Clive Woodward has again warned reputations will count for nothing when it comes to finalising his Test line-up. Members of the 45-strong Lions squad, which left for New Zealand last night, have just six matches to stake their claim for a place in the first meeting with the All Blacks in Christchurch on June 24th.

There are a clutch of superstars in the touring party, but Woodward has vowed they will enter his Test-match thinking only if they prove themselves.

"I've got an idea of who I will pick to play the All Blacks, but it's no clearer than anyone else's who has been following the tour up to this point," he said. People tend to come through very strongly on Lions tours. Guys you might not initially think should be in the Test side when the squad is announced start to impress and force their way into the reckoning.

"That's what touring is about and I don't see this trip to New Zealand being any different. I'll be looking very closely at what happens in every game. We'll be picking on form for that first Test match, not on reputation."

New Zealand is the harshest of all destinations and an examination of the Lions' history there does not make pleasant reading. They have won just one of their 10 series against the All Blacks, in 1971, while the cream of British and Irish rugby have registered only six victories in 35 Tests.

"We have every reason to be confident. Every waking moment is focused on the preparation for that first Test match. We go out to win every match, but if we are to win a place in the rugby history books we must start to reverse that tide of one in 10.

"It's the Tests that really count. On the plane will be some of the finest players in the world. In the weeks ahead we have to make them a world-class team and I believe we can do that.

"If we do win the series it will be an achievement to match any other - and I mean any other. We respect New Zealand but do not fear them."