Wide boys hold key to Lions success

Jonah Lomu says that Rico Gear and Sitiveni Sivivatu could be the key to All Black success in the test series against the Lions - a series he believes hangs very much in the balance.

Although much is being made of the heavyweight battle up front between the two packs, Lomu - a 63-test All Black winger - believes the three-match test series will be won out wide. If he were a betting man, he says he would be placing a buck on speed merchants Gear and the uncapped Sivivatu to do the job against the tourists.

Incumbent wingers Doug Howlett and Joe Rokocoko are far from certainties to lead the All Blacks into the all-important series and, for the first time in Howlett's 45-test career, his spot is under threat following an often disappointing Super 12 campaign and the emergence of Gear, fresh from a record-equalling 15-try season with the Crusaders.

In spite of having the highest strike rate in world rugby - 27 tries in 23 tests - Rokocoko has looked well below his best this season.

Lomu said if he were picking on form he'd have to go for Gear and Sivivatu. "These guys have played tremendous rugby this season while Joe and Doug have looked a little off the pace. But those two guys are quality finishers and you'd expect them to come back from the disappointments of this season. Both can switch it on and you'd think the door is still wide open for them," Lomu said.

"But Rico is the form winger and Sitiveni isn't far behind. So if they're picking on what happened in the Super 12, these two have to be given a go, you'd think.

"And if they are, they could be the key to the test series. They are very explosive and can turn matches."

Lomu predicted the series would be extremely tight and could go either way, despite the Lions' less than convincing performance against Argentina recently. "I think it's going to be a tough series against the Lions, in fact a lot tougher than the All Blacks probably think it will be," Lomu said. "If the All Blacks don't bring their best game, the series will left wide open. They'll need to be organised to bring home the spoils."

Lomu said it was disappointing not to be involved in the series, given its special importance - but accepted it wasn't his time.

"It is beyond my reach. I can't do anything about that. I am just happy to be playing again," Lomu said. "But when I get home I'll be on the sidelines cheering them on."

Martin Johnson, the former England captain and last man to lead a Lions side to victory, was also unsure which way the series would go.

He said it would be "incredibly close and would depend largely on whether the Lions were at the top of their game. "They've got the right coach, the right talent and it's now a question of whether they will gel and come together. I just know it is a massive, massive challenge going to New Zealand and winning a series like this.

"It sounds a cliché but in 1997 (in South Africa) we had a will to win and a desire. I wouldn't bet on the outcome but the last two tours have been close and I think this one will be as well."

Johnson will be in New Zealand for the first test but says he will be keeping a low profile as he doesn't want to disrupt coach Clive Woodwards preparations against the All Blacks.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY