Tourists take 'new look' to Auckland

The British and Irish Lions limped into Auckland this week and will sport a new look team, following a spate of injuries that have forced coach Sir Clive Woodward to make five changes, including the positional switch, to the starting XV for the third and final Test against the All Blacks, at Eden Park on Saturday.

Geordan Murphy a Lions starter

All the changes are in the backline, with Woodward retaining the pack from the 48-18 loss in the second Test in Wellington.

As a result of the numerous injuries Will Greenwood replaces Gavin Henson at centre and Stephen Jones takes over from Jonny Wilkinson at fly-half.

But Woodward's decision to drop both his wings - Jason Robinson and Shane Williams - for the tour finale will certainly raise a few eyebrows.

Geordan Murphy and Mark Cueto will make their Lions Test debuts, with Murphy at full-back and Josh Lewsey moving to the left wing in place of Shane Williams. Cueto replaces his Sale teammate Jason Robinson.

Both Henson and Wilkinson have been ruled out by injuries, following the Lions' humiliation 48-18 loss in the second Test in Wellington. They suffered "stingers"  - defined by the medical staff as "irritation or bruising in nerves from the neck to shoulder".

Wilkinson, who left the field during the second Test, would have been fit to play in a week's time.

"He needed to be able to endure full contact and we believe he would have been found out on Saturday," team doctor James Robson told a media gathering on Thursday.

According to the medical staff Henson hadn't suffered concussion, as Woodward stated last Sunday, but instead suffered the injury (stinger) when he tackled All Black wing Rico Gear into touch in the first half.

It would take several weeks to fully recover from.

Other players who have been ruled out through injury include Charlie Hodgson (through concussion), Ben Kay (eye) and Andy Sheridan (leg). Hodgson suffered his setback when he was tackled by hooker Semisi Telefoni in the midweek encounter with Auckland on Tuesday and Kay a burst blood vessel around his eye when he became involved in a scuffle with Sam Tuitupou.

Woodward said the injury toll which had now totalled 13 players ruled out of the tour including captain Brian O'Driscoll and veteran England loose forwards Lawrence Dallaglio and Richard Hill, had justified his decision to bring a 45-man squad - which had swelled to 51 with the numerous replacements flown in.

Defeat for the Lions on Saturday would consign them to a 3-0 series whitewash, completing their worst set of Test results since 1983.

"Geordan Murphy has had a very good tour, and he was genuinely unlucky not to be included in one of the first two Tests, and I think the same applies to Mark Cueto, especially the way he played in midweek against Auckland," said Woodward.

"It was very tough on Shane Williams and Jason Robinson, but I think considering we were 2-0 down in the series, it was right to give a couple of players the chance who had been performing very well.

"It was also very tough on Shane Horgan, who I was thinking about starting with.

"Nothing against Jason Robinson or Shane Williams, I just believed these two players deserved a go. I am looking forward to seeing Cueto having a go, he is certainly one of the form European wingers, and he now gets his chance on the biggest stage.

"We've got one game to go. It is obviously a huge Test match for this side, and we would sincerely like to finish the tour with a win against New Zealand on Saturday.

"It was a case of getting everyone well-rested and just making the right calls after the Tuesday night game against Auckland," he added.

"The atmosphere in the camp is excellent. We are all very disappointed about the Test results, but it is just a massive opportunity for everyone involved. You don't get many chances to play New Zealand, and we've picked the strongest team we can put out."

Lions: 15 Geordan Murphy (Ireland), 14 Mark Cueto (England), 13 Will Greenwood (England), 12 Gareth Thomas (Wales, captain), 11 Josh Lewsey (England), 10 Stephen Jones (Wales), 9 Dwayne Peel (Wales), 8 Ryan Jones (Wales), 7 Lewis Moody (England), 6 Simon Easterby (Ireland), 5 Paul O'Connell (Ireland), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan (Ireland), 3 Julian White (England), 2 Steve Thompson (England), 1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales).
Replacements: 16 Shane Byrne (Ireland), 17 Graham Rowntree (England), 18 Martin Corry (England), 19 Martyn Williams (Wales), 20 Matt Dawson (England), 21 Ronan OGara (Ireland), Shane Horgan (Ireland).

Kick-off: 19.10 (07.10 GMT)