Lewis will be in Mood to face Otago: McGeechan

IAN McGEECHAN has insisted Lions flanker Lewis Moody will be available for selection against Otago on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Moody had been ruled out by McGeechan’s midweek coaching colleague Gareth Jenkins.

But last night McGeechan said: “Lewis is on track for selection on Saturday. He made significant progress today and we’re delighted with that.

“There are no serious injuries, just some soft tissue injuries and obviously some of the players who played at the weekend were pretty tired but no more than that.”

McGeechan also insisted giant prop Andy Sheridan was not a major injury concern despite having his ankle heavily strapped following the defeat against the New Zealand Maori.

“He’ll be okay and I don’t think there’s an issue with him, he’ll be up for selection at the weekend.”

The Lions will head into Saturday’s meeting with Otago at Carisbrook, Dunedin, facing a side containing four former All Blacks.

Most prominent is Carl Hoeft, a veteran of the 1999 and 2003 World Cups, who will pack down in the front row with fellow prop Craig Dunlea, who had a spell with Scottish club Hawick and played for Borders.

Hoeft, though, adds some international experience to a front five, missing current New Zealand hooker Anton Oliver, prop Carl Hayman and lock James Ryan, who made his All Black debut against Fiji last Friday and was retained in Graham Henry’s squad for the Test series against the Lions.

Other former All Blacks who will play against the Lions this weekend are half-backs Danny Lee and Nick Evans as well as Otago captain and blindside flanker Craig Newby, while centre Seilala Mapusua and second row Filipo Levi have played for the combined Pacific Islanders team.

OTAGO (v Lions, Saturday): G Horton, H Pedersen, N Brew, S Mapusua, M Saunders, N Evans, D Lee; C Hoeft, J Macdonald, C Dunlea; F Levi, T Donnelly; C Newby (C), J Blackie, G Webb.

Replacements: J Vercoe, J Aldworth, A McClintock, A Soakai, C Smylie, R Bambry, J Shoemark.