SIR CLIVE WOODWARD has never been one for half-measures but seldom has a team playing for one of rugby’s most high-profile series been subject to so much change within the space of a week. The house that Woodward has tried to build for the 2005 Lions has been taken apart and restructured to play New Zealand at the Westpac Stadium on Saturday.
Yet the nature of this tour is such that it remains entirely possible to argue against the newcomers as it was to argue against the old. By common consent New Zealand’s tight-five forwards won them the opening match of the series in Christchurch five days ago, but three of the Lions’ tight forwards remain. Martin Corry has been one of the most consistent elements in the back row, so he goes; a Welsh midfield and scrum half now find themselves playing with England’s fly half, Ireland’s locks with England’s hooker.
In all there are seven changes in personnel and four positional changes, which argues that something was seriously wrong in selection last week or that the structure of this tour and the size of the squad is such that it is simply not possible to determine who are the form players. If form in New Zealand were the determining factor, Charlie Hodgson should have as good a chance of playing fly half as anyone, but that role goes to Jonny Wilkinson and Stephen Jones will be on the bench.
Maybe it is the effect of crossing the Cook Strait. In 1977 the Lions lost in Wellington with a side including nine Welshmen, made seven changes (among them the introduction of Bill Beaumont, now the Lions manager) and won in Christchurch. Woodward’s changes have had to take account of tour-ending injuries to Brian O’Driscoll, his captain, Richard Hill and Tom Shanklin, the suspension of Danny Grewcock and the battered state of Ollie Smith, but, as ever, he retains the capacity to surprise.
“Last Saturday night would have been top of the list of the most disappointing games I have been involved with,” Woodward said. “I have taken all the arrows and bricks thrown this week, though I’ve been amazed at some of the vitriol and bile. Clearly things weren’t right and I haven’t buried my head in the sand. It was time to shake things up.
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“If Brian had not been injured, I was excited about playing Stephen Jones and Jonny Wilkinson together, but I believe Jonny was the best Lions back on the field in Christchurch.”
Wilkinson, restored to the position in which he has won all but five of his 52 England caps, and Gavin Henson proved a complementary pairing against Wellington and will make an interesting match against Daniel Carter and Aaron Mauger.
The new back row includes two players, Ryan Jones and Simon Easterby, who were not good enough to win original selection. They are joined by Lewis Moody, which at least gives extra pace around the field as compared with the over-thirties, Corry, Hill and Neil Back, who now cannot even make it to the replacements. Donncha O’Callaghan has worked hard for consideration and joins Paul O’Connell,his fellow Munsterman, at lock ahead of Ben Kay, while Steve Thompson replaces Shane Byrne at hooker to give a more solid look to the scrum, if not necessarily to the lineout.
Dwayne Peel has recovered from a calf strain to remain at scrum half but must now forge a new relationship with Wilkinson, with whom he has played for only an hour, against Wellington. It is hard on Stephen Jones that he has had to play in the two defeats, against New Zealand Maori and the All Blacks, when his pack were on their heels for much of the time, leaving the half backs with little room for manoeuvre.
Henson, who arguably should have played in Christchurch, will partner Gareth Thomas, the new captain, at centre. That is the position in which Thomas played much of his early representative rugby, where he played in 2003-04 for Celtic Warriors and where Toulouse used him five times last season. It takes him nearer the action than wing or full back and he will be a reassuring presence next to the younger man.
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Shane Williams, Henson’s club colleague at the Ospreys, also steps up after scoring five tries against Manawatu on Tuesday and will bring back memories for the All Blacks of their 53-37 pool match win over Wales during the 2003 World Cup, when Williams danced to such good effect.
But the rejigged back three, in which Josh Lewsey moves to full back, still includes Jason Robinson, despite his lack of form. What New Zealand’s brains trust will make of it, only they know. Their problem is Carl Hayman, the tight-head prop who remained in hospital yesterday with a toe infection. Greg Somerville would take his place and Campbell Johnstone stands by to join the match squad.
LIONS TEAM
J Lewsey (London Wasps and England); J Robinson (Sale Sharks and England), G Thomas (Toulouse and Wales, captain), G Henson (Ospreys and Wales), S Williams (Ospreys and Wales); J Wilkinson (Newcastle and England), D Peel (Llanelli Scarlets and Wales); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues and Wales), S Thompson (Northampton and England), J White (Leicester and England), P O’Connell (Munster and Ireland), D O’Callaghan (Munster and Ireland), S Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets and Ireland), L Moody (Leicester and England), R Jones (Ospreys and Wales). Replacements: S Byrne (Leinster and Ireland), G Rowntree (Leicester and England), M Corry (Leicester and England), M Williams (Cardiff Blues and Wales), M Dawson (London Wasps and England), S Jones (Clermont Auvergne and Wales), S Horgan (Leinster and Ireland)