Three of the British and Irish Lions team selected for the Rotorua tour opener have said how pleased they will be to get amongst the action at last, on this much-vaunted and long-awaited New Zealand tour.
Flanker Martyn Williams, from Cardiff, said this coming Saturday can't get here soon enough: "It's great to be selected for the first game and I can't wait to get out there after all the build-up. We know there will be no easy games on this tour and the Bay of Plenty will be determined to give us a stiff test but we are looking forward to the challenge."
Starting lock Paul O'Connell said he enjoyed the traditional Maori welcome the squad received yesterday, and he was keen to run out in full Lions kit this weekend.
"It will be a tremendous honour for me to have the opportunity to pull on a Lions jersey for the first time. Looking at the team sheet, it is really exciting to play alongside players of such quality, names like Lawrence Dallaglio and Martyn Williams who I have admired for such a long time.
"It will be a great experience and an important test for both me and for the team."
Scottish hooker Gordon Bulloch said the Bay of Plenty match will be an excellent chance to work out the cobwebs and get a fix on requirements for the later, key tour matches.
"Every game is a big game on this tour and we want to put in a good performance against the Bay of Plenty," he said. "It was great to train in New Zealand for the first time today and the players are very excited about our first match.
"We are still working on gelling as a team but things are coming together and with a lot of talent on the field for Saturday's game, we are hopeful we can get the tour off to a good start."
- HERALD ONLINE STAFF
Lions keen to get on park for first match
Martyn Williams
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