In delaying the announcement of their Test team for Saturday by naming a provisional squad of 27, the Lions management could be up to a number of things. Throwing their Wallaby counterparts a curve ball. Cleverly, if a little falsely, keeping as many of their 37-man squad interested in the tour before the mid-weekers go AWOL. Or of hiding concerns over Matt Perry as well as a possible recall for Neil Back until as late as possible. Most probably it's all of the above.
Aside from Perry, who hasn't trained since Saturday, Will Greenwood, Scott Murray and Dai Young were all ruled out through injury, while there are also concerns over Jason Leonard, Martyn Williams and Dorian West. "I don't want to name the team until we've got 100 per cent clarity on everybody's availability," explained coach Graham Henry.
David Wallace makes the 27, though Malcolm O'Kelly and Jeremy Davidson don't. Neil Jenkins gains the nod over Ronan O'Gara, though he'll probably miss the 22-man cut anyway. Back may be recalled to openside, with Martin Corry dropping to the bench and also covering the second row, so leaving Martyn Williams and Wallace vying for the last place on the bench.
Tomorrow being a rare day off for the Lions in Melbourne, the squad have the option of visiting the set of Neighbours or playing golf or tennis. The ball is in Australia's court so to speak.
Lions manager Donal Lenihan suggested the team announcement would be held back until Friday afternoon local time, though International Board rules may oblige them to name it by Thursday evening, 48 hours in advance of Saturday's 7.00 p.m. kick-off (10a.m. Irish).
Though Lenihan said there was no gamesmanship whatsoever, ARU chief executive John O'Neill suggested otherwise. "The fact is there are rules and regulations which have to be complied with and one would hope that the squad of 22 will be named by the deadline."
As is their prerogative, the Australians will keep the retractable roof closed at the Colonial Stadium to counter the forecast rain.
Clearly taken aback by the manner the invading red army outnumbered and outsang the home support last Saturday in Brisbane, the ARU will spend about £40,000 on free scarves and hats for the Australian support. They'll also try to limit the additional 10,000 tickets which go on sale through the Internet and telephone today for the third Test on Saturday week to Australian residents.
Matt Burke has, as expected, been recalled by Australia in place of Chris Latham at full back where Burke last started in the 1999 World Cup final; in part to relieve Andrew Walker of the kicking duties. In the front row Michael Foley and Rod Moore replace the injured Jeremy Paul and Glenn Panoho.
Henry questioned Moore's scrum technique. "He's played against us a couple of times on tour and quite frankly he's folding under the hooker at scrum time which is very irritating. I think it's important that everybody scrums square and we have a fair contest there."
Foley yesterday admitted that the Wallabies had been "too passive and lacked aggression" on impact in the scrums, while Australia coach Rod Macqueen conceded that they have focused more on their scrum and their defence in training this week.
"We know how important it is psychologically to win the first Test but now it's behind us and we are working hard this week."
It's interesting to see the heat being generated on the hosts this week in a role reversal of last week, and aside from generally stunned post-match analysis which blamed the Wallabies for being flak from former player Michael Lynagh.
Writing in his Internet column, Lynagh was particularly critical of Stephen Larkham and, in what is probably a national first, the hitherto perfect John Eales, his 1991 World Cup-winning teammate. He accused Larkham of missing tackles, getting caught in possession and not seeming "that enthusiastic about playing".
Eales' talk of retirement and Achilles tendon problems prompted Lynagh to observe: "I feel the Lions are happy to see an under-prepared, injured and distracted Eales playing next Saturday rather than Justin Harrison."
Such sacrilegious comments provoked a response from Eales and his teammates and responding to Lynagh's critique of Eales, Macqueen said: "Maybe there is a lack of matches but certainly not a lack of motivation."
Besides, it's all probably designed to agitate the Wallabies. Now that it's them in a bunker, as we saw with the Lions last week, their changed mentality is sure to make them more dangerous.
AUSTRALIA: M Burke; A Walker, D Herbert, N Grey, J Roff; S Larkham, G Gregan; T Kefu, G Smith, O Finegan, J Eales (captain), D Giffin; R Moore, M Foley, N Stiles.
Replacements: B Cannon, B Darwin, M Cockbain, D Lyons, C Whitaker, E Flatley, C Latham.
