Lions v Otago Highlanders

Although they will be missing their three All Black forwards, Otago will have 13 players in their line-up with Super 12 experience including two players who featured in the recent All-Black trial.

Although they will be missing their three All Black forwards, Otago will have 13 players in their line-up with Super 12 experience including two players – flanker Craig Newby and out-half Nick Evans – who featured in the recent All-Black trial.

Meanwhile, following a fitness test at the team training run this morning Lewis Moody will be replaced by Simon Easterby in the starting lineup and Michael Owen will move to the bench.

British & Irish Lions.

G Murphy (Leicester and Ireland); D Hickie (Leinster and Ireland), W Greenwood (Harlequins and England), G D Arcy (Leinster and Ireland), S Williams (Neath-Swansea Ospreys and Wales); C Hodgson (Sale Sharks and England), C Cusiter (Borders and Scotland); G Rowntree (Leicester and England), G Bulloch (Glasgow and Scotland capt, M Stevens (Bath and England), S Shaw (Wasps and England), D O Callaghan (Munster and Ireland), S Easterby (llanelli Scarlets and Ireland), M Williams (Cardiff Blues and Wales), R Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys and Wales).
Replacements: S Thompson (Northampton and England), A Sheridan (Sale Sharks and England), D Grewcock (Bath and England), M Owens (Gwent Dragons and Wales), M Dawson (Wasps and England), O Smith (Leicester and England), R O Gara (Munster and Ireland).

Otago:Glen Horton; Hayden Pedersen, Neil Brew, Seilala Mapusua, Matt Saunders; Nick Evans, Danny Lee; Grant Webb, Josh Blackie, Craig Newby capt; Craig Dunlea, Jason Macdonald, Carl Hoeft. Replacements; Jed Vercoe, Jeremy Aldworth, Andrew McClintock, Alando Soakai, Chris Smylie, Ryan Bambry, Jason Shoemark.

Otago Profiles:

Carl Hoeft (30): Often regarded as the best scrummaging loosehead prop in New Zealand. Hoeft formed a front row association with Anton Oliver and Kees Meeuws during age grade rugby and the trio played together for Otago, the Highlanders and New Zealand. Hoeft was a member of the All Blacks Rugby World Cup squads in both 1999 and 2003. One of a select group of All Blacks who has also played for the New Zealand Divisional XV (selected from the Air New Zealand NPC Division Two and Three teams) in 1995.

Filipo Levi (25): He was introduced to the Highlanders in 2002 after making his debut for Otago in 2000. He also played for New Zealand Under 21 side in 2000. A hard-running forward, Levi specialises in strong bone-crunching tackles. In 2004 he also played for the Pacific Islanders combined side against the All Blacks at Albany. His long list of hobbies includes reading, playing guitar, movies, off-roading and surfing. He says his best rugby memory is beating Kelston Boys 13-7 in Top 4 Nike NZ school tournament and winning the 2000 Colts tournament with New Zealand by beating South Africa 71-5 in the final.

Tom Donnelly (23): Made his Air New Zealand NPC debut for Otago in 2002 and has since become a regular member of the side, fulfilling his early promise. Unfortunately, his appearances in 2004 were restricted by injury. The towering lock made his Rebel Sport Super 12 debut last season, and will be pushing for a regular spot in 2005. He rates the draw against Otago Boys High in the Secondary Schools final in 1998 as one of his best moments in his career. He lists World Cup-winning Australian captain John Eales as a player he respects the most.

Craig Newby (25): Newby has been drafted into the Highlanders from North Harbour after previously pulling on the blue jersey in 2002 and 2004. Usually a blindside flanker he also has the pace and handling skills to cover the openside. His leadership qualities were recognised by coach Greg Cooper early in 2004 when he captained the Highlanders in a pre-season match. Newby s versatility and commitment earned him an All Blacks call-up in 2004 and his first two caps as a reserve. Newby spent two months with the Newcastle Falcons – the same club as England’s Jonny Wilkinson. He is a product of Rotorua Boys High School and hit the international scene via the New Zealand Sevens side.

Josh Blackie (25): He has been one of the outstanding openside flankers in New Zealand for the past two years. He has played for New Zealand Under 21, where he started ahead of current All Black Richie McCaw and for the New Zealand Sevens team.

Grant Webb (25): Webb has been touted as a player of the future since making the New Zealand Under 21s in 2000 and his Otago debut in 2001. After one Rebel Sport Super 12 game as a substitute in 2002, Webb became a regular member of the Highlanders pack in 2004. Webb was part of the New Zealand Sevens squad in 2003.

Danny Lee (29): After a well-established career with Counties-Manukau and the Chiefs, Lee moved south to Otago. It was a successful move and it made him an All Black in 2002 playing in two Tests against England and France. He made his debut for the Highlanders in 2003 and also played 31 games for Otago. An ankle injury kept him out of the Rebel Sport Super 12 competition in 2004. Lee made his first class debut for Hawke s Bay while he was still at high school and has represented New Zealand at Under-16 and Under-21 level.

Nick Evans (24): One of the most promising and versatile backs in New Zealand, Nick Evans was a key player for North Harbour since 2002 and, as a draft player was a potent attacking force for the Highlanders in 2004. Evans was selected in the All Blacks squad for the domestic and Philips Tri Nations Tests in 2004, making his debut against England at his new home ground of Carisbrook. An agile player who is stronger than he looks, Evans is deceptively quick and possesses a howitzer-like boot. At home at either first five-eighths or fullback, the North Harbour youngster is also an accurate goal-kicker. He made his representative debut for North Harbour in 2001 and was a member of the New Zealand Sevens side in 2002 featuring in the final eight tournaments in the 2001-02 IRB World Series. He scored 157 points during that time made up of 21 tries and 26 conversions. He was included in the Barbarians squad that beat New Zealand Maori in 2002.

Matt Saunders (22): Made his debut for Otago in 2003 and made a big impression in his three games for the Highlanders in 2004. Injury then unfortunately restricted the big winger s season.

Seilala Mapusua (25): A regular in the Otago midfield since 2000, Mapusua played for the Highlanders in 2002 but was ruled out by injury in 2003. A strong-running midfielder, Mapusua played for New Zealand Under 19 side and Under 21 side in 2001 and for the Pacific Islanders Test team in 2004. Born in Samoa, Mapusua grew up in New Zealand and attended the same South Auckland school that produced Jonah Lomu, Auckland s Wesley College. Naturally laid back, he likes music, playing the guitar, and surfing. His best rugby memory to date is winning Colts final in 2000 versus South Africa.

Neil Brew (26): Brew has played 30 games for Otago since moving south from Taranaki but his progress has been hampered by injury. A key member of the Otago Sevens team that made the final of the national tournament for the first time in 2004, Brew earned a place in the Highlanders for the first time last year as a replacement. Equally at home in both Sevens and XVs, Brew was part of the Otago side that made the final of the National Sevens tournament in 2004. A New Zealand Maori debutant in 2005.

Hayden Pederson (23): One of the fastest wings in the country. Pedersen belies his slight build with strong defensive qualities. He played for the New Zealand World Cup-winning Colts team in 2003 and also the Crusaders Development squad before transferring to Otago. A regular in the Highlanders in 2004, injury restricted his appearances for Otago last year. Originally from Marlborough, he has also represented the New Zealand Maori Colts and the South Island Under-18s.

Glen Horton (22): Glen Horton moved south from Hawke s Bay to make his debut for Otago in 2002 and he has been an integral member of the side since. Noted for his elusiveness and speed, Horton scored one try in the 2004 Rebel Sport Super 12 competition, in his first season at this level. Horton is a versatile player who can slot in at either fullback, on the wing or at centre. He says if it wasn t for rugby he would loved to be a rally driver.