game of skill and movement as long as a forward platform was established.

"A lot of our skill drills in what we're doing, we're treating our No 5 (lock) like a No 13 (centre). Having the ability to catch and pass and work in the attack process. It's bearing fruit, obviously.

"You saw (the same) in Wales. If you look at the statistics from the Six Nations last year, the number of passes the Welsh boys put together compared to everybody else was quite amazing."

The Welsh test presence could increase noticeably.

New captain Gareth Thomas, prop Gethin Jenkins, halfback Dwayne Peel and first five-eighth Stephen Jones are all likely to keep their spots.

Ryan Jones, who replaced the injured Richard Hill in style on Saturday, is a likely starter and could be joined fellow-Welsh loose forwards Martyn Williams and Michael Owen, depending on their form against Manawatu tonight.

Of high interest will be whether heralded Welsh second five-eighth Gavin Henson comes into second five-eighth for Jonny Wilkinson, the champion England first five-eighth who looked uncomfortably bad one place wider in Christchurch.

However, the man who played opposite Wilkinson in the first test, All Blacks No 12 Aaron Mauger, believed Woodward had too much faith in one of his favourite sons to drop him.

"A bit of emotion probably comes into it when he's picking his side so that's probably a good thing for Jonny," Mauger said.

"He's won games for them in the past, especially the World Cup. "I've got a lot of respect for Stephen Jones as a first five-eighths and obviously you've got to fit Jonny in there somewhere. (But) They tried that combination, it probably didn't work as well as they wanted so there could be a change this week."

The next issue was replacing injured captain O'Driscoll at centre.

Mauger said Henson could be an option but whoever got the nod would have big boots to fill.

"Personally, I was looking forward to having a run against him, to match myself with one of the best players in the world," Mauger said.

"The boys certainly wish him all the best in his recovery. It's pretty sad to see a good player like that leave the tour so early."

The controversy surrounding the first test tackle on O'Driscoll which dislocated his shoulder petered out yesterday, with neither side taking the issue any further.

Some British journalists had suggested the tackle, by All Blacks Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu, was retribution for a lack of respect from the Lions towards the pre-match haka.

However, New Zealand flanker Jerry Collins rubbished the idea.

"Those guys have stood in front of the haka plenty of times. In the moment I couldn't say that they did anything wrong," Collins said.

"I think people are trying to say something out of nothing."

* Meanwhile, Lions officials confirmed yesterday Scottish lock Jason White has become the 51st player to join the squad.

White, 27, who has 46 caps, is expected to arrive tomorrow.

- NZPA