BOP see themselves as the tour 'advance guard'

Former All Black Kevin Schuler wants Bay of Plenty to soften up the British and Irish Lions in their first-up rugby tour match in Rotorua on June 4.

England's World Cup winners Lawrence Dallaglio, Neil Back and Richard Hill, who have not played test rugby this year, were included in the 44-player squad featuring 20 Englishmen, 11 Irish players and 10 from Grand Slam-winners Wales and three Scots.

"I'd say in a couple of the early games Woodward will be looking at (playing) guys like Dallaglio and Back, who are a bit undermatched -- throw them immediately into the fray to get them back into international rugby," Schuler, BOP's assistant coach, said today.

"Whether that's good or bad for us (Bay of Plenty) I'm unsure, but we have to see ourselves as the welcome-back party for those guys, the advance guard to soften the Lions up."

Schuler didn't agree with the England loose forwards' selection, although he could see merit in Woodward picking players he knew were mentally tough despite their unavailability for England's woeful Six Nations campaign.

"He's stuck with the tried and trusted and guys he's got a rapport with -- that's the way Clive Woodward does things -- but I'm of the belief that only guys playing current test rugby should have been picked.

"Woodward knows, though, that Dallaglio, Back and Hill don't take a backward step. I think they're a bit past it but I'd hate to be proven wrong."

Schuler, who played 13 games for the All Blacks between 1989-95, said it was clear Woodward was targeting the All Blacks up front.

"The Highlanders' pack is going well but the Crusaders, who should provide the bulk of the All Blacks forwards, were badly beaten up by a big Bulls pack in the weekend and the Blues forwards haven't done much better.

"It's an area (tight five) that the All Blacks selectors will be putting a lot of thought into. Quite clearly, with the squad he's picked, Woodward thinks he can beat us there."

Bay of Plenty will have just four days in camp to prepare fro the match.

Steamers coach Vern Cotter is expected to be involved in the Super 12 final with the Crusaders on May 28, leaving assistants Schuler and Andre Bell with the bulk of the preparation for the Lions match.

- NZPA