Lions: Team named ahead of first Test

The Lions team to face Australia in the first of three Test matches on Saturday has been named.

There are three Irish players in the line-up.

Keith Wood starts as hooker and Rob Henderson and Brian O’Driscoll form the mid-field partnership.

The Lions squad has been plagued by injuries and the test team is missing such test certainties such as Neil Back, Lawrence Dallaglio, Dan Luger and Will Greening.

Back and Greening are both expected to be available for the next Test as they are only suffering from minor injuries.

The loss of Back means that Martin Corry, who is not a first choice player for England and was only called in to the squad because of injuries, will start in the back row.

The other major surprise selection is England’s Matt Perry at full-back, ahead of his compatriot, Iain Balshaw.

Jason Robinson, who only converted from Rugby League this season, also wins a Test berth.

The team in full is: Perry, James, O’Driscoll, Henderson, Robinson, Wilkinson, Howley, Smith, Wood, Vickery, Johnson, Grewcock, Hill, Corry and Quinnell.