Woodward positive about Donncha’s chances
Head coach Clive Woodward has included him in the northern hemisphere side to play the south in Saturday’s tsunami disaster fundraising game and is looking forward to the Cork player making a big push for selection.
Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll has been ruled out (elbow injury), and the captaincy of the northern side goes to Fabien Pelous.
O’Driscoll remains the hot favourite to lead the Lions.
“Although Donncha hasn’t got much game time for Ireland this season, he is the type of player I am looking for in New Zealand,” Woodward said yesterday. “Nothing is done or dusted but he is in with a realistic chance of getting into my squad.”
Woodward stressed yesterday that he was unlikely to name his captain until choosing a squad and refrained from speculating.
“I don’t think it would be fair to talk about who might captain the Lions but I do know who I want, it’s down to one or two players at the end of the day. I don’t want to put all the cards on the table. I do have a fairly firm idea of whom I want.
Former English international Stuart Barnes believes there can only be one candidate. “I have believed for the last couple of years that the captaincy has to go to Brian O’Driscoll. He is by far and away the best centre in the world and has made a very good job of the Irish captaincy as well.”
He credited O’Driscoll and, to a lesser extent, Geordan Murphy for Ireland’s win at the weekend.
“We all know what these guys are capable of but Brian made his try look so easy. That was the biggest moment of the game and England, despite all the possession, didn’t have the same ability to produce a special moment.
“England relied all too often on Ben Kay, Danny Grewcock or Jamie Noon to try to batter their way through the Irish defence that was rock solid throughout. They hardly missed a tackle and O’Driscoll was always in the thick of the action.
“When required, Geordan and Brian produced the required magic and it was a try worthy of winning any game. It was all about imagination and wit. In a tight game like that, it takes a bit of magic to change the course of the game.
“Regarding the captaincy of the Lions, charisma is so important and O’Driscoll has it. Paul O’Connell, actually, might be a choice for the future but I can’t think of anyone else more suitable right now.
“Looking around the other countries you’re looking at Gordon Bulloch of Scotland, Jason Robinson from England and Gareth Thomas of Wales.
“I get more convinced that it has to be Brian O’Driscoll every time I see him, even when he is not as brilliant as we expect,” said the Sky pundit.
Barnes also believes Woodward has to mark full back Murphy down for a test place. “If he’s not in the test side, based on current form, then Clive is missing the trick.
“There will be a lot of Irish players in the squad, or at least there should be. They will have a couple of second rows, John Hayes had a big game against England, Anthony Foley too, while Shane Byrne found his targets much better than Steve Thompson. Simon Easterby has a chance, the half backs are well in with a shout and O’Driscoll should be joined by Gordon D’Arcy.”
Meanwhile, Woodward has praised Irish rugby and believes the system adapted by the IRFU could be a role model for other countries.
“I’m really impressed by what Ireland and Wales have achieved. There was no coincidence in this. It was well planned and Ireland led the way. Irish players are centrally based and given every opportunity to maximise their skills.
“It’s a system where international rugby is put first and because of that system they are, with limited resources compared to other countries, punching above their weight. It really is great to see a small country emerge as a major player.”
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