FORMER ENGLAND CAPTAIN Lewis Moody believes Brian O’Driscoll shouldn’t start for the Lions, arguing that he hasn’t done enough in recent times to warrant a place in the side.
O’Driscoll has had a mixed year, getting sin-binned in Ireland’s disappointing final Six Nations game against Italy and struggling with injury on occasion, while also helping Leinster to win both the Amlin Cup and the RaboDirect Pro12.
He added that the management were unlikely to pick O’Driscoll to start the first test, telling reporters:
“The Lions have not played a game yet, I might be wrong. I would love him to play, and he is such a legend, one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, and a mesmerising player – but at the moment he would miss out through lack of form.”
He added: “There is no place for sentiment – it’s all about winning. Which Lions tours are memorable? Only the ones which were successful. Winning is all that matters. You pick the guys – whether they have played one match or 100 Tests for their country – who are in the best form at that moment to deliver what needs to be done to get that Test series win.
“For me now the centre partnership would be Roberts and Manu Tuilagi, with the Welsh back three (Alex Cuthbert and George North on the wings with Leigh Halfpenny at full-back) and Jonny Sexton at No 10 and Phillips at scrum-half. Ben Youngs has a chance at scrum-half.”
The ex-British and Irish Lion has also claimed Jamie Heaslip may be in contention to start, explaining how he “has come into some form in the past few weeks with Leinster, especially in the Amlin Cup. He could suddenly come alive on the tour again like he did in 2009. I know from personal experience that the burden of captaining your country weighs on you.”
They bloody well better offer him more than a one year deal! He’s been brilliant after the turmoil of the Keane tenure, also I imagine Friendy is a big part of why players would join.
The IRFU need to cop on and tie down the good coaches to long term contracts. Oh and sign the players too. Stop importing players for 2 seasons and promote from within
I hope the IRFU find the funds to keep him longer. Nigel Carolan would be another option.
@Con Cussed: yeah Nigel is an option, but the question remains whether his preference is hands on coaching rather than top management. His track record has been good enough for years to have had Head Coach job offers elswere, but he’s stayed in Galway. My feeling is he loves what he does and isn’t interested in the politics of the top job, could be 100% wrong of course. Jimmy Duffy is established too. Shame the timing was out for Dan McFarland, because he would fit back in perfectly. All the above is conjecture of course, first preference is to keep Friendy. Love what he’s doing and especially the contagious positive vibe he exudes from every pore…..
Suspect Friend will be returning to Australia at the end of the current season. He was very annoyed about the failure to win the game vs Munster last weekend off that final scrum and his pique at his onfield leaders botching (yet again) an end of game opportunity was noticeable. I wonder if he feels he’s taken them as far as he can. I do hope he stays. He’s a great man manager, but a 1 year contract extension offer would force him to look elsewhere, and will the IRFU offer him a 2 year contract – I doubt it.
@David Finn: If the IRFU are serious they have to stop these 1-2 year deals. It gives the wrong message to those receiving them. Keep Friendly at Connacht or resign. The politics at the IRFU does not help in these situations.