O'Driscoll out of Lions squad as Alun Wyn Jones is named as captain to face the Wallabies in Saturday's deciding test in Sydney
The Northern hemisphere woke up this morning to Gatland's team announcement as he read out a squad of 23 that has caused big discussion across the sporting world.
It was said time and time again throughout numerous reports by many journalists and punters alike that Gatland needed to make changes to the team that would face Australia in the last test of the series. They stated that without making big calls the Lions would not be able to compete with the momentum that the Aussies have in their camp after their win last week and after Horwill's ruling yesterday. Warren Gatland and the Lions coaching team most definitely did what the rugby world were asking them and they made some decisions that are now being questioned by some as being too bold.
Most notably is the decision to leave out rugby legend and Lion veteran, Brian O'Driscoll. Readers of the Irish Independent were certainly not pleased with this call with comments such as "The final insult to Irish rugby and Irish people by an inept coach for his sacking some years ago" and also some even more serious yet ridiculous racially involved comments questioning Ireland's involvement in the British and Irish Lions. However, if we consider past performances throughout this tour, was this really as big of a shock as people are making it out to be? O'Driscoll is one of the best, if not the best, player of our generation yes, but he has not been performing to the best of his ability in the last two tests. Should Gatland have kept him in the squad on his reputation alone? No. If you don't perform you do not get picked despite your history - it is the same for older players and the young guys coming through. When you put on the Lions shirt its a level playing field - everyone has to earn their place on the team.
Should BOD have been left out all together? Now that is a different question. He might not be good enough at the moment to start but would it have been of comfort for the team to have his experience on the bench. Probably, but the Lions have plenty of old heads to call on on the pitch in the likes of Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones and Mike Phillips.
Another thing that has been picked up by the media is the choice of picking 10 Welshmen to start the deciding test against the Aussies. It is a record number of Welshmen in a Lions starting XV since the 1950's. Is it a case of favouritism or are these 10 Welshman genuinely the best within their field. One thing is for sure and that is that Gatland would never jeopardise the chance at a historic win Down Under in favour of giving some of his Welsh squad game time. As the majority of players have said from the beginning - it's the British and Irish Lions v's Australia not Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England V's Australia - they are one team regardless of their nationality.
With Jonathan Davies playing well and Jamie Roberts back to full fitness the centre will be one of the strongest areas on the field for the men in red. Roberts is a strong and powerful ball career who has both strength and speed which will be invaluable for the Lions during what is most definitely going to be an extremely bruising encounter for both teams. During the post team announcement press conference Roberts stated that he fully understands the opportunity that he has been handed as well as being very aware of the boots of the player that he is about to fill. The newly qualified doctor added that Gatland has chosen him and the rest of the starting XV for a reason and now people must concentrate on the game rather than who is or is not in Saturday's squad - "Gatland has made some big calls and he's picked a team that he thinks can win Saturday, whether that includes O'Driscoll or not",
Alun Wyn Jones will captain the controversial side against the Wallabies in the place of injured Sam Warburton in Sydney. AWJ is one of the most committed men out on the field and is a natural leader, as Gatland stated during today's press conference, - "He leads from the front. He's been outstanding in the lead-up games and was one of the first names on the team sheet when we picked the side for the first two Tests." His experience of high pressured games will be of advantage to the Lions as they play one of the biggest games they will possibly ever be involved in.
If you agree with Gatland's selection or not, there is no question that these starting XV will have to play some of their best rugby in order to beat the Wallabies and bag a historic series win Down Under. If these players deliver people will hail Gatland as a hero and as one of the best coaches of the modern game but lose and Gatland's decision to leave out O'Driscoll will come back to haunt him with such a force that it does not bare thinking about.
British and Irish Lions team to face Australia in the third Test at the ANZ Stadium, Sydney, on Saturday, July 6:
L Halfpenny (Wales); T Bowe (Ireland), J Davies (Wales), J Roberts (Wales), G North (Wales); J Sexton (Ireland), M Phillips (Wales); A Corbisiero (England), R Hibbard (Wales), A Jones (Wales), A-W Jones (Wales, capt), G Parling (England), D Lydiate (Wales), S O'Brien (Ireland), Toby Faletau (Wales).
Replacements: T Youngs (England), M Vunipola (England), D Cole (England), R Gray (Scotland), J Tipuric (Wales), C Murray (Ireland), O Farrell (England), Manu Tuilagi (England).
It was said time and time again throughout numerous reports by many journalists and punters alike that Gatland needed to make changes to the team that would face Australia in the last test of the series. They stated that without making big calls the Lions would not be able to compete with the momentum that the Aussies have in their camp after their win last week and after Horwill's ruling yesterday. Warren Gatland and the Lions coaching team most definitely did what the rugby world were asking them and they made some decisions that are now being questioned by some as being too bold.
Most notably is the decision to leave out rugby legend and Lion veteran, Brian O'Driscoll. Readers of the Irish Independent were certainly not pleased with this call with comments such as "The final insult to Irish rugby and Irish people by an inept coach for his sacking some years ago" and also some even more serious yet ridiculous racially involved comments questioning Ireland's involvement in the British and Irish Lions. However, if we consider past performances throughout this tour, was this really as big of a shock as people are making it out to be? O'Driscoll is one of the best, if not the best, player of our generation yes, but he has not been performing to the best of his ability in the last two tests. Should Gatland have kept him in the squad on his reputation alone? No. If you don't perform you do not get picked despite your history - it is the same for older players and the young guys coming through. When you put on the Lions shirt its a level playing field - everyone has to earn their place on the team.
Should BOD have been left out all together? Now that is a different question. He might not be good enough at the moment to start but would it have been of comfort for the team to have his experience on the bench. Probably, but the Lions have plenty of old heads to call on on the pitch in the likes of Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones and Mike Phillips.
Another thing that has been picked up by the media is the choice of picking 10 Welshmen to start the deciding test against the Aussies. It is a record number of Welshmen in a Lions starting XV since the 1950's. Is it a case of favouritism or are these 10 Welshman genuinely the best within their field. One thing is for sure and that is that Gatland would never jeopardise the chance at a historic win Down Under in favour of giving some of his Welsh squad game time. As the majority of players have said from the beginning - it's the British and Irish Lions v's Australia not Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England V's Australia - they are one team regardless of their nationality.
With Jonathan Davies playing well and Jamie Roberts back to full fitness the centre will be one of the strongest areas on the field for the men in red. Roberts is a strong and powerful ball career who has both strength and speed which will be invaluable for the Lions during what is most definitely going to be an extremely bruising encounter for both teams. During the post team announcement press conference Roberts stated that he fully understands the opportunity that he has been handed as well as being very aware of the boots of the player that he is about to fill. The newly qualified doctor added that Gatland has chosen him and the rest of the starting XV for a reason and now people must concentrate on the game rather than who is or is not in Saturday's squad - "Gatland has made some big calls and he's picked a team that he thinks can win Saturday, whether that includes O'Driscoll or not",
Alun Wyn Jones will captain the controversial side against the Wallabies in the place of injured Sam Warburton in Sydney. AWJ is one of the most committed men out on the field and is a natural leader, as Gatland stated during today's press conference, - "He leads from the front. He's been outstanding in the lead-up games and was one of the first names on the team sheet when we picked the side for the first two Tests." His experience of high pressured games will be of advantage to the Lions as they play one of the biggest games they will possibly ever be involved in.
If you agree with Gatland's selection or not, there is no question that these starting XV will have to play some of their best rugby in order to beat the Wallabies and bag a historic series win Down Under. If these players deliver people will hail Gatland as a hero and as one of the best coaches of the modern game but lose and Gatland's decision to leave out O'Driscoll will come back to haunt him with such a force that it does not bare thinking about.
British and Irish Lions team to face Australia in the third Test at the ANZ Stadium, Sydney, on Saturday, July 6:
L Halfpenny (Wales); T Bowe (Ireland), J Davies (Wales), J Roberts (Wales), G North (Wales); J Sexton (Ireland), M Phillips (Wales); A Corbisiero (England), R Hibbard (Wales), A Jones (Wales), A-W Jones (Wales, capt), G Parling (England), D Lydiate (Wales), S O'Brien (Ireland), Toby Faletau (Wales).
Replacements: T Youngs (England), M Vunipola (England), D Cole (England), R Gray (Scotland), J Tipuric (Wales), C Murray (Ireland), O Farrell (England), Manu Tuilagi (England).
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