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.”
Also bowe has a chance on the wing
he’s probably right to a large extent, however he will have a significant role in the tour and will play some part in all tests if fit in my humble opinion.
Dunno why he’s taking about form and backing Roberts but not bod. Roberts had a very quiet 6n. And Davies was abysmal. Neither were in contention for silverware in the final weeks of the season. Bod had had a very good few months. Scored some tries. Made many a line break and been looking as good as he has in a long time.
“Lewis who?”
He was captain of the dwarf tossing, ferry disembarking, cheating on royal wifey, more concerned about bonuses than playing for their country bunch that England sent to the rwc. Animal on the pitch tho.
Tuilagi was poison in the premiership final. He rushed up and missed in defence far too often and just ran down blind alleys when he had the ball in hand. Moody may be right and Drico shouldn’t start, but neither should Tuilagi.
Someone has told Tuilagi that he is the strongest man on Earth and doesn’t need to run clever lines or evade defenders. The guy is brain dead.
Drico has had a fine season and deserves the 13 jersey on merit.
Silly comment. Whoever starts in the test is usually based on how they do in the warm up games. If O Driscoll plays well in the warm ups he’d merit a start and likewise goes for any other of the players. Alot of players selected haven’t had the best of years which will be soon forgotten if they play well in the warm ups
What a clown the man has played brilliantly for Leinster of late when he has been on the pitch
Troll at work.
anything to add Aaron?
He has a point, but the players not picked on form argument would be better supported by questioning;
Stevens, Hartley, Lydiate, gray, Wynn jones, o Connell…. none of whom played 6n or won anything with their clubs. BOD may not have been mercurial but was ever present as always, and is above reproach.
personally id play Tuilagi and O’Driscoll … Tuilagi creates havoc against southern hemisphere teams – I remember him destroying De Villiers when England played South Africa – no one else at the centre position has his combination of power and pace.
I think moody is right but I would start Davies with Roberts and not tualagi
Moody ur a useless bag of shite cheek of ya saying BOD shouldn’t start SAP