Lewsey starts with a bang

' Besides, Gordon is my buddy. And the really important point about the match was about fronting up in this part of the world.'

Lewsey, aware of what happens when you do not (Maori 62, England XV 14), could not have made a more productive response to his initiation as a Lion. He found the ritual of the jersey presentation, as performed by Lions coach Gareth Jenkins, particularly inspiring, even though the Welshman never quite got round to playing for his country, let alone the Lions.

A disciple of the late Carwyn James at Llanelli in the early Seventies, Jenkins treated the players to a burst of Welsh hywl about the magical elements of a jersey which he would surely have worn in his time had fate not played the occasional dirty trick on him.

'I love the guy because he is all heart and passion,' said Lewsey. 'I was so choked up when I received the jersey that it was one of the proudest moments of my life. I've been dreaming about this day since I was about eight years old.'

He is also realistic enough to appreciate that a Lions team missing as many tackles in midfield against the All Blacks as they did against modest provincial opposition will be cut to shreds.

Ronan O'Gara can always adjust his goalkicking radar but his defensive frailty is a different matter, every lapse contradicting his pre-match assertion that he had 'closed the gap' on Jonny Wilkinson.

And after the horrors of their pre-tour draw against the best of Argentina's second and third teams, a different set of Lions suffered a more damaging blow in victory.

Lawrence Dallaglio, at the heart of the initial devastation which brought three tries in 13 minutes, demonstrated why he would be the Test choice at No 8. The loss of such a commanding figure at the height of his power on the field and a charismatic figure off it cannot be overstated.

The consequence of his fateful slip is a huge gap to fill and Martin Corry's acknowledgement of having to play 'the best rugby of my life' now assumes greater importance.

England's captain, a calming influence at a time when the rudderless Lions were heading for the rocks after frittering away a 17-point lead, will lead a

much- changed team against Taranaki in New Plymouth on Wednesday, when Charlie Hodgson, Will Greenwood and Andy Titterrell make their first starts of the trip.

The choice of Test pack leader appears to rest between Corry and the impressive Irish lock Paul O'Connell. As a second row out of the Martin Johnson school, O'Connell always had a major role to play in the destiny of the series. Now Dallaglio has gone, the Munster man becomes the focal point of a pack which could easily feature a prop who spent the entire international season on the England bench.

Andrew Sheridan, Europe's biggest prop at 6ft 5in and 19 stone, was given only the last 16 minutes of the match but may already have started muscling his way into the Test 22 as cover for Gethin Jenkins, whose ability to prop both sides of the scrum makes the Welshman so valuable.

A starting place awaits Sheridan against the Maori in Hamilton on Saturday, when Steve Thompson and Julian White will almost certainly make their first starts. Gareth Thomas and Jason Robinson, both due to arrive tomorrow, will have to wait until next week for theirs.