Former Scarlets outside-half Stephen Jones is also included in Sir Clive Woodward’s starting line-up along with Tom Shanklin and RBS Six Nations player-of-the-tournament; Martyn Williams. However, there is no place for Gavin Henson, as Woodward prefers to take a further look at Irish centre Gordon D’Arcy.
The selection of Williams will certainly come as good news to the diminutive wing who failed to show his usual sparkle when the Lions took on Argentina in Cardiff two weeks ago. The Ospreys flier will get his first significant opportunity to challenge the likes of Mark Cueto, Jason Robinson and Gareth Thomas for a place in the Test team. Woodward and fellow coaches Andy Robinson and Eddie O’Sullivan have opted for a jumbo pack against the Maori, who will provide the most significant examination of the tour behind the All Blacks. Andy Sheridan, Steve Thomspon and Julian White pack down in the front row with Simon Shaw and Paul O’Connell in the second row.
There is also a first game on tour for Simon Taylor at No.8, the Scot having suitably recovered from the hamstring injury which kept him out of the games against Argentina, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki. Meanwhile, Michael Owen, Gethin Jenkins and Dwayne Peel all earn places on the bench.
British & Irish Lions v New Zealand Maori
Saturday 11th June 2008, 8.10am (BST)
Waikato Stadium Hamilton
British & Irish Lions Team v New Zealand Maori
Josh Lewsey (London Wasps, England)
Tom Shanklin (Blues, Wales)
Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster, Ireland) (Captain)
Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster, Ireland)
Shane Williams (Ospreys, Wales)
Stephen Jones (Clermont Auvergne, Wales)
Matt Dawson (London Wasps, England)
Andy Sheridan (Sale Sharks, England)
Steve Thompson (Northampton Saints, England)
Julian White (Leicester Tigers, England)
Simon Shaw (London Wasps, England)
Paul O’Connell (Munster, Ireland) (Vice Captain)
Richard Hill (Saracens, England)
Martyn Williams (Blues, Wales)
Simon Taylor (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Replacements
Shane Byrne (Leinster, Ireland)
Gethin Jenkins (Blues, Wales)
Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers, England)
Michael Owen (Dragons, Wales)
Dwayne Peel (Scarlets, Wales)
Ronan O’Gara (Munster, Ireland)
Shane Horgan (Leinster, Ireland)
