ozbash
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Celtic backline flair grafted on to England forward power is the formula head coach Clive Woodward believes will bring success for the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand.
The man behind England's 2003 World Cup triumph has grounds for considerable optimism on both counts.
Seven of the backs who played in the Welsh grand slam-winning side this year have been selected in a squad of 44, which could yet to increase to 45 if Jonny Wilkinson proves his form and fitness before the party leaves in May.
They will be led by captain Brian O'Driscoll, the Ireland centre who has proved himself the best in the world in his position over the past few years.
Wales ran New Zealand ragged before fading in their World Cup pool match in 2003 and were desperately unlucky to lose by a point to the All Blacks at the Millennium Stadium last November.
They stuck to the attacking policy which made them one of the great sides in world rugby up to the 1980s during this year's Six Nations championship and were rewarded with the first Welsh grand slam since 1978.
England had gone one better than Wales during their pre-World Cup tour of New Zealand and Australia in 2003.
They defeated the All Blacks 15-13 in Wellington with a forward performance of such power and confidence that they were able to deny the home side any points when reduced to 13 men at one stage.
History Lessons
Significantly Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back, the loose forwards watching helplessly from the sin bin for those pivotal 10 minutes, were called up by Woodward for the Lions tour even though they are no longer available for their country.
Woodward, a Lions tourist himself to New Zealand in 1983 when the tourists were beaten 4-0, knows the lessons of history.
Only John Dawe's 1971 Lions have won a series in New Zealand and the backline they fielded in that glorious year, containing five Welshmen, was possibly the best ever to take the field.
Even the brilliance of JPR Williams, Gerald Davies, Gareth Edwards, Barry John and Mike Gibson would have not been enough to win the series if the forwards had not held their own against an All Blacks pack containing Colin Meads in his final series.
In 1959, the Lions had backs almost the equal of the 1971 vintage but struggled in the forwards. Phil Bennett's side of 1977 overpowered the All Blacks in the forwards but could not capitalise in the backs.
Woodward said on Monday he had picked a side which would cope with anything the All Blacks might throw at them in the three-test series which ends on July 9.
"Rugby is changing fast and I believe we are at the cutting edge of that change," he said.
"I was very impressed with what I saw on and off the field at the Six Nations and I feel the sport is in good shape around the British Isles."
The Lions squad is:
Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland) captain
Neil Back (England)
Iain Balshaw (England)
Gordon Bulloch (Scotland)
Shane Byrne (Ireland)
Gareth Cooper (Wales
Martin Corry (England)
Chris Cusiter (Scotland)
Gordon D'Arcy (Ireland)
Lawrence Dallaglio (England)
Matt Dawson (England)
Will Greenwood (England)
Danny Grewcock (England)
John Hayes (Ireland)
Gavin Henson (Wales)
Denis Hickie (Ireland)
Richard Hill (England)
Charlie Hodgson (England)
Shane Horgan (Ireland)
Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
Stephen Jones (Wales)
Ben Kay (England)
Josh Lewsey (England)
Lewis Moody (England)
Geordan Murphy (Ireland)
Donnacha O'Callaghan (Ireland)
Paul O'Connell (Ireland)
Ronan O'Gara (Ireland)
Malcolm O'Kelly (Ireland)
Michael Owen (Wales)
Dwayne Peel (Wales)
Jason Robinson (England)
Graham Rowntree (England)
Tom Shanklin (Wales)
Andy Sheridan (England)
Ollie Smith (England)
Matt Stevens (England)
Simon Taylor (Scotland)
Gareth Thomas (Wales)
Steve Thompson (England)
Andy Titterrell (England)
Julian White (England)
Martyn Williams (Wales)
Shane Williams (Wales)
that is a very good team.
flogged off xtra
The man behind England's 2003 World Cup triumph has grounds for considerable optimism on both counts.
Seven of the backs who played in the Welsh grand slam-winning side this year have been selected in a squad of 44, which could yet to increase to 45 if Jonny Wilkinson proves his form and fitness before the party leaves in May.
They will be led by captain Brian O'Driscoll, the Ireland centre who has proved himself the best in the world in his position over the past few years.
Wales ran New Zealand ragged before fading in their World Cup pool match in 2003 and were desperately unlucky to lose by a point to the All Blacks at the Millennium Stadium last November.
They stuck to the attacking policy which made them one of the great sides in world rugby up to the 1980s during this year's Six Nations championship and were rewarded with the first Welsh grand slam since 1978.
England had gone one better than Wales during their pre-World Cup tour of New Zealand and Australia in 2003.
They defeated the All Blacks 15-13 in Wellington with a forward performance of such power and confidence that they were able to deny the home side any points when reduced to 13 men at one stage.
History Lessons
Significantly Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back, the loose forwards watching helplessly from the sin bin for those pivotal 10 minutes, were called up by Woodward for the Lions tour even though they are no longer available for their country.
Woodward, a Lions tourist himself to New Zealand in 1983 when the tourists were beaten 4-0, knows the lessons of history.
Only John Dawe's 1971 Lions have won a series in New Zealand and the backline they fielded in that glorious year, containing five Welshmen, was possibly the best ever to take the field.
Even the brilliance of JPR Williams, Gerald Davies, Gareth Edwards, Barry John and Mike Gibson would have not been enough to win the series if the forwards had not held their own against an All Blacks pack containing Colin Meads in his final series.
In 1959, the Lions had backs almost the equal of the 1971 vintage but struggled in the forwards. Phil Bennett's side of 1977 overpowered the All Blacks in the forwards but could not capitalise in the backs.
Woodward said on Monday he had picked a side which would cope with anything the All Blacks might throw at them in the three-test series which ends on July 9.
"Rugby is changing fast and I believe we are at the cutting edge of that change," he said.
"I was very impressed with what I saw on and off the field at the Six Nations and I feel the sport is in good shape around the British Isles."
The Lions squad is:
Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland) captain
Neil Back (England)
Iain Balshaw (England)
Gordon Bulloch (Scotland)
Shane Byrne (Ireland)
Gareth Cooper (Wales
Martin Corry (England)
Chris Cusiter (Scotland)
Gordon D'Arcy (Ireland)
Lawrence Dallaglio (England)
Matt Dawson (England)
Will Greenwood (England)
Danny Grewcock (England)
John Hayes (Ireland)
Gavin Henson (Wales)
Denis Hickie (Ireland)
Richard Hill (England)
Charlie Hodgson (England)
Shane Horgan (Ireland)
Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
Stephen Jones (Wales)
Ben Kay (England)
Josh Lewsey (England)
Lewis Moody (England)
Geordan Murphy (Ireland)
Donnacha O'Callaghan (Ireland)
Paul O'Connell (Ireland)
Ronan O'Gara (Ireland)
Malcolm O'Kelly (Ireland)
Michael Owen (Wales)
Dwayne Peel (Wales)
Jason Robinson (England)
Graham Rowntree (England)
Tom Shanklin (Wales)
Andy Sheridan (England)
Ollie Smith (England)
Matt Stevens (England)
Simon Taylor (Scotland)
Gareth Thomas (Wales)
Steve Thompson (England)
Andy Titterrell (England)
Julian White (England)
Martyn Williams (Wales)
Shane Williams (Wales)
that is a very good team.
flogged off xtra
.
