French test is key chance for Irish Lions hopefuls
The Lions coach recently spent a week with Wales, Italy and France prior to their autumn international against the All-Blacks and plans to do likewise with Ireland and Scotland during next year’s Championship.
Woodward spent the last month following the Kiwis around on their European tour, spending time in their opponents’ camps as well as quizzing the likes of Australian coach Eddie Jones and his South African counterpart Jake White for tips.
“To be able to come into the back of a room and watch as an international team prepares has been a huge privilege and you learn so much,” said Woodward. “The detail in preparation is moving forward so much in every way. It’s allowed me to see players in their normal environment. I’m used to watching the Irish players on video.
“Being able to meet with them and sit down and have a cup of tea with them is just fantastic.
“Shaking hands in May with the players before the Lions tour, I won’t have to do that, I’ll have done it already.”
Having digested the recent spate of internationals, the Lions coach is now insisting that players anything short than 100% fit will not make the trip to New Zealand. Nor, it seems, are former England captains Martin Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio and their former colleague Neil Back likely to play a part.
The clamour for all three to make the trip continues to gather momentum, but Woodward remains unconvinced of the arguments for such players’ inclusions.
“I just want to pick players who are available for international rugby. I want the players playing for their countries in the Six Nations to know that they’re playing for the Lions places and no-one is going to come in from outside that criteria unless I feel there is a compelling reason,” Woodward explained in Portmarnock yesterday.
“(But) I’ll never say never. If there’s a compelling reason to bring somebody in who has retired from international rugby, I want to go with the strongest possible team, but the player has to really want to go on the Lions tour. He’s got to hold up his hand and say ‘I want to go on this Lions tour’. Then I’ll consider him.”
Woodward’s convictions have been reinforced by the recent spate of international tests, particularly New Zealand’s bone-chilling 47-19 destruction of France two weekends ago. The former English coach spoke of how quickly the game of rugby is evolving, even since England’s World Cup success, and claimed that the All-Blacks were again leading the way forward.
“Watching the New Zealand team play against the French has made me realise that, more than ever, this has to be the best prepared (Lions tour) ever. It’s absolutely critical that the Lions take that on board.
“Hence, we’ve got to encompass all the Lions traditional roots but make sure the Lions absolutely moves forward, if possible ahead of all the four nations.”
The Lions coach is determined not to repeat past mistakes whereby players large on reputation but short on fitness were included in the touring party, such as Dallaglio for the last trip to Australia in 2001.
“There’s a lot of players still missing, top-class players like Simon Taylor, Jonny Wilkinson, players we want to have on the trip. What we don’t want is to bring players who aren’t fit from the start,” he said.
Woodward will name the final touring party in mid-April.
A captain will be named at the same time and, although Brian O’Driscoll is believed to be a front runner, the Englishman isn’t giving too much away.
“We’re well blessed again. You don’t need me to come up with too many names. Certainly in (Ireland) you’ve got some outstanding candidates, in England Jason Robinson has been spoken very highly about, in Scotland (Gordon) Bulloch has done well, Simon Taylor too, (Gareth) Thomas down in Wales,” Woodward said.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
