Hometown decision as Marshall gets the nod

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.

Marshall’s inclusion for Saturday’s Test at Jade Stadium is one of five changes to the team which won its sole warm-up match by beating Fiji 91-0 on June 10.

The other changes see the return of forwards Chris Jack and Keven Mealamu, who were on the bench for the Fiji Test, and full-back Leon MacDonald and prop Carl Hayman, who had been away with the New Zealand Maori side.