Gavin Hastings: Clive cannot give game time to everyone

I can't for the life of me see how Sir Clive Woodward is going to do what he says he'll do - give adequate game time to all the players ahead of the first test against the All Blacks.

Don't get me wrong, if anyone can manage this team to success, it's him. But he's stated publicly that he will give serious game time to all players ahead of the first test so they can be considered for test selection. I can't quite understand how he can achieve that.

There are only six matches ahead of the first test, not counting tomorrow's match against Argentina, and a lot of players to cater for. There are not enough games for him to play everyone. Look at first five-eighths. There are four of them. Jonny Wilkinson is playing against Argentina tomorrow - but will he have to wait another three weeks before he plays again so that Stephen Jones, Charlie Hodgson and Ronan O'Gara all get a game? I don't think so.

It's a graphic illustration of the challenge ahead. How is he going to give players enough meaningful game time for selection purposes?

How does he strike that balance between selecting a test team and giving people opportunity to stake a claim to that test team? If he is perceived as not giving people that opportunity, that can lead to internal problems. But if there is a chance of running a test side, or a team close to the test side for the two weeks prior to the test, I think he'd be silly not to. I think it would be stupid to mask his selections just to keep everyone guessing.

That's what I'm saying - this is a real challenge, a real balancing act. Again, I'm not saying he can't do it, it's just hard to see at this stage how he can keep everyone happy.

But it's a brave man who thinks he can out-smart or out-think Woodward. He's made a highly favourable impression with the team and management, from what I've heard. I remember him saying he sees the Lions as a step up, even from what he achieved with England and, rightly or wrongly, he is in control of everything he can be in control of.

Having said all that, I don't think you can read too much into the team for tomorrow's match against Argentina. Clive said he'd use the game to give a run to those who hadn't had much game time recently, but there are four Leicester players in there who've had a long, hard season with a massive game last weekend.

Looking at the back three - Geordan Murphy, Dennis Hickie and Shane Williams - there's a lot of pace there and I think they will run it around a bit.

But you can't point to any test selections in this team. This is a game to aid the Lions' build-up, sure, but it is mainly to give match practice and raise some money to help pay for the tour.

So it'll be interesting to see what Clive does. There's no way, for example, he can play all four first-fives ahead of the first test in a way that is relevant to test selection.

I'd say there about 10 of the Lions test XV will become a shoo-in and there will be at least 10 players in strong competition for the other places plus others who will be competing for places on the bench.

It will also be fascinating to see how the Lions conduct themselves when they arrive in New Zealand. As I say, Clive is in control of everything he can be. But he can't control the opposition, the media, the weather and everything else that you have to deal with on a long, hard tour of New Zealand.

* Gavin Hastings was the captain of the 1993 Lions in New Zealand.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY