Hoeft leads Otago team

Prop Carl Hoeft heads a list of four players with All Blacks experience in the Otago side named to play the British and Irish Lions in Dunedin on Saturday. A 1999 and 2003 World Cup player with 30 caps, Hoeft will shore up an Otago front row missing current All Blacks Anton Oliver and Carl Hayman.

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Image credit: TNT Sports

Lock James Ryan, who made his debut for the All Blacks against Fiji last Saturday, was also unavailable to coach Wayne Graham.

Utility back Nick Evans, who played for New Zealand last year and was considered unlucky to miss out on the 26-man All Blacks squad for the Lions series starting on June 25 in Christchurch, has been partnered with 2002 All Black scrumhalf Danny Lee.

Blindside flanker Craig Newby, who made two appearances off the bench for the All Blacks last year, will captain the team at Carisbrook.

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Inside centre Seilala Mapusua and lock Filipo Levi also have international experience with the combined Pacific Islanders team last year.

Openside flanker Josh Blackie, considered to be one of the outstanding players in New Zealand in the position over the last three years, is expected to continue the effective strategy of putting pressure on the Lions at the breakdown.

OTAGO TEAM SELECTION

Starting XV:

15-Glen Horton; 14-Hayden Pedersen, 13-Neil Brew, 12-Seilala Mapusua, 11-Matt Saunders; 10-Nick Evans, 9-Danny Lee; 8-Grant Webb, 7-Josh Blackie, 6-Craig Newby (captain), 5-Tom Donnelly, 4-Filipo Levi, 3-Craig Dunlea, 2-Jason Macdonald 1-Carl Hoeft.

Replacements:

16-Jed Vercoe, 17-Jeremy Aldworth, 18-Andrew McClintock, 19-Alando Soakai, 20-Chris Smylie, 21-Ryan Bambry, 22-Jason Shoemark.

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