Shift sees O'Driscoll at full back

13 April 2012

The Lions are preparing to redeploy the untouchable backs of England and build their Test strategy around a smiling Irishman.

Brian O'Driscoll will be seen here as never before in tomorrow's long-awaited launch of the tour - not in his usual outside centre spot but at full back.

The management line, that they are acquainting the 22-year- old Dubliner with unfamiliar territory on the off-chance of their needing an emergency full back, sidesteps a deeper sub-plot.

Relocating O'Driscoll would leave the way clear for England full back Iain Balshaw to appear in his club position on the right wing, countering the heavy imbalance caused by the selection of four left wings - Dan Luger, Ben Cohen, Dafydd James and Jason Robinson.

The second advantage, adding further weight to the theory that this is not a one-off experiment, would allow the Lions to pick the English midfield of Will Greenwood, Mike Catt and Jonny Wilkinson en bloc. Greenwood's blazing finish to a blazing season will have been a major factor in persuading the Lions to shift O'Driscoll.

A player of his exceptional ability allows them to draw up their plan in the belief that it has the potential to make them even more irresistible than England were last season. It also provides the Lions with the flexibility to shuffle their back three and find room among their substitutes for Robinson.

Western Australia's carpenters, welders and mechanics promise to provide the Lions with the perfect start.

Keith Wood, captaining the Lions for the first time, said: 'Brian is the best player we've had in Ireland for donkeys' years in any position. I haven't seen him play at full back but I've seen him play rugby and I have no doubts about his talent. He will be comfortable at full back.'

The relevance of the O'Driscoll exercise will become apparent as the tour develops. Head coach Graham Henry was hardly going to recite the Australians chapter and verse over the significance of the new full back.

Significantly, the Lions kept O'Driscoll hidden yesterday, which explained why even the tourists' manager, Donal Lenihan, had no clue as to whether he had played once at full back as a student.

O'Driscoll has been a Lion ever since his glittering hat-trick of tries against France in Paris last year. Henry said: 'I thought: "This kid can play." He has a knack of sniffing out opportunities, which is the sign of a gifted player.

'Sitting next to him on the plane from Heathrow to Singapore, I was impressed by a modest, well-balanced young man. The main reason for picking him at full back is that we are looking for options. He has all the attributes. When he matures, he is going to be special.'

Rob Howley gets first shot in the three-cornered fight at scrum half involving Matt Dawson and Austin Healey. With the first Test three weeks away, none of them can afford to miss a trick.

TEAM - O'Driscoll (Ire); Cohen (Eng), Greenwood (Eng), M Taylor (Wal), Luger (Eng); O'Gara (Ire), Howley (Wal); Morris (Wal), Wood (Ire, capt), Vickery (Eng), Grewcock (Eng), O'Kelly (Ire), Hill (Eng), Back (Eng), Quinnell (Wal). Replacements: Balshaw (Eng), Henderson (Ire), Healey (Eng), S Taylor (Sco), Davidson (Ire), Leonard (Eng), McBryde (Wal).

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Shift sees O'Driscoll at full back

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