Experienced Lions facing tough task

After more than six weeks of preliminaries, the British and Irish Lions finally get the real show on the road on Saturday morning when they take on the mighty All Blacks in the first Test of the three-game series.

Defeat by the New Zealand Maori didn't exactly bode well for their chances, but New Zealand's warm-up hasn't exactly been stellar and the first game in Christchurch is there for the taking. bet365 make the All Blacks 5/6 (1.83) favourites, giving up a 9.5-point start, while Sir Clive Woodward's team are 4/5 (1.80) with the handicap.

The withdrawal of Lawrence Dallaglio through injury and the warm-up defeat saw bet365 shorten the All Blacks to 2/7 (1.28), from 2/5 (1.40) for outright series victory, while the Lions can now be backed at 5/2 (3.50), having been 15/8 just a couple of weeks ago. The draw remains a 20/1 (21.00) shot.

Woodward has gone with experience for Saturday's clash and with the All Blacks having had just one notable game in the run-up to the series, the suspicion is that the Lions' best chance of victory could come in the opening game. Many people will remember the way the Lions came out firing in the opening game of the series in Australia last time round, and if the Lions can start fast, then they have the experience and fitness to prosper.

History, of course, is on the All Blacks side. Of the ten tours since the maiden voyage in 1888, the Lions have won just one series, a 2-1 victory in 1971, with one draw. Between 1977 and 1993, the All Blacks won seven consecutive Tests, while the last tour, in 1993, ended 2-1 to the All Blacks. A New Zealand whitewash is now a 5/4 (2.25) chance, in from 13/8 (2.62). A 2-1 home win - a very popular selection - is still a 7/4 (2.75) chance. A 2-0 win, with one draw, is a 25/1 chance (26.00). A Lions 2-1 victory is a 10/3 shot (4.33), which is out from 12/5 (3.40), while the holy trinity of a 3-0 whitewash to the tourists is now on offer at 14/1 (15.00), having been 12/1 (13.00) just a few weeks ago.

Player markets
The first tryscorer in these games is always a popular market, and it's no surprise to see the bookies making New Zealand pacemen Doug Howlett and new sensation Sitivini Sivivatu favourites at 10/1 (11.00) to touch down first. Sivivatu was preferred to Joe Rokococo after scoring four tries on an explosive debut and the Lions could be in for a bit of a shock if he gets the ball in space.

The selection of Jonny Wilkinson at inside centre suggests that the Lions will attempt to control field position with a combination of kicking and their huge pack, and that suggests that the first try, at least if it's for the Lions, could come up front. Neil Back is a 25/1 (26.00) chance, while Martin Corry is 28/1 (29.00) and Richard Hill a 33/1 (34.00) shot. Captain Brian O'Driscoll, one of the few Lions players capable of a bit of magic, is a 14/1 (15.00) bet, the same price as Gareth Thomas and Jason Robinson.

Cambers' choice:
British and Irish Lions with a 9.5-point start - 4/5 (1.80)