Lions name strong team to play Bay of Plenty

Lions head coach Clive Woodward today named his side to play the Bay of Plenty on June 4.

The announcement was made after the Lions had their first training session since arriving in Auckland on Friday.

As expected, tour captain Brian O'Driscoll will lead an experienced team, including Lawrence Dallaglio and Richard Hill, in Rotorua.

However, Jonny Wilkinson is not in the team or the reserves for the game.

Woodward hopes to erase memories of the spluttering 25-25 draw against Argentina in Cardiff last week, and has named several test favourites in the side in an attempt to start on a winning note to their 11-match tour.

Alongside Dallaglio and Hill in the back row is Six Nations player of the year Martyn Williams, while Welsh wonder Gavin Henson will link up with O'Driscoll in the midfield.

The red-haired Henson has been out of action for more than a month with a groin injury, but following a course of pain-killing injections he is now ready to lay claim to a test spot in what many Lions fans would see as an ideal midfield pairing.

Also among those named in the side was winger Mark Cueto, a late call-up to teh squad, who said he was thrilled at his selection.

Woodward said he had selected a strong side as he was anticipating a hard battle.

He said: "There is a huge sense of excitement and anticipation now that our first game in New Zealand is so close.

"Because it is the first game, Bay of Plenty will want to give us a very tough match, and we have selected a very strong side who will give us a good start to the Tour."

O'Driscoll added: "We can't wait to get out in front of the New Zealand public and show what we can do on the rugby field."

Team:
15 Lewsey Josh (London Wasps, England)
14 Cueto Mark (Sale Sharks, England)
13 O'Driscoll Brian (Leinster, Ireland) captain
12 Henson Gavin (Neath Swansea Ospreys, Wales)
11 Shanklin Tom (Cardiff Blues, Wales)
10 O'Gara Ronan (Munster, Ireland)
9 Peel Dwayne (Llanelli Scarlets, Wales)
1 Jenkins Gethin (Cardiff Blues, Wales)
2 Bulloch Gordon (Glasgow, Scotland)
3 Stevens Matt (Bath, England)
4 O'Connell Paul (Munster, Ireland)
5 Kay Ben (Leicester Tigers, England)
6 Hill Richard (Saracens, England)
7 Williams Martyn (Cardiff Blues, Wales)
8 Dallaglio Lawrence (London Wasps) vice captain

Reserves:
Thompson Steve (Northampton Saints, England), Sheridan Andy (Sale Sharks, England), O'Kelly Malcolm (Leinster, Ireland), Corry Martin (Leicester Tigers, England), Dawson Matt (London Wasps, England), Hodgson Charlie (Sale Sharks, England), D'Arcy Gordon (Leinster, Ireland)

- additional reporting NZPA