Sir Clive cannot expect a friendly welcome in the valleys

That chorus you might be hearing isn't coming from a Welsh choir. It's a Welsh chorus, all right, but it has little to do with harmony. It goes something like this: "Woodward, you great English lump of bulldog's dos - do your job properly."

The Welsh, wounded by the perceived lack of their countrymen in the Lions test 22 after convincingly winning the Six Nations this year, were loud in their condemnation of Sir Clive Woodward's selections before the test. Afterwards, they will be deafening.

But it's difficult to know, with all the jiggery-pokery that has gone on in this tour, whether Woodward will take the hint - other than what might be an injury-forced replacement for skipper and centre Brian O'Driscoll, which might allow Woodward to bring back the boyo with the bottle tan, Gavin Henson. There are rumours emerging from the Lions camp that, irregardless of last night's result, Woodward was always planning for changes for the second test in his efforts to keep the All Blacks guessing.

This has been a tour that, in the name of secrecy, ambush and gamesmanship has provided an over-supply of players to a team accordingly under-supplied with combinations, pattern and rhythm. Team pattern has been sacrificed on the altar of secrecy and obfuscation.

Before last night's test, the Lions were pretty awful and the conspiracy theorists would have it that they were awful in the name of not giving the All Blacks too much to go on. Maybe. Or maybe Clive had just flipped his wig. The run-it approach adopted by the Lions in the early minutes of the test caught everyone by surprise but it will be no surprise next week - even if they manage to execute it better.

So it is difficult to see what Woodward can do to right the ship. Holed at the waterline by an All Black side that mastered the conditions and the Lions pack, Woodward may have few options but to enrage the Welsh all over again.

The Lions have not shown - other than that first 15 minutes against the Bay and the first five minutes last night - that they are capable of playing an expansive game. If rugby matches were won by dropped ball, missed opportunities and a mediocre skill base this Lions team would be a world beater.

There have been some individual exemptions from this. Josh Lewsey, even though he's had the odd blemish too, has been the Lions' most dangerous back. Dwayne Peel has looked sharp and dangerous on occasion and the wee Welshman Williams (Shane) has fired off left-foot sidesteps all over the shop without seriously threatening to get in the test side, where he could be under-employed and a possible weakness on defence.

But an out-of-sorts Jason Robinson looked a liability last night and Woodward may think about returning Lewsey to fullback and waving Williams back onto the wing, or maybe compatriot Tom Shanklin or Ireland's Shane Horgan if he wants more beef.

Woodward cannot have much confidence in tactics other than the forward grunt-and-grapple, victory-by-inches and Jonny'll-kick-the-goals game plan. He will not likely beat the All Blacks playing the running game, no matter how much the Welsh howl and point to the way they nearly beat the All Blacks last year and won the Six Nations.

The reality is that the All Blacks did a bit of a Lions con job. They played like they were in the Super 12 against Wales, all helter-skelter and headless chook stuff before deliberately tightening it up radically for the French test. It's doubtful whether the Lions can do the same, given their form in the build-up games and the lack of preparation time.

So what will Woody do? There are several possible changes - but all may be designed to perform the grunty game better, rather than try the charge of the light brigade once more.

In the front row, Steve Thompson seems sure to start after a wonky throwing display by Shane Byrne, and possibly even the unlucky Andy Sheridan could be hauled in to turn up the heat on the All Black front row, with Gethin Jenkins - more Welsh outrage - possibly consigned to the bench.

Paul O'Connell has not had the impact expected on this tour and he could be missing next week. Woodward might prefer Danny Grewcock's steel and will be less preoccupied with discipline and penalties in the face of a must-win test.

The fire and athleticism of Ryan Jones - an impressive performer - may win him a place ahead of Richard Hill or Martin Corry (Wales rejoice!) and brings a very handy ability and option to the back of the lineout.

And what does he do with Jonny? The second-five thing was inconclusive at best and a failure at worst and the Lions backs are not the preferred weapons of mass construction anyway.

It seems likely that Woodward will shift Wilko back into No 10 and he could bring in Henson at 12. This will, however, shift Stephen Jones to the bench - another highly unpopular option in the valleys.

However, Woodward has never been swayed by popularity contests and, although he may be accused of shifting around the deckchairs on the Titanic, it is his only credible hope of saving the series. 

- HERALD ON SUNDAY