Northampton Saints - News : Wally selected to start for the Lions against the NZ Maori

9 June 2005, 9:26 am

Wally selected to start for the Lions against the NZ Maori

Northampton Saints captain Steve Thompson has been selected to start Saturday's Lions game against the New Zealand Maori. It will be the hooker's first start for the Lions after coming on as a replacement in the game against the Bay of Plenty. He is joined in the starting line-up by former club mate Matt Dawson.

Commenting on today�s team announcement of the British & Irish Lions team to face the New Zealand Maori, head coach Sir Clive Woodward said: �We had a tough game against Taranaki last night and we expect an even greater challenge on Saturday.

�It will be a physical, but we have named a fresh, strong side this afternoon who will respond well to what will be an intense game. We are very much focussed on going game by game, working through the combinations, working as a unit and giving each of the guys the opportunity to challenge for test places.�

Woodward added that from the opening two games each opposition side was out to make an impression and take their once in a generation chance to make history so, as a side, the Lions had to focus on the preparation and take nothing for granted.

Assistant coach Andy Robinson said: �We have a lot of respect for the Maori front row. Everybody been saying that New Zealand forward play in general has not as it was but I don�t think that�s been the case. I think they have put a lot of attention into their set plays and as we saw in the Taranki game, these guys are very good scrummagers. It�s going to be a huge battle up front and it�s important to dominant in that area�

LIONS

15 Josh Lewsey (London Wasps, England)

14 Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues, Wales)

13 Brian O�Driscoll (Leinster, Ireland) CAPTAIN

12 Gordon D�Arcy (Leinster, Ireland)

11 Shane Williams (Neath Swansea, Wales)

10 Stephen Jones (Clermont Auvergne, Wales)

9 Matt Dawson (London Wasps, England)

1 Andy Sheridan (Sale Sharks, England)

2 Steve Thompson (Northampton Saints, England)

3 Julian White (Leicester Tigers, England)

4 Simon Shaw (London Wasps, England)

5 Paul O�Connell (Munster, Ireland) VICE CAPTAIN

6 Richard Hill (Saracens, England)

7 Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues, Wales)

8 Simon Taylor (Edinburgh, Scotland)

16 Shane Byrne (Leinster, Ireland)

17 Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues, Wales)

18 Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers, England)

19 Michael Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons, Wales)

20 Dwayne Peel (Llanelli Scarlets, Wales)

21 Ronan O�Gara (Munster, Ireland)

22 Shane Horgan (Leinster, Ireland)