Woodward ready to play wild cards

Sir Clive Woodward: ready to name his squad

14 April 2012

The spoof e-mail currently causing confusion in New Zealand purports to have Andy Farrell, England's latest recruit from rugby league, as a member of the biggest ever Lions management team for the summer tour against the All Blacks.

Given that Sir Clive Woodward is the Lions head coach, it is understandable why so many New Zealanders were taken in by the April Fool's joke squad of 44 players. Woodward is a man who enjoys catching people off guard with a ground-breaking move, but not even England's World Cup-winning coach would be that surprising.

Instead, Woodward will base his Lions squad to face the All Blacks on the men who helped him make history against Australia in the World Cup Final on 22 November 2003. While that may seem an outdated reference point, Woodward knows that to achieve a first series win in New Zealand since 1971, he will need players who have beaten the All Blacks in their own backyard.

There will, of course, be surprises and the three outsiders Standard Sport believes could feature are uncapped London Wasps centre Ayoola Erinle, Wales replacement prop John Yapp and Trevor Brennan, the experienced Irish flanker now playing at Toulouse.

With serious injury doubts over Jonny Wilkinson, there could be a surprise call-up for Leicester's Andy Goode if the Newcastle star fails his medical while Ollie Smith will tour if Mike Tindall breaks down again.

The final decision over the 44 is Woodward's and he is happy with the pressure that involves. Except for his chosen captain - a battle between Brian O'Driscoll and Lawrence Dallaglio - every other player will learn of his selection when Woodward names his men at a Heathrow hotel on Monday.

He said: "There will be one or two calls to players I know will be genuinelydisappointed not to tour but the tour party will not be revealed until that press conference. I don't want names leaking out. When I was selected for the 1980 tour I heard it on Rugby Special while my selection in 1983 came via the radio.

"I do have the final say in selection but there won't be a last meeting of my fellow coaches and management team. That's very old fashioned and the squad has evolved through constant discussions. I suppose you can say it's my final decision."

By opting for around 19 England players, Woodward knows that when he asks the squad to put their hands up if they have beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand, nearly half will hold an arm aloft after their famous win in 2003.

His ground work is designed to ensure that a radical plan of operating with separate teams for mid-week and Saturday matches does not turn into a disastrous split. Not everyone is impressed. Former All Black Zinzan Brooke said: "I think the Lions will lose the series 3-0."

To win over the locals, Woodward leans heavily on Alastair Campbell, who will join the Lions tour as media guru after helping Labour's election campaign. "Alastair has been invaluable in making sure we do the off-the-field things properly," added Woodward. "His brief is not just dealing with the media. I want to make sure everyone enjoys their time in New Zealand and that we do the right things."

Woodward is avoiding questions about what happens after the tour when he will join Southampton.

He said: "People can try and wind me up about what happens in August but I have been around too long. I won't be talking about it."

STANDARD SPORT'S LIONS TOUR PARTY

Full-backs: Geordan Murphy (Ireland), Chris Paterson (Scotland), Gareth Thomas (Wales)
Wings: Mark Cueto (England), Josh Lewsey (England), Jason Robinson (England), Shane Williams (Wales)
Centres: Ayoola Erinle (England), Gordon D'Arcy (Ireland), Gavin Henson (Wales), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland, capt), Tom Shanklin (Wales), Mike Tindall (England)
Half-backs: Charlie Hodgson (England), Stephen Jones (Wales), Jonny Wilkinson (England), Gareth Cooper (Wales), Chris Cusiter (Scotland), Matt Dawson (England), Dwayne Peel (Wales)
Hookers: Gordon Bulloch (Scotland), Shane Byrne (Ireland), Mefin Davies (Wales), Steve Thompson (England)
Props: Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), Graham Rowntree (England), Phil Vickery (England), Julian White (England), John Yapp (Wales)
Second-rows: Danny Grewcock (England), Ben Kay (England), Donncha O'Callaghan (Ireland), Paul O'Connell (Ireland), Malcolm O'Kelly (Ireland), Michael Owen (Wales)
Back-rows: Neil Back (England), Trevor Brennan (Ireland), Martin Corry (England), Lawrence Dallaglio (England), Richard Hill (England), Lewis Moody (England), Simon Taylor (Scotland), Martyn Williams (Wales)
Totals: England 19, Wales 13, Ireland 8, Scotland 4

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