Moody out of Otago match

Flanker Lewis Moody has been replaced by Simon Easterby in the Lions team to play Otago at Carisbrook tomorrow.

Michael Owen will move to the bench as cover in Easterby's place.

Ian McGeechan, one of the Lions coaches, said Moody was on track and could have played, but the management decided it would be better to give him a bit more time to recover from a knee injury.

"We need to take on board the advice of the medics and can confirm that he is entirely on course to be available for the Southland game (on Tuesday)," McGeechan said.

Owen has returned to New Zealand from Britain after the birth of his second child, Olivia.

Revised Lions team to play Otago:
Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers, Ireland), Denis Hickie (Leinster, Ireland), Will Greenwood (NEC Harlequins, England, vice-captain), Gordan D'Arcy (Leinster, Ireland), Shane Williams (Ospreys, Wales), Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks, England), Chris Cusiter (Borders, Scotland), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, Wales), Martyn Williams (Blues, Wales), Simon Easterby (Llanelli, Ireland), Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster, Ireland), Simon Shaw (London Wasps, England), Matt Stevens (Bath, England) Gordon Bulloch (Glasgow, Scotland, captain, Graham Rowntree (Leicester Tigers, England).

Reserves: Steve Thompson (Northampton Saints, England), Andy Sheridan (Sale Sharks, England), Danny Grewcock (Bath, England), Michael Owen (Dragon, Wales), Matt Dawson (London Wasps, England), Ollie Smith (leicester Tigers, England), Ronan O'Gara (Munster, Ireland).

- NZPA