Wilkinson steps into the fire as Moody knee injury disrupts Lions

The bad news for the British and Irish Lions yesterday concerned two candidates for first-Test duty against the All Blacks on Saturday week: Lewis Moody, the Leicester flanker, and Andy Sheridan, the Sale prop, both of whom are struggling with injury and run the risk of missing that pivotal game in Christchurch.

The bad news for the British and Irish Lions yesterday concerned two candidates for first-Test duty against the All Blacks on Saturday week: Lewis Moody, the Leicester flanker, and Andy Sheridan, the Sale prop, both of whom are struggling with injury and run the risk of missing that pivotal game in Christchurch.

This depressing bulletin completely overshadowed the first starting appearance of Jonny Wilkinson, against Wellington today.

The worst of the news, however, had more to do with the management than the players, for from the moment the party arrived here for today's match with the local provincial side, it was obvious that paranoia, that most destructive of psychological intruders, had taken its grip.

Sadly, the tourists could not have been more charmlessly mean-spirited had they just graduated from a crash course in public behaviour run by Jack the Ripper. The level of security around their city centre hotel was unprecedented - non-residents were prevented from entering what usually passes for a public space - and those punters who had booked accommodation there, and had paid top-dollar for the privilege of following their Lions on their first visit to these parts in 12 years, were greeted with a letter asking them to "resist the temptation to ask for autographs and photographs while the team is staying with us". When some attempted to point their cameras in the Lions' direction, there were threats of confiscation.

Rugby tours, even in the professional age, are not supposed to be like this. The greatest teams of yesteryear grew a little cranky in the 72 hours before a Test, but the start of this series is still 10 days away, and while the Lions have held two depressingly cosmetic public training sessions in Auckland and Christchurch and participated in various "community projects" - a hospital visit here, a kids' coaching session there - their public image is no better than that portrayed by the New Zealanders themselves in the bad old days of the 1970s.

Amid all the neurotic nonsense surrounding their arrival in the capital city, Moody's absence was quickly noted. The Lions, who have already told enough white lies about fitness concerns to ice a four-tier wedding cake, finally confirmed that he had damaged his knee in training and had been withdrawn from the bench for today's game in favour of Richard Hill. He is also doubtful for this weekend's match with Otago in Dunedin, the final eliminator for Test selection, although there will be no firm decision for another 24 hours.

Sheridan has not trained since injuring an ankle during the damaging defeat by the Maori in Hamilton last Saturday - a setback that had precious little to do with him, given his impressive contribution at the set-piece. He is now under intensive treatment, but like Moody, there is no guarantee of his participation this weekend.

Unlike Moody, who is a little out of form, he promises to play a central role in the Test side. Any prolonged spell of incapacitation would hurt the Lions in the one area, the scrum, where they have a clear-cut advantage.

For all their difficulties, the tourists should avoid a second successive reverse today. Wellington are a quality side and have armed themselves with a stack of Super 12 players, but four All Blacks - Jerry Collins, Rodney So'oialo, Conrad Smith and the captain, Tana Umaga - are in purdah ahead of the set-to in Christchurch, while a Junior All Black, the highly-rated lock Ross Kennedy, is hors de combat. The presence of Lome Fa'atau, Ma'a Nonu and Roy Kinikinilau gives them genuine potency in the back division, but the Lions will field something approaching a Test combination in that department and should cope. If they do not, the word "help" will spring immediately to mind.

"We have to defend our reputation as Lions and defend it every single time we play," said Gareth Jenkins, the forwards coach for the midweek fixtures and one of the more openly passionate members of the back-room staff. "We accept that they have players missing, but it has already been stated down here that it is the duty of every red-blooded rugby player to strike a blow for New Zealand when they come up against us, so we'd be foolish not to expect a real match."

It came some relief when, asked whether he felt the Lions had been placed at a disadvantage by being refereed by local officials in the pre-Test games, Jenkins struck a positive note.

"Our success here depends on us adapting to the environment," he said. "We have to experience everything New Zealand rugby has to offer, to expose ourselves to the game here rather than hide ourselves away. If by playing these sides under their own referees helps us learn and understand, it will work in our favour."

Today's teams at Westpac Stadium

Wellington

15 S Paku

14 L Fa'atau

13 M Nonu

12 T Tu'ipulotu

11 R Kinikinilau

10 J Gopperth

9 P Weepu

1 J McDonnell (capt)

2 M Schwlager

3 T Fairbrother

4 L Andrews

5 R Filipo

6 K Ormsby

7 B Herring

8 T Waldrom

REPLACEMENTS: L Mahoney, J Schwlager, K Thompson, J Purdie, R Flutey, T Ellison, C Jane.

The Lions

15 J Lewsey (England)

14 G Thomas (Wales)

13 B O'Driscoll (Irl, capt)

12 G Henson (Wales)

11 J Robinson (England)

10 J Wilkinson (England)

9 D Peel (Wales)

1 G Jenkins (Wales)

2 S Byrne (Ireland)

3 J White (England)

4 D Grewcock(England)

5 B Kay (England)

6 S Easterby (Ireland)

7 N Back (England)

8 M Corry (England)

REPLACEMENTS: G Bulloch (Scotland), M Stevens (England), P O'Connell (Ireland), R Hill (England), C Cusiter (Scotland), S Jones (Wales), S Horgan (Ireland).

REFEREE: P HONISS (NZ)

KICK-OFF: 8.10AM (SKY SP 1)