Bulloch to stake Test claim at Bay of Plenty

IN A Lions’ world post-Keith Wood, Gordon Bulloch recognises that Saturday’s tour opener against Bay of Plenty is his chance to make a claim for the Test hooking spot.

Bulloch is the senior of the four hookers in the touring party, with 75 Scotland caps and a Lions tour to Australia in 2001 to his name. Yet he faces a stiff challenge for a shirt previously worn with distinction by Ireland’s former inspirational captain.

The quietly spoken Scotsman, who turned 30 last February, flew out to Australia as a replacement for Phil Greening but was forced to watch from the sidelines as Wood made the position his own for the second tour in succession.

Bulloch did see some action, replacing Wood in the first Test in Brisbane as the Lions claimed the opening rubber 29-13 but, of the three tour matches he took part in on his last tour Down Under, he only started one, the 46-3 trouncing of New South Wales Country.

Which is why he is delighted to get the first call in New Zealand, scrumming down between Wales’ Gethin Jenkins and England’s South African-born new boy Matt Stevens. Now he is eager to stake an early and maybe his only claim ahead of the first Test in Christchurch on June 25.

“Obviously with such a big squad you might not get too many starts, so it’s important to take your chance to hit home and put down your marker,” Bulloch said.

He faces competition from two Englishmen and Ireland’s Shane Byrne, who was an early casualty of the 25-25 draw with Argentina in Cardiff last week. Steve Thompson would be considered the favourite for the role but, while his general play has been outstanding for England, the quality of his throwing at the lineout has been in sharp decline. Which brings in surprise package Andy Titterrell of Sale, who debuted for England last summer in New Zealand and pressed Thompson hard throughout the season that followed.

Yet Bulloch is confident that a good start in Rotorua this weekend will do wonders not just for the team but for his chances too.

“It’s definitely easy for me to bed in if the line-outs go well and scrums go well. It’s always difficult when you’re playing with new guys you’ve not played with before but, if your first three or four line-outs and scrums go well, it lets you settle down and look after the other parts of your game such as supporting the backs in the running.

“We’ve worked a bit on it towards the end of last week. The great advantage of having a squad system such as this is that we’ve actually managed to have some scrummaging sessions together and it’s been good to get those under our belt.”

Scots are a rare breed on this tour and Bulloch was the only one selected for this weekend’s opener with scrum-half Chris Cusiter left out and Simon Taylor not considered due to a hamstring injury. That leaves just midweek coach Ian McGeechan to make up the tartan contingent but Bulloch is not a bit concerned.

“It doesn’t worry me at all. Obviously I’ve rubbed shoulders with some of these guys before on the last tour and I’m looking forward to renewing some of these partnerships. It’s just about getting a good steady performance under our belt and getting a win. To get the tour underway with a good start is definitely important. A good performance and a good win would get that team spirit going.

“I’m really looking forward to getting out on that park for the first time together and to kicking the tour off in New Zealand.

“Everyone’s looking towards that first Test now but it’s important we get the results right first. Test-match selection will look after itself after that.”