Ageing English warriors well worth the trip, says Gatland

It's one of the big talking points ahead of next month's naming of the Lions team to tour New Zealand.

Should coach Sir Clive Woodward be swayed by Wales' Six Nations Championship title and Ireland's ranking as second best of the Home Unions, or make sure he doesn't forget his ageing Englishmen when putting pen to paper?

Warren Gatland, former All Black, coach of the mighty English premiership champions Wasps, is in no doubt. If it was him, he'd be inking in the names of Lawrence Dallaglio, Neil Back and Matt Dawson, ageing but hard-edged, proven performers, without hesitation.

"I think Clive would have liked the bulk of the England team to be here. The England players can bring the physicality that'll be required.

"Everyone knows they haven't the same skill level as in New Zealand, but they are big, they are physical and the thing about the England players is they're the only ones who have won in New Zealand. That's important psychologically."

Gatland said those players might only be in the midweek team, but they will bring knowledge of what is needed.

"They'll put pressure on the main team and have that experience of playing in a fairly hostile environment, which it was for England before the 2003 World Cup."

Gatland suspects that the Irish loss to France in the penultimate round of the Six Nations was - just quietly, mind you - a good result for Woodward. He'd been under the hammer to jettison English players in favour of the Celts. The French, therefore, did him a favour.

Gatland also goes into bat for England, even though by common consent they lost their way in the championship. "They lost by a couple of points to Wales in a game they could have won; were well up against France but missed 20-odd points at goal; and [if they'd taken] a couple of opportunities could have beaten Ireland. So even though they lost the first three they weren't that far away."

Gatland has big reservations on two points: Woodward's decision to essentially base half the squad of 44 in Auckland; and the sheer numbers coming to New Zealand.

He disagrees with the size of the squad, but perversely reckons when Woodward decided on 44 players he'd have been better of going the whole hog and bringing 50. Come again?

Someone explained the sizest theory to Gatland and, as he put it, when he thought about it, it did make some sense.

"You're going to have two squads of 22. Out of that, probably five or six can't train because they'll be carrying knocks, as any squad does.

"So he's going to be four or five players short. When I thought about it, bringing 50 probably makes more sense. But 44 is over the top."

The Lions in Australia in 2001 had 37 players. There were reports of internal ructions. Too many players with too much time on their hands and no chance of making the test side made for a dodgy brew.

The Lions management will consist of a whopping 26, making a tour group of 70.

Gatland suspects the midweek squad, who will be coached by the most honoured Lions coach, Ian McGeechan, and respected Welshman Gareth Jenkins, will relish the trip.

"They're going to have some fun, they'll play some good rugby, put some pressure on the main team because they'll be relaxed."