GAVIN Hastings, the British Lions' captain in New Zealand, has
volunteered to take the rare step of playing in a midweek match before a
Test to solve the team's injury crisis.
Hastings leads the side against Southland tomorrow in Invercargill in
the ''softest'' match of the trip to allow Jeremy Guscott a break.
With Scott Hastings in hospital and out of the tour with a broken
cheekbone and Will Carling nursing a groin strain, the Lions are down to
only two fit specialist centres -- Scott Gibbs and Guscott, with the
latter needing a match off.
If Gavin Hastings had wanted a rest in the Test build-up, Anthony
Clement would have played at full back and Guscott would have been
committed to four matches on the trot.
Now the versatile Clement, understudy to Gavin Hastings at full back,
appears in the centre.
Lions' manager, Geoff Cooke, said: ''One of Gavin or Jeremy had to
play, and Gavin decided to take on the task.''
The Lions field a near-second team, with important indicators for the
Test match against the All Blacks in Christchurch on Saturday, the first
of a three-match series.
Flanker Richard Webster is confident of playing after having withdrawn
from the past two games with a troublesome ankle injury.
Brian Moore looks likely to lose out to Kenny Milne as Test hooker
and, by resting Ben Clarke, the Lions have hinted that he might be used
in the Test back row.
Rob Andrew is given the chance to earn a Test place at stand-off over
the man who replaced him in the England team, Stuart Barnes. Team:
G Hastings (Scotland), captain; R Wallace (Ireland), S Gibbs, A
Clement (both Wales), T Underwood; R Andrew (both England), R Jones
(Wales); J Leonard,
B Moore (both England), P Wright,
D Cronin, A Reed (all Scotland), M Teague (England), M Galwey
(Ireland), R Webster (Wales). Replacements -- J Guscott, S Barnes, D
Morris (all England), N Popplewell (Ireland), K Milne (Scotland),
B Clarke (England).
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