Henson’s omission makes predicting Test side more hazardous

THE omission of Gavin Henson from the Lions first Test squad makes second guessing Clive Woodward’s starting XV even more hazardous.

There were 23 players not selected for the trip to Invercargill to face Southland tomorrow and Woodward will officially name his starting line-up and bench of seven replacements in the early hours of Wednesday morning, with one player missing out altogether.

Henson was considered an almost certain starter in the Test side alongside Lions captain Brian O’Driscoll until the middle of last week when speculation began that Woodward might try out Jonny Wilkinson at inside centre and play Stephen Jones as fly-half. Wilkinson’s only appearance so far has been in the win against Wellington and he looked far from match ready as result of his inaction.