Lions fans know Woodward has dropped ball

Perceptive bunch, these Lions rugby supporters.

Several hours after the All Blacks' 21-3 win in the first test in Christchurch, a group of red-jerseyed Brits marched down a packed Colombo St holding up a giant Union Jack.

Instead of belting out "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", they changed tack.

"We're shit, and we know we are. We're shit, and we know we are..."

Sitting in his luxury hotel room late on Saturday night, Lions coach Clive Woodward couldn't argue. Yesterday, seven new faces in his top starting 15 said so.

The All Blacks' complete demolition of Woodward's master plan in the Jade Stadium sleet shattered a few illusions about the tour which had a no-expense-spared budget of £9 million ($23 million).

So is Sir Clive the master planner and master coach he was lauded as after his England team deservedly won the 2003 World Cup?

On evidence of the first test and his subsequent reaction this week, it would seem not.

In his seven years with the England team, the World Cup win stands out like a beacon.

But with Martin Johnson's retirement the World Cup hangover lingered and England fell away as a rugby force, the All Blacks comfortably beating Woodward's men in both home tests last year.

For this tour, Woodward's test team blueprint looked like it had been in place for months, based heavily around his England World Cup winners and all but ignoring the red hot form of Grand Slam champions Wales.

Thirteen England players in the first test 22, eight in the starting lineup.

World Cup star Jonny Wilkinson (at second five-eighth), flanker Neil Back and wing Jason Robinson chosen on reputation not form, and given just one match against Wellington to get to grips with New Zealand rugby.

Martin Corry and Richard Hill wearing jerseys eight and six, tasked with Back to dominate the more dynamic All Blacks loosies Richie McCaw, Rodney So'oialo and Jerry Collins.

Crucially, a front five expected to have an edge over the All Blacks, giving a solid scrum platform and a feast of lineout ball for Welsh pivot Stephen Jones and Wilkinson to pin their opponents in danger territory.

So when it all came dreadfully unstuck, what was plan B?

There was none.

Woodward's two saviours in the loose forward trio -- Ireland's Simon Easterby and Wales Ryan Jones -- were whistled in as tour replacements for Dallaglio and Simon Taylor.

At least both are form players, having shone in their brief tour appearances.

Panic appeared the first reaction, but while this team are more of a form lineup, the combinations are odd.

A Welsh dominated backline including halfback Dwayne Peel, second five-eighth Gavin Henson, centre Gareth Thomas and wing Shane Williams, then Wilkinson plonked in the middle.

If such drastic change was needed, surely Jones deserved to retain his 10 jersey amid his Welsh mates who thrived alongside him in their Six Nations-Grand Slam double this year.

While Woodward has jettisoned Back, Corry and Kay from his starting side, Wilkinson was retained amid some Woodward-spin that he was the best Lions back on the field in Christchurch.

Given the way the rest played in the cold and wet with back foot ball, it was faint praise.

And the much-derided lineout has been bolstered by Irish giant Donncha O'Callaghan alongside his Munster mate Paul O'Connell. Fair play, but why not give their compatriot Shane Byrne another chance at hooker?

His usually reliable throwing went drastically awry in Christchurch, but so did the jumping and lifting he was targeting.

In this one case, a reprieve might have been a better option.

In a lack of combinations shown to date all tour, at least countrymen in the key positions would have been something to cling to as time runs out.

Woodward was rightly given the benefit of the doubt before the first test.

Saturday is his last chance to prove any of the huge expense, and his appointment by Lions management, was worth it.

- NZPA