Gavin Henson gave the perfect riposte to his omission from the British and Irish Lions test squad when he scored two tries in the midweek team's patchy 26-16 victory over Southland yesterday.

The smooth-running Welsh centre scored after 13 minutes as the Lions started strongly and again after Southland had fought back to level at 10-10 early in the second half.

Flyhalf Ronan O'Gara, whose general play was poor, added 16 points with four penalties and two conversions but there were few positives from a ragged overall display against a team containing several non-professionals.

With none of the provisional squad in action, the Lions players on duty had the opportunity to push for selection for the second and third tests. Few did.

Southland flyhalf Richard Apanui slotted three penalties and a conversion for the home side, who last beat the Lions in 1966, while openside flanker Hale T-Pole scored a well-worked try from a rolling maul from an attacking lineout.

"It was a very disrupted game, with no flow to it," Lions midweek coach Ian McGeechan told Sky Sports TV.

"We started well but started to play as individuals so it was very frustrating. We definitely made it difficult for ourselves."

Henson was unable to hide his feelings when interviewed after the match. "It's been a difficult week, I was pretty devastated not getting into the test side," he said.

"It was just a massive disappointment, I just have to keep playing well and see what happens. It's out of my hands now, unless there's a loss or an injury and I don't want that to happen."

"We are all united," he said.

All Blacks team

Meanwhile, fullback Leon Macdonald has been recalled to the All Blacks side after a two-year absence for the first test against the British and Irish Lions at Jade Stadium on Saturday.

Selected for the first time since leaving the country after the 2003 World Cup to play in Japan, Macdonald replaces Mils Muliaina in the number 15 jersey, while Justin Marshall gets the nod as starting scrumhalf ahead of Byron Kelleher.

Wingers Doug Howlett and Sitiveni Sivivatu retain their places for the opener of the three-test series at the expense of Rico Gear, who was the top try-scorer in Super 12 with 15 touchdowns.