Thompson's inclusion in the starting line-up is just in a whole raft of changes made for the second test.

Jonny Wilkinson and Josh Lewsey have been selected in their more favoured positions at fly-half and full-back respectively, with captain Gareth Thomas and Gavin Henson picked in the centre, and Shane Williams and Jason Robinson on the wings.

Sir Clive Woodward has also reshuffled the pack with Donncha O'Callaghan coming in for Ben Kay and new-look back-row of Simon Easterby, Lewis Moody and Ryan Jones.

Martin Corry has been included on the bench along with former Saints scrum-half Matt Dawson. 

British & Irish Lions vs New Zealand
Saturday 2nd July 2005

Westpac Stadium, Wellington, KO 7.10pm (8.10am BST)

 15 Josh LEWSEY (London Wasps, England)
 14 Jason ROBINSON (Sale Sharks, England)
 13 Gareth THOMAS (Toulouse, Wales) CAPTAIN
 12 Gavin HENSON (Ospreys, Wales)
 11 Shane WILLIAMS (Ospreys, Wales)
 10 Jonny WILKINSON (Newcastle Falcons, England)
 9 Dwayne PEEL (Llanelli, Wales)
 1 Gethin JENKINS (Cardiff, Wales)
 2 Steve THOMPSON (Northampton Saints, England) VICE CAPTAIN
 3 Julian WHITE (Leicester Tigers, England)
 4 Paul O’CONNELL (Munster, Ireland)
 5 Donncha O’CALLAGHAN (Munster, Ireland)
 6 Simon EASTERBY (Llanelli, Ireland)
 7 Lewis MOODY (Leicester Tigers, England)
 8 Ryan JONES (Ospreys, Wales)
 
 16 Shane BYRNE (Leinster, Ireland)
 17 Graham ROWNTREE (Leicester Tigers, England)
 18 Martin CORRY (Leicester Tigers, England)
 19 Martyn WILLIAMS (Blues, Wales)
 20 Matt DAWSON (London Wasps, England)
 21 Stephen JONES (Clermont Auvergne, Wales)
 22 Shane HORGAN (Leinster, Ireland)