O'Driscoll determined to bounce back

Brian O’Driscoll is desperate to play a captain’s role on Wednesday and lead the Lions to a potentially tour-defining victory over Wellington.

The Lions skipper has been criticised for his lack of leadership in yesterday’s defeat to a New Zealand Maori side that showed more passion and aggression than the tourists.

But O’Driscoll addressed the full 45-man squad after the game and made it clear their response to defeat over the next four days will “make or break” this Lions tour.

So when Sir Clive Woodward named him in a powerful side to face Wellington, O’Driscoll refused to contemplate the heavy physical demands of playing twice in four days.

O’Driscoll is simply determined to make amends for yesterday’s defeat and get the Lions’ tour back on track heading into the first Test against the All Blacks on June 25.

“The team will go out on Wednesday to put in a good performance and to bounce back from an under-par performance against the Maori. I am very eager to be part of this side,” said O’Driscoll.

“I am looking forward to it and to prove what this Lions team is all about.”

Woodward’s Test side to face the All Blacks is beginning to take shape, with Jonny Wilkinson starting at fly-half in a line-up that features a number of key combinations.

Wilkinson is joined in the half-backs by Dwayne Peel, while O’Driscoll will resume is centre partnership with Welshman Gavin Henson, a combination widely considered to be the Test midfield.

O’Driscoll lacked leadership support yesterday but he will have wing-men in abundance on Wednesday night with Jason Robinson and Gareth Thomas – captains of England and Wales respectively – starting their first games of the tour.

“You have to share responsibility, it is a policy I have always lived by,” said O’Driscoll.

“All the lads who haven’t played yet are chomping at the bit, their enthusiasm is infectious in training and there is a huge amount of enjoyment.”

Martin Corry, a key figure at number eight, takes on the vice-captaincy duties and he will be joined in the back row by Ireland’s Simon Easterby, who makes his Lions debut after being called on tour as a replacement for Lawrence Dallaglio.

Neil Back returns to action at open-side after serving a suspension while Shane Byrne has the chance to press his claims for the Test hooking role following Steve Thompson’s poor night at the lineout in Hamilton.

“I am starting to form a Test team in my head. I think it is all coming together. I know pretty clearly now where we are heading and I know pretty clearly now where we are heading and who the players are I need to see now,” said Woodward.

“It is a big game for a lot of players. After Wednesday I will have a very clear notion of my Test team.”

Paul O’Connell is on the replacements bench along with scrum-half Chris Cusiter, versatile flanker Lewis Moody, fly-half Stephen Jones and utility back Shane Horgan.

British and Irish Lions team to play Wellington on Wednesday is:

J Lewsey (Wasps and England); J Robinson (Sale and England), B O’Driscoll (Leinster and Ireland, capt), G Thomas (Toulouse and Wales); J Wilkinson (Newcastle and England), D Peel (Llanelli and Wales); G Jenkins (Cardiff and Wales), S Byrne (Leinster and Ireland), J White (Leicester and England), D Grewcock (Bath and England), B Kay (Leicester and England), S Easterby (Llanelli and Ireland), N Back (Leicester and England), M Corry (Leicester and England).

Replacements G Bulloch (Leeds and Scotland), M Stevens (Bath and England), P O’Connell (Munster and Ireland), L Moody (Leicester and England), C Cusiter (Borders and Scotland), S Jones (Clermont Auvergne and Wales), S Horgan (Leinster and Ireland).