By John R
August 25 2005

The Lions tour to New Zealand, much hope, much promise in the land of the white cloud. Much expectation here in the UK, followed by huge disappointment.

Sir Clive Woodward’s tour selection caused some concern, particularly in the valley’s of Wales. After the ‘Grand Slam’, they expected all their team to go, Bit optimistic that, but perhaps understandable. Dismay also in Scotland, with very few of their Internationals selected, (though including Gordon Bulloch, on his way to joining the Tykes next season.)

 

The results are history now. A 3-0 whitewash in the Tests together with loosing the “fourth test” against the Maori’s, though the mid-week team, (captained very well by Bulloch,) came home unbeaten. Some very “dubious” injuries, how convenient to eliminate Dellaglio and O’Driscoll…………? Both test certainties until tour ending injuries.

 

So, there now follows a brief resume of the players in the Lions selection:

 

The Backs

 

Geordon Murphy - Didn’t do much, dissapointing.

Jason Robinson - Was he there? Came late due to his wife’s childbirth and really didn’t start. (Seems from the Sale web-site he was carrying a knee injury, so maybe shouldn’t have gone anyway!)

Gareth Thomas -  Played well, played all tests and tour captain after BOD’s injury. Super try in the third test. One of the success’s.

Shane Williams -  Proof (if needed,) that small wingers are a complete waste of time against All Black backs. As with Jason Robinson, simply knocked backwards in every contact. Scored a few in mid-week matches, but disaster in tests.

Josh Lewsey – Played his heart out in every test. One of the stars of the Lions tour.

Shane Horgan – Ditto, should have been first choice in all the tests. Big, strong, always going forward.

Dennis Hickie – Not seen in tests, but played ok in the mid-week team.

Tom Shanklin – Only played two, mid-week matches, then injured. Did ok, may have made later tests if he had been able.

Brian O’Driscoll – Brutally injured in first test, amazing that no action taken against the perpitators! (See Laurence Dellaglio’s recent comment on this. Clearly he was disgusted by both the incident and the lack of subsequent action. Seems he may well have dealt with it himself? had he been present, no doubt, together with other Lions?)

Gavin Henson – Threw his teddy out when not selected for first test! Other than one try saving tackle on Rico Gear in the second, did nothing. The golden boots are very, very tarnished! Do hope he has learned from all of this.

Ollie Smith -  Injured early on, but struggled with it. No point, can’t play against All Blacks if carrying injuries!

Gordon D’Arcy – Ditto, did very little in mid-week matches, Didn’t figure in tests.

Will Greenwood -  Struggled to compete, tried hard but not the player he was, sadly! Disappointing.

Steven Jones -  Arrived late from France. Did little early on, well enough in final test but didn’t enhance his reputation.

Ronan O’Gara -  Did well in mid-week, but not first choice in most games, (maybe should have been?) Often replacement.

Charlie Hodgson -  Four mid-week starts and did fairly well. Not considered for tests, probably correctly.

Matt Dawson -  Played well enough for an old hand, surprise choice in some quarters, but supported & encouraged Dwayne Peel very well.

Dwayne Peel – Everpresent in all tests, (and rightly so.) One of the stars of the tour, matured immensly with every match.

Gareth Cooper -  One selection and two replacements. Did very little, disasterous tour.

Chris Cusiter -  Good mid-week player, unlucky not to get a test selection. Will have matured somewhat.

Mark Cueto – Replacement for our own Ian Balshaw. Did well in mid-week and the final test. Probably should have been in earlier tests on size alone?

Jonny Wilkinson -  Played in two tests, did well enough, but a way from his best yet. (Don’t we all hope it will return?) I believe it will in the coming season!

 

Oh, and didn’t Justin Marshall look good?!

 

The Forwards

 

Graham Rowntree -  Regular mid-week and replacement in tests. Did well enough.

Andrew Sheridan -  Did ok until ankle injury sidelined him.

Matt Stevens -  Didn’t do anything to enhance his reputation.

Gethin Jenkins -  Ever-present in tests. Probably the pick of the forwards, (if not the whole Lions squad?) did absolutely nothing wrong. One of the star players.

Julian White – Strong in the set piece, but very slow in the loose.

John Hayes – Worked hard but not quite up to this level. Dissapointing.

Gordon Bulloch – Excellent tour. Unlucky not to have a test selection, though was a replacement in the last.

Steve Thompson -  Good tour, redeemed himself in many people’s eyes with his second test performance. (Every ball thrown straight to his man at the lineout’s.)

Andy Titterall -  Two starts only and disappointing. Poor tour.

Shayne Byrne -  Disasterous first test! Played ok in mid-week but poor tour.

Danny Grewcock – Yet again sent home for foul play. Clearly can’t handle pressure, (but we knew that anyway!) Bad selection.

Ben Kay – Poor tour, disasterous first test, then only occasional mid-week. Tour to forget, unfortunately.

Malcolm O’Kelly -  Injured early and retuned home.

Donnacha O’Callaghan – Excellent tour, never stopped working, one of our better forwards.

Paul O’Connell – As above, though occasional hiccups spoilt the total performance.

Michael Owen -  Good mid-week, though didn’t get a test selection.

Richard Hill – Poor tour, not the player we know, then injury ceased further involvement.

Neil Back -  Surprise selection and showed why! Poor tour.

Martin Williams – Everpresent in mid-week and did well. Unlucky not to get test selection.

Lewis Moody -  Two test starts, did well until injured.

Simon Taylor – Injured early and returned home.

Martin Corry -  Four starts, including one test. Did ok but nothing outstanding.

Laurence Dellaglio – First match injury ended his tour. Disaster!

 

The Replacements

 

Simon Shaw – Played well mid-week, unlucky not to get a test selection. Good tour.

Simon Easterby -  Two test selections as well as mid-week games. Absolute star everytime he played. Well done him!

Ryan Jones -  Ditto in every respect!

Brent Cobain  -  Two mid-week games. Did well enough.

 

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So, what has been learned from this tour? Here are a few of my thoughts on the matter:

 

1)     Don’t take people who are struggling back from injury.

2)     Don’t take people of small stature. (no matter how good they appear in UK rugby.)

3)     Don’t take the opposition for granted, just because a number of the Lions are World Cup winners.

4)     Don’t underestimate any International opposition. (but particularly the All Blacks.)

5)     Do realign the fixtures. Our professional players are playing too much rugby. Some of the matches they are called on to play are of no consequence. If these matches must be played, pick an A side, or a ‘representative’ side. Those players selected will play their hearts out, having been given the opportunity.

6)     A team of Lions required for Internationals cannot be put together in just a few weeks, with the expectation of “winning all before them”. It just doesn’t work that way in this day and age.

7)     Lions Tours MUST continue, no matter what needs to be done to achieve it!

 

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Do YOU agree? Did you go to New Zealand and get a different perspective? Did you stay here and get a different perspective? Add your thoughts below!