Robinson can be tourists' try-scoring inspiration

This Lions rugby union squad looked formidable when it embarked for Australia. There did not appear to be a single questionable selection.

This Lions rugby union squad looked formidable when it embarked for Australia. There did not appear to be a single questionable selection. Professionalism has settled down in Britain and Ireland and has given the best players a clear focus on how to approach big games – that focus has been underpinned by vastly improved skills and fitness.

Suddenly, though, a rash of injuries has challenged this strength in depth of the squad. Whether that will prove terminal for this game remains to be seen, but certainly the lack of the prowess of Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back, the creativity in the centre of Mike Catt and Will Greenwood, as well as the finishing of Dan Luger, presents a threat to the prospects of victory. These five players were certain starters in the Test.

Yet while you feel for the disappointment of these individuals, within the confines of a tightly-knit Lions tour party their collective loss is a psychological blow, which will permeate the minds of the whole squad. The management will be disappointed and it will test the morale of everyone. Success or failure of the whole tour now hangs on how well their understudies do. Naturally all the replacements will be uplifted at their selection and will bust a gut to prove they should have been first choice anyway.

Nevertheless the team as announced is still impressive. There is no bigger day in a rugby player's life than Lions selection for a Test match, especially one against the reigning world champions, Australia. Individuals will derive energy from this and it will be further fuelled, from a team perspective, by allegations of foul play and a local media campaign which has questioned their scrummaging tactics. The injuries do not appear to have weakened the back row. It does mean that thanks to Richard Hill's all-round excellence he can finally play at open-side, his position when first chosen for England. His game there against the fast emerging Australian George Smith will be a key issue in the game. And Martin Corry may have been a late call-up, but his form had already laid claim to a starting place.

In the centre Rob Henderson brings power and strong running in place of the creativity of Greenwood, and he will be alongside his Ireland colleague, the exciting Brian O'Driscoll.

Jason Robinson's presence on the wing, regardless of whether his selection came through injury, could be inspiring. In Rugby League he has played with and against some of the best in the world and proved he is one of them. I have long been a fan of Jason and other Premiership rugby league players. Five years ago several of them played on short-term contracts with union clubs. As England coach at the time I spoke with Jason and others with a view to their playing Rugby Union full-time, and with clear prospects of eventually playing for England.

At that time one could foresee union and league converging. More importantly planning ahead for England to the Rugby World Cup of 1999 there was a need for quality successors to the outstanding Will Carling, Jeremy Guscott and the Underwood brothers, Rory and Tony, and there were no obvious or easily identifiable candidates right then. This initiative was discussed but sadly became lost in the RFU politics of the time.

So I am delighted with Jason's selection. His union skills in contact may need to improve but he is a game breaker and box-office pull. He is a mercurial runner with ball in hand, he is imaginative with his pace and his changes of direction and he finishes, he scores tries. The Lions need his fizz, especially now with Iain Balshaw's acceleration missing, Balshaw having been overlooked in favour of the more sound all-round footballing skills of his Bath colleague Matt Perry.

Tom Smith at loosehead prop is a surprise selection. Scrummaging is an area where the Lions appear to have an edge and Smith's strength is in the loose. His mobility, however, will fortify the explosive running of No8 Scott Quinnell and hooker Keith Wood, because power at pace is so necessary to break down today's massed defences.

Australia do not have such runners, No 8 Toutai Kefu apart, but they traditionally have a strong line-out led by John Eales. The Lions will have to have upgrade their previous efforts on the tour. It is here their ball-winning capability will be tested to the full, but they now have four good targets – Martin Johnson, Danny Grewcock, Corry, and Quinnell. The first two, not least, are masters in the dark art of spoiling opposition ball.

Overall it is at the line-out, in the scrummage and, lastly, defensively at the breakdown that the Lions need to apply pressure. They have to restrict, as far as possible, the supply of ball to halfbacks George Gregan and Steve Larkham, who are the hub of the Australian side, or limit the time and space that the pair have to develop their game.

Australian rugby is like chess: they play to move their opponent out of position with patience and guile, to create scoring opportunities. To this end they aim to control the ball and build up a rhythm. This has to be disputed in the manner that the Lions managed against Queensland, a good Super 12 side, who were ultimately suffocated. As a result the Lions could develop their own game of power running and width to gain a handsome victory. More again is needed but obviously it will not be so easy against the Wallabies.

But if the Lions have their problems with injuries, I wonder if there are not a few chinks in the Aussies' armour? Is the mental edge and quality still there? It is two years since the Rugby World Cup, their playing season is long and intense with Super 12, Tri-nations and autumn tours. The magnificent Eales is talking of retirement and a lot has been asked of experienced warriors such as Owen Finnegan and Kefu. Joe Roff is considering moving to France. World Cup men Tim Horan and Jason Little are already here.

The team is transforming. No wonder Australia are following English rugby's lead and knocking on league's door for quality replacements.

There is a clear opportunity for the Lions if their rugby, which has been impressive so far, coheres tactically on the day. But it will not merely be a test of rugby; it will also be a test of temperament, of self control and discipline.

Penalties must be the exception rather than the rule, because a few points could well be the difference. But penalties are inevitable in a match where the tension will be high. Goal kicking, therefore, will be crucial. In this respect it will be a test of nerves for Australia's rookie, Andrew Walker. The Lions goal-kicker, on the other hand, is no stranger to the international stage. Enter Jonny Wilkinson.