Peel and fellow Welshman Tom Shanklin scored the decisive second half tries that enabled the Lions to open their eleven match tour with a victory; for the Scarlets youngster, the occasion was something he will never forget.
“For me it was a fantastic occasion and to score a try and finish on the winning side was brilliant. I enjoyed every minute of it even though at times we found ourselves with our backs against the walls,” said Peel. “It gives us something to build on. It was a necessary victory and we are all delighted to have got that one under our belts. They are a good side and even when they went 17-0 down they came at us strong.
“It was strange but enjoyable playing with players from the other home nations, but that is what the Lions is all about. We have only spent a few days getting to know each other’s games, but I think we showed signs that things are starting to come together.”
Peel’s captain at the Scarlets, Simon Easterby, will now join the Lions squad following the ankle injury sustained by Lawrence Dallaglio which rules him out of the remainder of the tour. Meanwhile, Sir Clive Woodward has named Wales Grand Slam captain Michael Owen in the side to face Taranaki on Wednesday with Gethin Jenkins, Martyn Williams, Gareth Cooper and Gavin Henson featuring on the bench.
British & Irish Lions Team v Taranaki
8th June 2005, 8.10am (BST)
Geordan Murphy
Shane Horgan
Will Greenwood
Ollie Smith
Denis Hickie
Charlie Hodgson
Chris Cusiter
Graham Rowntree
Andy Titterrell
John Hayes
Donncha O’ Callaghan
Danny Grewcock
Martin Corry (capt)
Lewis Moody
Michael Owen
Replacements
Shane Byrne
Gethin Jenkins
Ben Kay
Martyn Williams
Gareth Cooper
Jonny Wilkinson
Gavin Henson
