Injuries are forcing a rethink

As if they don't have enough to contend with - picking up a beaten team, all the end-of-season weariness, the disadvantages of being the away side - the Lions management also have the selection dilemmas. Whereas Rod Macqueen and his Aussie cohorts will assuredly pick an unchanged side barring injuries, the Lions have to balance a reactionary desire to make changes with a compunction to make at least two due to injury.

With Richard Hill and Robert Howley already ruled out, that could become three as well pending further assessments on Jonny Wilkinson's leg injury, with the outhalf rated a 50-50 chance. James Robson, the Lions team doctor, has remained with the injured trio in Melbourne from where he has kept Donal Lenihan updated.

"He said the outlook was positive but it will still be another 24 hours before we will know whether Jonny will be available for Saturday," said Lenihan. "James went on to say that Jonny was making progress and his mood is upbeat. The specialist who saw him was also pleased with his progress but at this stage I would say he has a 50-50 chance of playing."

Although Wilkinson hasn't made the impact that was expected of him, the Lions management will be desperate for him to play.

It says everything about Neil Jenkins' abject displays that the Welsh legend was overlooked for a place on the original replacements' bench for the second Test in favour of Austin Healey (whose withdrawal on the eve of last Saturday's game didn't surprise any of us who had seen him on the streets of Melbourne doing a passable imitation of Hopalong Cassidy).

It also says everything for the poor esteem Ronan O'Gara has been held in that he has only been given two starts to date (against Western Australia in the tour opener and the ACT Brumbies last week) and didn't even made the nominal squad of 27 for the second Test. So Healey, notionally a scrum outhalf,could conceivably be chosen if Wilkinson is ruled out, though this time around will be required as cover at scrumhalf.

With Martin Corry and Matt Dawson expected to replace Hill and Howley in the starting line-up, the management will be more reluctant to make additional changes, all the more so if there is a further enforced change at outhalf. There's no great need for panic. After all, as Henry has persistently maintained, the Lions could and should have been at least 18-6 up at half-time.

Possibly tight-head, inside and right-wing will be discussed, with Rob Henderson arguably the most vulnerable even though he was clearly a bit dazed after twice receiving treatment in the first half.

However, Will Greenwood presumably has not been kept on for over a fortnight while injured just so he can enjoy the scenery, and if passed fit would at least be a contender for the bench.

Ah, that curiosity known as the Lions bench. For two selections running they didn't pick a specialist lock or specialist outhalf, but did pick a specialist openside flanker. Go figure.

In neither game did the Welsh flanker Martyn Williams get his tracksuit off, and though he has reputedly played a bit at number six, barring injury during the game to Neil Back it's hard to see Williams being used this time either.

David Wllace, you would have thought, is a more authentic back-row replacement given he's been known to play six, seven and eight in the same game, never mind the same season.

Nonetheless, with no Richard Hill to potentially switch across and Colin Charvis liable to be recalled to the bench after completing his two-match suspension, it could be that Williams holds on to his place in the 22, with Corry again covering the second-row from his starting place at number six.

If so, this would be another puzzling kick in the teeth for the three forgotten locks, Malcolm O'Kelly, Scott Murray and Jeremy Davidson, and a risky strategy if two of the pack's back five were injured.

Keith Wood, heretofore keeping a relatively lower profile then was the case four years ago in South Africa, was by his own admission fool enough to grant a one-man interview to the travelling media pack in the team hotel yesterday but, interestingly, he maintained that the reduced workload has helped them to "strike the right balance for the last two and a half weeks".

No less than the Wallabies last week, Wood says it would be folly to presume the Lions are now down and out. "We've had an eye all the time on winning the series. That obviously is the goal and we have to make certain we can do whatever possible to give ourselves every chance of winning."

As Wood maintained, the Lions are here to do a job first and foremost, they are rugby players as opposed to tourists per se, but there have been a few light-hearted moments and one of those was emulating England's thrashing in the first Ashes Test in the players room.

Asked who won, Wood said: "The Irish of course, with their noted seam bowling."