LIONS LEGEND WILLIE John McBride believes Iain Henderson should be in the British and Irish Lions match-day Test squad ahead of Maro Itoje.
Itoje was named on the bench for the side’s first Test against the All Blacks this weekend, with many arguing he was unlucky to start ahead of Alun Wyn Jones in the second row.
The English lock was introduced shortly after half-time, and his performance earned him a 6/10 mark in the player ratings on this website.
Henderson impressed in the Lions’ 34-6 win over the Chiefs, but failed to get the nod for the Test 23-man squad on Saturday.
But Willie John McBride — who earned 17 Test match caps for the Lions — believes Itoje didn’t fully capitalise on his chance after coming on, and argues that Henderson has more to offer.
“Henderson is good in the scrum,” he told The42 at Standard Life Investments’ exclusive screening of the first British & Irish Lions Test match on Saturday.
“He will win ball when nobody else will win ball. And he’s strong, he will hold guys.
“I would have Henderson ahead of (Maro) Itoje because he’s hard. Itoje is skillful but he wasn’t really in the game after he came on.
“I think Henderson has played well all the way through (the tour so far).
Reflecting on the overall performance, McBride said he was disappointed with the Lions scrum and pointed to the number of penalties conceded as an area that needs to be addressed before the second Test next Saturday.
They also have a fixture against the Hurricanes to contend with during the week.
“I was disappointed more than anything in the scrum and the other thing I would say is that our angles are all wrong.
“When you take men on, you hit them low the way they (the All Blacks) were doing. Everything we do is too static and too dead. Their momentum was so much greater.”
“They’re going to have sit down and have a look at a lot of these things but they can’t really do a lot more than what they’re doing.
You can’t give away that many penalties in the game, because it takes you out of it. There were long periods of that game where we didn’t even have the ball.
“We’re not finishing off things. There were a number of times when we threatened and threatened inside their 25 but we’re not punishing enough.”
Remarking on the performances of Ireland’s other representatives in the Lions side, McBride said Conor Murray’s kicking “was superb” and praised Peter O’Mahony for his performance as captain.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
The42 Rugby Show / SoundCloud
Willie John McBride was speaking at the Standard Life Investments exclusive screening of the first British & Irish Lions Test match in Fitzwilliam Square.
Standard Life Investments is Principal Partner and jersey sponsor of the 2017 tour to New Zealand. For further information please visit thelions.standardlifeinvestments.com.
Whoever gets to play Mayo in the final is going to have 31 counties against them.
It’s how we like it. Áth Cliath abúuuuu.
Not afraid at all , we were tested by Tyrone an came out on top .. Everyone in the country knows mayo are a different team this year .. Bring it on Dublin or Kerry cause Sam will b in the west this year !
Cool vid.. I hope mayo finally get over the line this year. As a limerick man we feel yere pain
Different ! I like… :-)
Leslie Alan rock , silly cocky dub comment best let your football do the talking Sunday … As a mayo man I hope Kerry beat ye !!
Nothing cocky. Just humourous. Why would ye want kerry to beat us? Afraid are we?. If its Mayo v dublin in the final and you start like ye did against tyrone, its good night Irene
Looking forward to the Dublin/Kerry game, it’ll be like a final.
Poor Mayo, I think they actually believe the hype.
Bless ‘em.
Why are people so begrudging towards Mayo? Seriously?! Its not like they haven’t waited long enough to win without listening to the typical “choke” comments every 5 mins. They are in a different league this year, anyone can see that they have just as good a chance of winning the all ireland as Dublin/Kerry, if not better. Maigh-Eo abu!
Its fear……
Whos begrudging ? Every man and his dog wants Mayo to win and im from Kerry.
Delighted to hear that Ciaran! And in fairness most people feel the same , was just saying that some people seem a bit put out (scared) that Mayo are doing so well this year and just cant seem to give credit where it’s due! I really think this is the year they will do it and well deserved too!
Don’t take it personally – wait till you win it – then it’s 10 times worse. It’s just petty envy.
Don’t worry about Mayo our boys are training for a final id but be looking at Kerry
Mayo for sandwiches, dubs for Sam!
Dubs could get smoothered in Kerry Gold on Sunday Chris
Hang sambos, with Kerry Gold butter, mmmm. All that’s missing is the flask of tae, and a package of Tayho.
Fair play to them.
Sure why wouldn’t Mayo be the best at football, there is £uck all else to do there, except your cousin and sheep.
Fishing, mountain climbing, hill walking, surfing, canoeing, kayaking, beautiful scenery, amazing beaches, good pubs (cheap pints), great restaurants, sense of community, cheaper cost of living. Sure who would want any of that ;)
All that from a bottle of Hellmans. Cool.
And why does 1/2 of Dublin have a holiday home in Mayo then sid?
As a dub (and proud of it ) ive just come back from mayo and to say they are an amazing bunch is an understatement .i found them very friendly and genuine .. So if the dubs don’t win Sam id like to see mayo .. It will be a cracker of a day on Sunday :)
Ah people are always nice to pretty faces :)
You describe it as humorous Paul. I describe it as original, different and cool. I describe your hairstyle as humorous :)
Did he choke when he was on the crest of a wave?
Wow that’s original :)
We’ll beat kerry by 10-15 points, then beat mayo by 6-8, i get slattec everytime i predict this, but watch the dubs slaughter kerry on sunday. #COYBIB
Nice song
Niall I wouldn’t even respond to that pathetic comment
*slatted
*slated
Jesus ye don’t half build yourselves up in mayo, sharon murray you are simply a hype machine, you and your ilk should be playing things down, not ramping it up. Ye have’nt won it in sixty odd years, hold off on yer “they deserve to win it” untill ye actually win it. Setting youselves up for a massive fall the way some of you carry on.