Rugby: Woodwards Plays Deceptive Game

The biggest Lions squad in history boarded their jumbo jet to New Zealand last night with Sir Clive Woodward admitting the early weeks of the tour would be spent deliberately trying to pull the wool over the eyes of his wily All Black counterpart Graham Henry.

Henry and his fellow coaches Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen have all worked in the northern hemisphere and know the majority of the Lions squad well, prompting Woodward to decide he will not assist them further by giving away his side's tactical secrets in the six provincial games prior to the first Test.

"If we arrive for that first Test and New Zealand know how we're going to play, we're going to get beat," said Woodward on the eve of his team's departure, suggesting a cat-and-mouse approach will be vital if the Lions are to secure only their second series win over the All Blacks in 11 attempts. "You've got to play that game. There's no point in sticking to just one particular game plan or style because you'll get beaten."

Woodward, nevertheless, admits he already has an outline of the Test side he wants to field against the All Blacks in Christchurch on June 25. "I've got an idea but I also know what happens on Lions tours," cau tioned the head coach, claiming New Zealanders would be unwise to read too much into his team's disappointing 25-25 draw with Argentina on Monday. "People do come through very strong. I'll be looking very closely at everyone. You've got to pick on form for that first Test, not reputation."

Apart from the suspended Neil Back, the 42-strong squad who flew out yesterday are all fit for the opening game against Bay of Plenty in Rotorua on Saturday week but the management's options in the back three have been complicated by the absence of Jason Robinson and Gareth Thomas.

Woodward admits a "slight question mark" still remains over precisely when Robinson, who is remaining at home for at least another 10 days to support his pregnant wife, will feel able to join the tour. He is expected to miss the opening three games while, as yet, Thomas has not been released from his club commitments with Toulouse.

It gives Josh Lewsey and Geordan Murphy extra reason to make a favourable early impression and the party will be strengthened by the arrival of the Clermont-Auvergne fly-half Stephen Jones, who flies out on Sunday. "We're not in the business of going out there and getting it wrong," growled Lawrence Dallaglio, eagerly anticipating his third Lions tour. "As a player you have to throw everything at it. If everyone has that attitude we're going to be a formidable outfit."

Simon Shaw, the England lock, is included in the Barbarians side that faces an England XV in Twickenham on Saturday. The Barbarians coach Bob Dwyer has omitted all the players involved in Tuesday night's 38-7 defeat by Scotland and brought in some major names, including the former All Blacks fly-half Carlos Spencer and Australia's wing Wendell Sailor.