MICHAEL OWEN vowed to bounce back after he was not selected for the Lions' first team in Christchurch next weekend.

The Gwent Dragons star, who led Wales to the Grand Slam, looks to have paid the price for his decision to fly home to attend the birth of his daughter last week.

But Welsh team-mate Ryan Jones, who wasn't even selected in Sir Clive Woodward's initial 45-man squad, looks to have played himself into the squad - after a storming display in Saturday's 30-19 win over Otago in Dunedin.

Owen learned his fate after he was named in the side to face Southland.

Woodward has already claimed that no player involved in the midweek game will figure in the first Test. But Owen will get the chance to captain the Lions for the second time in Invercargill.

"It's disappointing, but the tour is still not over," said Owen. "There are two more Tests to play for, and I knew competition was going to be fierce because of the players on this tour.

"It's a challenge for me now and I'm honoured to be captain again.

"The spirit of the squad is fantastic. We are looking forward to the Southland game, to work together as a team and, as we saw with the game against Otago, we all want to keep the pressure on and push for the Test places.

"This is also a very important match to maintain the winning momentum before the first Test."

There was also disappointment for Owen's Grand Slam team-mate Gavin Henson, who has failed to gel with fellow centre and team captain Brian O'Driscoll in his two tour appearances.

He will also take on Southland, alongside Ireland's Gordon D'Arcy. That sets up an intriguing scenario for the first Test, in which Jonny Wilkinson plays in the centre and Wales' Stephen Jones is fly-half.

"Obviously everyone wants to play in the Tests, so there is bound to be some disappointment at not being selected for the first Test on Saturday," said Henson.

"This is a world-class squad and I'm still learning. I'll keep playing to the best of my ability."

Woodward was a happy man after victory over Otago - but not everyone is smiling at the tactics of the former England coach.

Welsh legend JPR Williams - part of the only Lions team to win in New Zealand 34 years ago - certainly remains unconvinced.

"I'm beginning to wonder if he knows what he is doing," he said.

"I want to be supportive but I can't figure out what his plan is.

There appears to be no plan.

"A week out from the Test and we have yet to see the team play with any pattern. The only certainty is it will be stacked with Englishmen."

But Woodward has spent a coaching career deflecting brickbats - criticism no longer raises his ire, but simply washes over him.

"I know my Test team now," he insisted. "I'm not confused, I'm very clear about my thinking.

"I have made clear that the players selected for Southland will not feature in the first Test, but that does not mean they do not have the opportunity to play in the second and third Tests.

"That is underlined by the history of Lions tours down the years. I want these players to keep challenging for Test places as the tour goes on."