Lions cleverly picked say Fox and Fitzpatrick

Grant Fox says the Lions have been shrewd in their selections. Picture / Fotopress

Two players among the greats of New Zealand rugby believe the British and Irish Lions have been cleverly selected.

Sean Fitzpatrick and Grant Fox say while there may be knockers of such players as Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back, who both retired last year but were named in the 44-player squad to tour in June-July, they were vital to the Lions mix.

"Remember what they said about the English team before the last World Cup, Dad's Army won the cup, didn't they?" Fox told NZPA today.

England's cup-winning combination was regarded too old by rugby critics before the tournament in Australia.

Woodward picked several players who had either quit rugby after the cup or who had played little rugby this season but were part of his cup-winning side when he named his 44-player touring squad last night.

"I mean you've got to feel sorry for the guys that are still playing and are available at international level, but I think what Clive has recognised is the importance of the midweek team and the need for experience with youth in that team," Fox said.

"If you go back a number of years, in the last two Lions tours, the team really struggled midweek and that I think affected the morale of the party and Clive is making sure the morale remains high throughout on this tour.

"He's targeting the midweek games as much as the weekend games. Ultimately they'll be judged on test matches as every tour has been. But I think bringing the four nations together and keeping the harmony is really important for a tour like this."

England-based Fitzpatrick, who captained the All Blacks to a 2-1 series win over the Lions, with Fox being the team's playmaker then, said the touring side wouldn't lack leadership on or off the field.

"I think he (Woodward) is real clever, he's covered all bases, including the midweek team, with his selection," Fitzpatrick told Radio Sport.

"They've got Bay of Plenty then Taranaki and then the New Zealand Maori -- that's a real difficult assignment in the first week."

Though World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson, who suffered a series of injuries and has played little rugby since, was not included in the touring side, Woodward could select him later.

The squad features 20 Englishmen, 11 Irish players, only 10 from Grand Slam-winners Wales and just three Scots.

"I think the Welsh will be happy getting 10 there, I think they're realistic," Fitzpatrick said.

"The sheer numbers and the talent available, I'm sure (All Blacks coach) Graham Henry will be looking at it and envying it. For lock as an example, certainly any of those five locks (in the squad) will be really capable of starting in the test 15.

"Then you look at the options New Zealand has available at the moment. I'm sure there is a few concerns there. If (Crusaders' test lock Chris) Jack is tipped over, touch wood he doesn't, we could be in trouble. For that matter if a few key players are injured and out of the 22 or starting 15 we'd have a few worries.

"So the sheer numbers is a great start for Clive."

- NZPA