2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
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In 2005 the British and Irish Lions are touring New Zealand, for the first time since 1993, having toured Australia in 2001 and South Africa in 1997. Before leaving for New Zealand, the Lions played a match against Argentina. In New Zealand, the Lions will play three test matches against the All Blacks and several tour matches against other teams.
The team will be managed by former England international Bill Beaumont, coached by former England coach Sir Clive Woodward and captained by Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll.
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Tour squad
The tour 44-man squad was announced on 11 April 2005, with 20 Englishmen, 11 Irishmen, 10 Welshmen and 3 Scots selected. Many criticised this distribution, saying that when England had performed so badly in the 2004 and 2005 Six Nations Championship the selection of so many Englishmen was unjustified. However many of these might be seen as squad players, unlikely to start the test matches, having experience in the tough competition of the Zurich Premiership. The original 44-man squad was named as:
- Full backs / wingers
- Iain Balshaw (Leeds Tykes and England)
- Josh Lewsey (Wasps and England)
- Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers and Ireland)
- Jason Robinson (Sale Sharks and England)
- Gareth Thomas (Toulouse and Wales)
- Shane Williams (Ospreys and Wales)
- Centres
- Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster and Ireland)
- Will Greenwood (Harlequins and England)
- Gavin Henson (Ospreys and Wales)
- Shane Horgan (Leinster and Ireland)
- Brian O'Driscoll (captain; Leinster and Ireland)
- Tom Shanklin (Blues and Wales)
- Ollie Smith (Leicester Tigers and England)
- Fly-halves
- Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks and England)
- Stephen Jones (Clermont Auvergne and Wales)
- Ronan O'Gara (Munster and Ireland)
- Scrum-halves
- Gareth Cooper (Dragons and Wales)
- Chris Cusiter (The Borders and Scotland)
- Matt Dawson (Wasps and England)
- Dwayne Peel (Scarlets and Wales)
- Props
- John Hayes (Munster and Ireland)
- Gethin Jenkins (Blues and Wales)
- Graham Rowntree (Leicester Tigers and England)
- Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks and England)
- Matt Stevens (Bath and England)
- Julian White (Leicester Tigers and England)
- Hookers
- Gordon Bulloch (Glasgow and Scotland)
- Shane Byrne (Leinster and Ireland)
- Steve Thompson (Northampton Saints and England)
- Andy Titterrell (Sale Sharks and England)
- Locks
- Danny Grewcock (Bath and England)
- Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers and England)
- Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster and Ireland)
- Paul O'Connell (Munster and Ireland)
- Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster and Ireland)
- Back Row
- Neil Back (Leicester Tigers and England)
- Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers and England)
- Lawrence Dallaglio (Wasps and England)
- Denis Hickie (Leinster and Ireland)
- Richard Hill (Saracens and England)
- Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers and England)
- Michael Owen (Dragons and Wales)
- Simon Taylor (Edinburgh and Scotland)
- Martyn Williams (Blues and Wales)
Injured England players Jonny Wilkinson, Phil Vickery and Mike Tindall were pencilled in, to be added to the squad subject if they regained fitness. Only Wilkinson subsequently did so and was called up on 8 May. Iain Balshaw suffered a torn thigh muscle and was replaced in the squad by Mark Cueto on 17 May. It is expected that as on previous tours, additional players will be called up when players suffer injury during the tour proper. The full list of call-ups is:
- Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons and England) - Added 8 May
- Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks and England) - Added 17 May for Iain Balshaw
- Simon Shaw (Wasps and England) - Added 2 June for Malcolm O'Kelly
- Simon Easterby (Scarlets and Ireland) - Added 4 June for Lawrence Dallaglio
- Ryan Jones (Ospreys and Wales) - Added 10 June for Simon Taylor
Three team members did not travel to New Zealand with the bulk of the touring party. Jason Robinson was excused in order to spend time with his pregnant wife. Stephen Jones and Gareth Thomas were forced to delay their departures due to commitments to their French clubs. Jones arrived in New Zealand on 31 May, before the Lions played their first tour match, while Robinson arrived on 7 June. For a time, it was doubtful whether Thomas would be able to contend for a spot in the first Test, as he had not been released by his club, Toulouse. However, Toulouse, which were trying to add a French league title to their Heineken Cup, crashed out in the French semifinals, allowing Thomas to leave for New Zealand. Thomas also arrived in New Zealand on 7 June.
Management
There will be 26 back room staff. After problems with the midweek team feeling disillusioned in 2001, the midweek team will get their own coaches.
- Bill Beaumont: Tour manager
- Sir Clive Woodward: Head coach
- Louise Ramsay MBE: Team manager
- Andy Robinson: Coach
- Eddie O'Sullivan: Coach
- Ian McGeechan: Coach
- Gareth Jenkins: Coach
- Phil Larder: Defensive coach
- Mike Ford: Defensive coach
- Dave Alred: Kicking coach
- Dave Reddin: Fitness Coach
- Craig White: Fitness Coach
- David McHugh: Specialist Advisor (referee)
- Tony Biscombe: Video Analyst
- Gavin Scott: Video Analyst
- Dr James Robson: Head Doctor
- Dr Gary O'Driscoll: Doctor
- Phil Pask: Physiotherapist
- Stuart Barton: Physio / Masseur
- Bob Stewart: Physio / Masseur
- Richard Wegrzyk: Masseur
- John Feehan: Chief Executive
- Richard Smith: Legal Support
- Louisa Cheetham: Media Officer
- Alastair Campbell Press relations
- Dave Campbell: Chef
- Dave Tennison: Kit Technician
Schedule
The Lions will play three test matches against the All Blacks, plus one non-cap against Argentina before they depart for New Zealand, and several tour matches. The quality of the opposition in the tour matches is expected to be high.
| Date | Opponent | Location | Result | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match A | 23 May, 2005 | Argentina | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | Drew | 25-25 |
| Match 1 | 4 June, 2005 | Bay of Plenty | Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua | Won | 20-34 |
| Match 2 | 8 June, 2005 | Taranaki | Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth | Won | 14-36 |
| Match 3 | 11 June, 2005 | NZ Maori | Waikato Stadium, Hamilton | Lost | 19-13 |
| Match 4 | 15 June, 2005 | Wellington | Westpac Stadium, Wellington | Won | 6-23 |
| Match 5 | 18 June, 2005 | Otago | Carisbrook, Dunedin | Won | 19-30 |
| Match 6 | 21 June, 2005 | Southland | Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill | Won | 16-26 |
| Match 7 | 25 June, 2005 | 1st Test | Jade Stadium, Christchurch | ||
| Match 8 | 28 June, 2005 | Manawatu | Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North | ||
| Match 9 | 2 July, 2005 | 2nd Test | Westpac Stadium, Wellington | ||
| Match 10 | 5 July, 2005 | Auckland | Eden Park, Auckland | ||
| Match 11 | 9 July, 2005 | 3rd Test | Eden Park, Auckland |
Total: Played 7. Won 5, drew 1, lost 1. Points for 187, against 119.
The Matches
Argentina
On 23 May, the Lions played Argentina at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in a send-off match for the team. The Pumas were missing 25 players from their selection pool, including the large majority of their normal first-choice team, due to club commitments. The Lions also chose a largely second-choice team, resting many of their top players. Tour captain Brian O'Driscoll was rested; Wales captain Michael Owen took his place as captain for the match.
The Pumas played an inspired game, while the Lions looked completely disjointed by all reports. The Lions turned the ball over a shocking 15 times in open play. Their vaunted pack was generally missing in action; they were shoved off their own scrum three times. The Lions also conceded five penalties for holding on to the ball while grounded, usually because their support failed to arrive in time. The Pumas led 19-16 at halftime, and could easily have been ahead by more. The main bright spot for the Lions was Jonny Wilkinson, who set up the first Lions try, converted that try, and kicked six penalties in all. Wilkinson's last penalty saved the Lions from a humiliating defeat; his successful kick at the death salvaged a 25-25 draw. Arguably, the match referee, Australian Stuart Dickinson, could also receive credit for saving the Lions from defeat, as he allowed eight minutes of added time at the end of the match (an amount almost unheard of in top-flight rugby).
Bay of Plenty
The first tour match was on 4 June against the Bay of Plenty Steamers in Rotorua. The Lions started the match in dominant fashion, with Josh Lewsey scoring a try after two minutes and adding a second four minutes later. After 11 minutes, the Lions were up 17-0. However, the Steamers stormed back in the rest of the first half, and the score was 17-17 at the half. The Lions took control again early in the second half, and their defence held the Steamers to a single penalty after halftime. In the end, the Lions won 34-20.
Perhaps the most significant event in this match was the loss of experienced back-rower Lawrence Dallaglio. Midway through the first half, he slipped while arriving at a tackle and badly turned his ankle, and was stretchered off with what proved to be a fracture.
Taranaki
On 8 June, the Lions took on Taranaki at New Plymouth. The first half was a very closely fought affair in more ways than one, as the Lions' Danny Grewcock and Taranaki's Paul Tito came to blows. The hosts took a 7-6 lead into the intermission. Early in the second half, Martin Corry scored the Lions' first try of the game. Shortly afterwards, Taranaki's Andrew Hore was sin-binned for killing the ball, and the Lions took control from that point. Consensus man of the match Charlie Hodgson kicked two penalties during Hore's absence, and the Lions kept their momentum even after Hore returned. Shane Horgan added a try, and Geordan Murphy added two as the Lions won 36-14.
New Zealand Maori
The Lions' toughest match in the run-up to the first All Blacks Test promised to be the their match against the New Zealand Maori in Hamilton on 11 June. This match was billed by rugby media as virtually a fourth Test, as the Maori selected perhaps the strongest side in their history. In the first half, the Maori had the better of possession and tackling, but the Lions largely dominated the set pieces. The teams entered the half tied 6-6, but just before the half, the Lions' Andrew Sheridan was sin-binned for throwing a punch at Maori Luke McAlister.
When the sin-bin period ended (Sheridan was replaced then by Gethin Jenkins), the score was still level, but McAlister converted a penalty shortly afterwards to give the Maori the lead. A Leon MacDonald try, a conversion by McAlister, and a second McAlister penalty gave the Maori a 19-6 lead. The last 15 minutes of the game were the Lions' best period, capped by a Brian O'Driscoll try in the 75th minute, converted by Stephen Jones. The Lions threatened again near the end, but the Maori held on for a historic 19-13 win—their first ever over the Lions.
Wellington
After the surprise defeat against the Maori, the Lions went to Wellington to take on the city's NPC side on 15 June. The side chosen by the Lions was made up primarily of players in contention for the Test team. Notably, this match marked the first appearance of Jonny Wilkinson during the tour.
Although the Lions completely dominated the match, they were mostly unable to translate their advantage into points, as they committed numerous unforced errors. Their scoring came from tries by Gethin Jenkins and Gareth Thomas, both converted by Wilkinson, plus three Wilkinson penalties. The Lions' 23-6 win, while getting their tour back on track for the time being, left almost as many questions as answers. In post-match comments, O'Driscoll said "The ball was like a bar of soap out there and both sides made a lot of unforced errors," and Wellington's coach John Plumtree remarked, "The All Blacks would have put 50 or 60 points on us."
Otago
The Lions made their first appearance in the South Island against Otago on 18 June at Carisbrook. The stadium's traditional nickname of the "House of Pain" was appropriate for this match, as Otago had claimed four Lions scalps on past tours. Otago went out to the faster start, as the Lions were called for four penalties in the first 11 minutes; Otago converted two of them to take a 6-0 lead. The Lions' stronger scrum play soon brought them back into the game, and the first half became a closely-fought affair, ending 13-13. The Lions clearly had the momentum, as Will Greenwood had scored a try, converted by Charlie Hodgson, just before the break.
Otago took a 16-13 lead shortly after halftime, but dominant Lions scrum play led to a try by consensus man of the match Ryan Jones, who put himself in contention for a Test position. The try and Hodgson's conversion gave the Lions a lead they never relinquished. Otago did come back to within 20-19 on a penalty, but the Lions' dominance continued. A Hodgson penalty, a Shane Williams try, and a Hodgson conversion ended the scoring at the final margin of 30-19.
Southland
The Lions' last outing before their first All Blacks Test was on 21 June, when they went to Invercargill to face Southland. Lions coach Clive Woodward announced beforehand that no players in the night's lineup would play in the first Test. In the first 15 minutes, the Lions looked to make the match a runaway, as they took a 10-0 lead, keyed by a Gavin Henson try. However, the Lions were very sloppy for the rest of the half. By halftime, they had turned the ball over 14 times. By all accounts, the Lions should have been ahead by far more than 10-3 at the break.
The first few minutes of the second half were even worse for the Lions, as Hale T-Pole scored a converted try soon after the restart. Woodward immediately substituted four players, and the changes apparently brought dividends. T-Pole made a spectacular interception to save a sure Mark Cueto try, but the Lions kept the pressure on, and Henson would soon score his second try of the night. The Lions then changed tactics, choosing to kick for territory more often, and were never truly threatened again. Still, their 26-16 victory margin was hardly encouraging.
External links
- Official site (http://www.lionsrugby.com)
- fansite (http://www.britishlions.com/about.asp)fr:Tournée des Lions 2005