NZ Maori XV to face the Lions

Deacon Manu, Corey Flynn, Carl Hayman, Ross Fillipo, Sean Hohneck, Jono Gibbes(captain), Marty Holah, Angus McDonald, Piri Weepu, David Hill, Caleb Ralph, Luke McAlister, Rua Tipoki, Rico Gear, Leon McDonald

SUBS: Scott Linklater, Greg Feek, Daniel Braid, Wayne Ormond, Craig McGrath, Carlos Spencer, Neil Brew

well, got the locks right.. knew Matt Te Pou wouldn't play Wayne Ormond coz he played a week earlier and the Lions would know abt Ormond's game plan.. plus Gibbes is more likely to start for the All Blacks.. biggest news is obviously Carlos Spencer starting on the bench for his last game in New Zealand before joining Steve Thompson and Bruce Reihana at Northampton... and David Hill does deserve to start having played p well against Fiji last week..

the Crusaders, i.e. Flynn, Ralph, Gear and McDonald make their comeback in this game, and the latter two are likely to feature for the All Blacks along with Hayman, Holah, Gibbes, Weepu and McAlister.. it'll be interesting to see how they go against the Lions.. i think this is far better for those players to play the Lions for the Maori instead of featuring in the Trial.. they'll be able to give feedback to Uncle Henry then..

this is prob the most important encounter in the Lions tour so far.. it's prob the first time we'll be able to see the first Lions XV and SCW's gameplan esp for the All Blacks in the team.. we'll have to wait until SCW reveals his XV to face the Maori but i can say that the dangermen will be Gear and Holah although Rua Tipoki is quite underrated.. he makes huge breaks and is v pacey..