New Zealand 21 Lions 3

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL last night reflected on his Lions heartbreak - as Clive Woodward slammed the “amazing decision” not to quiz those responsible.

WITH a shock of hair sprouting out of the back of his head, Ali Williams strikes a very different profile to the skull-capped bald eagle who stalked the stricken Lions at the lineout.

Brian O’Driscoll tonight reflected on his Lions heartbreak – as Sir Clive Woodward slammed the “amazing decision” not to quiz those responsible.

Leon MacDonald has warned that New Zealand can improve on Saturday’s drubbing of the British and Irish Lions as the tourists look to bounce back from a 21-3 defeat.

New Zealand 21 Lions 3

New Zealand 11 Lions 0 - HT

Graham Henry admits he made mistakes as Lions coach four years ago. Now he’s determined to use that experience to defeat his erstwhile colleagues. Simon Lewis spoke to him in Christchurch ahead of today’s first Test.

CHRISTCHURCH is a town said to be more English than England itself. Much like the Lions’ Test team really, and with just as many Irish theme pubs.

Clive Woodward today labelled the All Blacks as the world rugby’s most professional team.

All Blacks forward Richie McCaw has been declared fully fit for tomorrow’s first Test match against the Lions in Christchurch.

WITH all the fuss over the Lions’ Test fly-half, it has almost been overlooked that the position just inside Stephen Jones at Jade Stadium tomorrow morning has long been considered a shoo-in for Dwayne Peel.

CLIVE Woodward believes he has the men to cope with the pressure of delivering a British and Irish Lions Test victory over New Zealand at Jade Stadium tomorrow (8.10am).

IF Paul O’Connell and his fellow Lions emerge victorious from the first Test against the All Blacks at Jade Stadium tomorrow, the Ireland lock will be grateful to the wake-up call received a fortnight earlier from the New Zealand Maori.

NEW ZEALAND's record try-scorer has warned his compatriots the British and Irish Lions have yet to realise their potential, but it's doubtful if his countrymen heard him - after all, his comments were made in Cork.

BEAUTY, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder and one man’s “incredibly exciting back division” is another’s team of robots.

Lions skipper Brian O’Driscoll tonight labelled Jonny Wilkinson as “world-class” – wherever he plays.

Marty Holah has been called into the New Zealand squad just three days before the first Test against the Lions as Richie McCaw battles to recover from a “minor back strain“.

EVERGREEN Justin Marshall won the contentious battle of the New Zealand half-backs when the All Blacks selectors showed their hand for the first Test against the Lions.

ALL BLACKS coach Laurie Mains has predicted a 3-0 mauling for the Lions in their Test series against New Zealand.

LIONS coach Clive Woodward has challenged his midweek players to rise above the disappointment of being excluded from the squad for this weekend’s first Test in Christchurch.

THE PICTURE seems so much clearer now. With two games and six days to go before Clive Woodward’s team for the first Test against New Zealand is revealed, a number of places in the starting XV were signed and sealed following the Lions’ 23-6 victory over Wellington yesterday.

Justin Marshall has re-affirmed his commitment to the All Blacks and wants to be involved in the three Tests against the British and Irish Lions.

WALLABIES coach Eddie Jones is convinced that whoever dominates the first 20 minutes of today’s Super 12 final in Christchurch will win the title.

Justin Marshall’s form may have nailed him a place in the New Zealand team to face the British and Irish Lions but the scrum-half is not sure if he actually wants to pull on the All Blacks jersey.

New Zealand 23 South Africa 21

The British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand in the summer of 2005 will consist of 10 matches, including a three-Test series against the All Blacks.

AUSTRALIA coach Eddie Jones has blasted an IRB suggestion to limit the number of substitutions for Tests.