ronk wrote:TrapperChamonix wrote:In a tour like this, it was a realistic expectation that at least 1 prop would get injured. Here we have the ludicrous situation of having to pull John Hayes off the farm stick him on a plane in order to play one midweek game against the Emerging Springboks. Unless there are more injuries, its hard to see him having any chance of making the 2nd and 3rd tests. So one game and thank you very much Mr Hayes.
This really shows the failing in McGeechans theory about reduced squad numbers. Woodward was right about bringing 45 players 4 years ago. The reason the morale fell apart wasn't anything to do with the number of players, it was to do with Woodward
I really hope he's getting a full share of the fee.
Woodward brought 45 players and replacements when anyone got injured. 45 was too many to manage to get a squad to gel in a short time. It's easier to bring someone in that have them kicking their heels in training.
One of the problems with Woodward is that despite there being 3 players in pretty much every position, in some cases late injury call ups still ended up starting the tests ahead of original selections.
He's already brough out hayes, Ross, croft, hook, blair (have I forgotten anyone?) so the number getting close to the 45. If Earls and Flutey had'nt made miraculous recoveries it might have been more. Oh Yea I forgot about Jones.
At this stage the starting 15 has picked itself with no one on the bench (or not picked) really putting pressure onthe team. You can argue a case for Luke, but its not compelling. An expanded squad would have given us better options than we have today e.g.strokosh, armitage and be putting genuine pressure on the team.
Just think of it this way, if POC gets injured in the 1st minute, we'll have DOC playing his 3rd full game in 8 days, hardly the best preparation for taking on Bakkes.
I take the point about people kicking their heals, buy the alternative point is that you need to bring someone in last minute to learn moves, lineout drill etc a few days before playing the Boks. I'd repeat my assertion that the bigger problem of the Lions in NZ was not the 45 players they brought, but the Woodward effect including travelling with Barrister and Alister Campbell. BTW I also seem to remember they were far from a happy bunch in 01. Remember all the tour diaries, Austin Healy etc.
How many are taken to a World Cup?
