Shark moving in for the kill!

AND then there were three ...

Charlie Hodgson’s performance yesterday not only sent a timely message to Clive Woodward but also to everyone who believed that the debate over the test No 10 jersey was about two people.

Sale Shark’s Hodgson had effectively been written off as little more than a passenger behind Jonny Wilkinson or Stephen Jones but was determined to prove otherwise against Taranaki.

“There’s been a lot of talk with Jonny and Steve competing for the number 10 slot and it was good to give Clive Woodward some selection problems,” he said.

Hodgson formed an excellent half-back partnership with Chris Cusiter and as well as directing the Lions offensively, they led the way in defence, putting in the most tackles, with 15 apiece.

Captain Martin Corry said: “Charlie was tremendous. When things weren’t going well for us he controlled the game, kept us moving forward, his kicking was brilliant. You need your fly-half to be vocal and an orchestrator and that is what he did.

“He reads the game so well. That is his great strength - he is a natural rugby player. He has a great rugby brain. When things weren’t going well his confidence never suffered. He always has that ability to read the game. The cream always rises to the top and that is what happened.”

********

WHEN the Lions last played Taranaki 12 years ago, they were trying to regroup after an agonising one-point defeat in the first test.

They introduced Martin Johnson, the young lock who had been picked as a replacement for Wade Dooley, when he returned home after his father’s death.

It was the start of an illustrious career for Johnson.

Another legendary character, Jason Leonard, answered a tight-head prop crisis. Neither tight-head, Paul Burnell nor Peter Wright, had succeeded by mid-tour and Leonard switched sides against Taranaki with distinct effect.

Johnson and Leonard were big factors in the Lions’ 49-25 victory, and for the rest of the tour.

On the evidence so far, tight-head prop will be an issue for this Lions squad unless Julian White and Gethin Jenkins stay fit and functional. Matt Stevens was benched against Bay of Plenty and John Hayes was replaced soon after the interval against Taranaki.

He struggled, understandably, in the pre-tour match against Argentina, and was in trouble regularly against Tony Penn and his Taranaki team mates.

********

ORDINARILY, players head to physio after a match. Yet shortly before their team-mates took on Taranaki last night, non-playing members of the Lions squad made New Plymouth’s Barrett Street Hospital an exception to that rule.

Full-back Josh Lewsey, Ronan O’Gara, prop Andy Sheridan and centre Gordon D’Arcy were among the group who mingled with staff, physiotherapists and patients. Team doctor James Robson and coach Eddie O’Sullivan were also present.

“It’s a great privilege to be here,” Robson told those gathered after songs of welcome had been sung.

“Rugby for me has created a wealth of lifelong friendships ... and I only wish our two islands were closer so we could visit more often.”

The players lingered after speeches to sign autographs and pose for photos.

“This unit enables people to work on their physical health in a way that is meaningful and goal-orientated for them,” Oranga Ngatahi manager, Philip Galley, said.

“The way these guys are willing to give up their time and get amongst the people is absolutely fantastic. It’s a tremendous credit to them and whoever’s organising this tour.

“Sometimes people in professional sport prefer to give off a superhuman aura - and these guys are totally breaking that image.”

Indeed, the impression left on those present was the Lions were keeping their word about injecting a taste of rugby pride into local communities.