Four Irish Make Lions Test 22

Munster lock Paul O’Connell and Leinster trio Brian O’Driscoll, Shane Byrne and Shane Horgan have been included in the Lions squad for Saturday’s first Test against New Zealand.

2005 Lions Tour: First Test: Saturday, June 25
New Zealand v Lions, Jade Stadium, Christchurch, 8.10am Irish time (live Sky Sports 1/RTE Radio 1)

Tour captain O’Driscoll will form an untried midfield partnership with England’s Jonny Wilkinson, Byrne had beaten out Steve Thompson of England for the hooker spot, while O’Connell links up with England’s Ben Kay in the second row.

Horgan has been named on the replacements bench, with Sir Clive Woodward’s Test XV containing eight Englishmen, four Welshmen and three Irishmen.

Of the 23 players who did not play in the Lions’ 26-16 win over Southland on Tuesday, Wales winger Shane Williams is the one to miss out on the Test squad.

Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Justin Marshall will start at scrum-half for the All Blacks on Saturday after coach Graham Henry confirmed his side for the first Test on Tuesday.

Henry has made five changes in all from New Zealand’s 91-0 warm-up defeat of Fiji two weeks ago. Marshall, who will be starting his first international since last August, forwards Chris Jack and Keven Mealamu, full-back Leon MacDonald and prop Carl Hayman, who had been away with the New Zealand Maori side, all return to the side.

Henry rested Marshall, who is joining the Leed Tykes next season, for the Kiwis’ tour of the Northern Hemisphere last autumn and he will replace Byron Kelleher for his 78th cap.

MacDonald, who plays his club rugby for Japanese side Yamaha Jubilo, has not earned an All Black cap in two years and comes in for Mils Muliaina.

MacDonald is already familiar to the Lions squad on the 2005 tour, having scored try for New Zealand Maori in their 19-13 victory over Sir Clive Woodward’s men on June 11.

A notable inclusion by Henry is lightning left winger Sitiveni Sivivatu, 23, who pocketed four tries on his All Black debut against Fiji, the country of his birth.

Missing out are winger Rico Gear, who was the top try-scorer in Super 12 with 15 touchdowns, and utility back Ma’a Nonu, although Crusaders star Gear has made the replacements bench.

NEW ZEALAND: Leon MacDonald; Doug Howlett, Tana Umaga (Capt), Aaron Mauger, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Daniel Carter, Justin Marshall; Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Carl Hayman, Chris Jack, Ali Williams, Jerry Collins, Richie McCaw, Rodney So’oialo.

Replacements: Derren Witcombe, Greg Somerville, Jono Gibbes, Sione Lauaki, Byron Kelleher, Rico Gear, Mils Muliaina.

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS:

(15) Jason Robinson (Sale Sharks/England)
(14) Josh Lewsey (London Wasps/England)
(13) Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster/Ireland)
(12) Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons/England)
(11) Gareth Thomas (Toulouse/Wales)
(10) Stephen Jones (Clermont Auvergne/Wales)
(9) Dwayne Peel (Llanelli/Wales)
(1) Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff/Wales)
(2) Shane Byrne (Leinster/Ireland)
(3) Julian White (Leicester Tigers/England)
(4) Paul O’Connell (Munster/Ireland)
(5) Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers/England)
(6) Richard Hill (Saracens/England)
(7) Neil Back (Leicester Tigers/England)
(8) Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers/England)

Replacements:

(16) Steve Thompson (Northampton Saints/England)
(17) Graham Rowntree (Leicester Tigers/England)
(18) Danny Grewcock (Bath/England)
(19) Ryan Jones (The Ospreys/Wales)
(20) Matt Dawson (London Wasps/England)
(21) Will Greenwood (NEC Harlequins/England)
(22) Shane Horgan (Leinster/Ireland)

Referee: Jokl Jutge (France)