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Will Greenwood underlined the British and Irish Lions' determination
to make Test team selection as tough as possible following an outstanding 30-19
victory against Otago at Carisbrook.
While Lions chief Sir Clive Woodward has pencilled in the majority of his
line-up to face New Zealand in Christchurch next Saturday, fringe candidates are
seemingly multiplying by the minute.
Woodward was elated with the victory and he could enthuse about top-drawer
performances from players like Ryan Jones, Simon Easterby, Graham Rowntree and
Shane Williams.
None of that quartet look destined to make the first Test starting line-up,
which Woodward will announce next Wednesday.
But they all made an impression in terms of the Test series as a whole,
especially back-row pair Jones and Easterby, who will surely challenge strongly
for recognition against the All Blacks at some stage.
"Andy Robinson (Lions coach) said something interesting to me on Friday,
which makes a change!" said England World Cup winner Greenwood.
"He talked about the 1989 Lions tour to Australia and 'Donal's donuts,' (the
midweek team captained by Ireland lock Donal Lenihan), when they tried to push
as many players as possible from the perceived midweek team to the perceived
Test team.
"It was our job today to take the baton from Wednesday's performance against
Wellington, and try to put as many players into the hat as possible.
"It was a great changing room after the game - the mood of a job well done.
We had a huge responsibility to take things on, and it was a good win."
Centre Greenwood's first-half try helped haul the Lions level after they had
trailed by seven points, when he capitalised on a kind bounce from fly-half
Charlie Hodgson's steepling kick behind the Otago line.
"I found myself in wide open space," he added.
"I think their wing might have lost [the kick] in the floodlights, and I will
take those kind of opportunities - from minus two yards - all day."
The Lions will return to their Christchurch base tomorrow, before the team
selected to face Southland in Invercargill on Tuesday heads south.
Woodward confirmed that none of his Test side will feature in that game,
remaining behind to work with Robinson, Eddie O'Sullivan and Phil Larder, and he
admitted that he is relishing the week ahead.
"It will be very intense, and it will be a huge pressure game," said
Woodward, focusing on the All Blacks.
"You want to be involved in these type of fixtures. You want the big
occasions, and it doesn't come much bigger."
Otago skipper Craig Newby, meanwhile, claimed the Lions had "cheated" at the
critical breakdown area, before adding: "But good luck to them.
"The Lions have been under a lot of pressure in that area, maybe some unfair
pressure. They attacked our ball, and they got away with it, slowing it down and
turning it over.
"We got ground down, and we didn't have a lot of petrol left in the second 20
minutes of the second half. I felt we could score tries and beat the Lions, but
it wasn't to be."
Otago coach Wayne Graham added: "The Lions' set-piece is very strong, and I
think the All Blacks will want to play a game of momentum against them. It is
whether they will be able to, and clear the ball at pace."
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