O'Driscoll grateful to avoid trial by tackles

Lions captain Brian O’Driscoll would hate to have to prove his Test credentials in an 80-minute trial match against team-mates and close rivals.

That is just what the All Blacks will be doing on Friday night in Napier when the Probables take on the Possibles, with places at stake in the New Zealand side for the Test against Fiji and the Lions series.

The focus on the All Blacks trial this year may not be as great as it was 12 months ago, given the New Zealand Maori have also picked a strong squad and the Cantabrian contingent are unavailable following their Super 12 triumph last weekend.

Tana Umaga has been forced out through illness and Mils Muliani, who was to be used in the centres, is in doubt after visiting a specialist for advice on a long-standing shoulder injury.

Nevertheless, outstanding performances for the Possibles in last year’s match earned the likes of Jonno Gibbes and Keith Robinson places in the All Blacks team to face England.

The Lions will be watching closely, just 24 hours before opening their tour against Bay of Plenty. But would O’Driscoll like a Lions trial?

“I guess not, no. I don’t think we are there to play against one another, we are there to help each other along,” he said.

“There is a great competitive edge to our training sessions but the difference between trial matches and training sessions is that you are fighting against one another, whereas we are trying to help one another along.

“But we will certainly cast a good eye on it and see the guys who are in form. They are notoriously tough games, All Black trial matches, and there is a massive competitive edge because there are 30-plus guys fighting for 15 spots so there are no friends out there. It will be interesting viewing.”

O’Driscoll will be in Rotorua on Friday night preparing to lead the Lions out for the first time.

The waiting cannot end soon enough. He enjoyed a good round of golf on Monday but all he really wants to do is get stuck into the rugby.

“This can be the toughest part of the tour,” said O’Driscoll.

“There is only so much training that you can do. You want to be out playing games, playing in front of crowds, playing against opposition.

“I am personally more about playing games and I am sure a lot of the players in the squad are of a similar opinion, and just want to get it started.”

Saturday’s encounter at the International Stadium in Rotorua certainly does not promise to be a quiet affair.

Bay of Plenty, who relieved Auckland of the Ranfurly Shield and reached the semi-finals of the National Provincial Competition, name a side tomorrow which is set to include a sizeable contingent from Super 12 franchise the Otago Highlanders.

Scrum-half Kevin Senio promised the Steamers will “have a few tricks up our sleeve” and the 26-year-old himself is determined to put in a major performance to try to catch the eye of the All Blacks selectors.

“It’s definitely an ambition of mine to pull on the black jersey,” he said.

The Lions will be directed on Saturday by Ireland’s Ronan O’Gara, though Welshman Stephen Jones arrived in town today after helping Clermont Auvergne to reach the Heineken Cup and he is determined to nail down the Test fly-half jersey.

When the initial 44-man squad was announced, Jones was in pole position but Jonny Wilkinson has since proved his fitness and form and is possibly now the front runner.

“It’s been a very enjoyable year and I feel very proud to achieve the Six Nations Grand Slam and to finally get selected for the Lions is an honour. If you were to get that Test jersey it would be a dream,” said Jones.

“Everybody in the squad has that mindset that they want to play in the Tests but there is so much competition it’s incredible.

“I am definitely not going head-to-head (with Wilkinson). We are all here as British and Irish Lions. We want this to be a successful tour and be part of a successful team. Whoever gets selected will have the backing of those not involved.”

The Lions today cranked up the charm offensive with a public training session after a few days in which their public image had taken something of a knock.

Wilkinson was the main attraction to the 4,000 or so spectators but the session included interviews with Woodward and his coaching staff which were broadcast on a big screen.

During the session, Eddie O’Sullivan predicted the Lions and All Blacks forwards would cancel each other out, leaving the Test series to be decided by the two sets of backs.