Hayman absence boosts Lions but O'Driscoll controversy rumbles on

This is decent enough news for the tourists – his replacement, Greg Somerville, won't provide the same aggression – but Sir Clive Woodward's men were more exercised by Brian O'Driscoll's dislocated right shoulder and the degree of blame attached to Tana Umaga in respect of the tackle that caused the injury in the opening seconds of last weekend's match in Christchurch.

Yesterday, Woodward's assistant coach, Eddie O'Sullivan, said, "Maybe this issue has run its course, but that doesn't change my view of it. The incident has coloured the tour, definitely. I can't really speak for the players, but it may have soured their relationship with their opponents to a degree. Brian has received a call and Umaga has commiserated with him, but there was no hint of an apology and that disappoints me."

Joe Rokocoko, meanwhile, who was dropped by Graham Henry after a poor Super 12, has been named in Auckland's squad for Tuesday's match against the Lions.