Lenihan roars back at Woodward

13 April 2012

The bad blood between Donal Lenihan and Clive Woodward spilt into the public arena yesterday over a spat stretching from British Columbia to the edge of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Lions manager jabbed a sharp riposte at his England counterpart in response to Woodward's broadside accusing the tourists of 'panicking' in demanding Martin Corry's immediate release from Saturday's romp against Canada in Vancouver.

'I thought Clive Woodward had the franchise on panic,' said Lenihan pointedly, from the Lions' seaside base in tropical north Queensland.

It spoke volumes about their non-relationship, one which goes back several years to when Lenihan served as an Ireland selector, Woodward coached London Irish and the pair became embroiled in club-or-country conflicts over players.

Over the course of the weekend it sounded as if they were trying to settle old scores.

Even half a world apart, the pair still managed to get steamed up over what should have been a routine observation of protocol which gives the Lions priority over the needs of the four home countries making up their squad.

Unlike his predecessor Jack Rowell during the last Lions tour, when England initially refused to release Mike Catt from their Test team in Argentina, Woodward made Corry available but could not resist a barbed comment criticising the Lions for 'a panic move'.

Lenihan, his options at No.8 limited enough by Lawrence Dallaglio's continuing rehabilitation without Simon Taylor's cruel removal, decided he needed another specialist in time for tomorrow's match against the Queensland President's XV.

'With Lawrence unavailable for a few more days, we would have been left with only five back row forwards for two huge games this week,' said Lenihan. 'I certainly did not see that as a sign of panic. In the circumstances, we were justified in getting Martin here as soon as possible.'

As proof of the urgency behind his summons, England's reserve No.8 goes straight into the back row tomorrow, despite a 24-hour haul through various time zones.

However, Woodward said: 'I still think the Lions made the wrong decision. They have another easy game in midweek, so I don't understand the rush.'

Corry's delight at his sudden initiation into the Lions more than compensated for his regret at missing England's 59-20 win over Canada. 'Woody was sorry to see me go, but there was never any question of my being held back,' he said. 'I'm delighted England had such a comprehensive win, but the Lions are the pinnacle of any player's career.'

Taylor, his unlucky predecessor, has had to make a far tougher trip. As Corry flew off in one direction, the 21-year-old Scot was heading home. During his half a match against Western Australia in Perth, the youngest Lion scored one try, made at least two more and was still rampaging all over the place at the end, oblivious to a blow on the knee taken 20 minutes earlier.

He said: 'The doc thought I should see a surgeon. I had a scan on Saturday morning and they said it would be six weeks before I could do anything too vigorous. To have to go home after half a game is very hard to take.'

As one Scot left, another joined up. Gordon Bulloch, who had been on holiday in Colorado, is on the bench tomorrow in a squad captained by Dai Young, the sole survivor from the last Lions tour of Australia 12 years ago.

LIONS (v Queensland President's XV):
M Perry; D James, W Greenwood, R Henderson, J Robinson; N Jenkins, M Dawson; T Smith, R McBryde, D Young; J Davidson, S Murray; C Charvis, M Corry, M Williams.
Replacements: A Healey, M Taylor, D Luger, R Hill, M O'Kelly, J Leonard, G Bulloch.

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Lenihan roars back at Woodward

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