"I'd pick Farrell" - Sir Clive Woodward selects his Lions XV - and fans hate it
Rugby NewsSunday, 18 July 2021 at 10:02
World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward has chosen his British & Irish Lions XV - and fans really don't like it.
Rather surprisingly England duo Luke Cowan-Dickie and Tom Curry miss out while Owen Farrell is picked ahead of an 'iffy' Dan Biggar.
This has led to a lot of fans criticizing his selection. Here’s who he picked.
BACK-THREE:
- 15. Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
- 14. Anthony Watson (England)
- 11. Josh Adams (Wales)
Woodward said: " I want try machine Adams on one wing and the all-round excellence of Watson on the other. At full-back I feel Stuart Hogg has the bit between his teeth after being dropped for Exeter’s Premiership semi-finals and final last month and he looks very fit and motivated."
CENTRES:
- 13. Chris Harris (Scotland)
- 12. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)
HALFBACKS:
- 10. Owen Farrell (England)
- 9. Conor Murray (Ireland)
Woodward wrote: "Dan Biggar is seen as the front runner but, after an iffy first 20 minutes against South Africa A, I started to see the old competitive feisty Owen Farrell. Gatland trusts both implicitly and it’s a very close call. I would go with Farrell, just.
"And then you have Marcus Smith, a brilliant young talent who had a startling debut last night when he was my man of the match. I can seem him being involved in the Test series, especially if the Lions lose the First Test on Saturday.
"Conor Murray will know he wasn’t at his best against South Africa A but I would stick with the Irishman at nine. He will raise his game. "
FRONT-ROW:
- 1. Wyn Jones (Wales)
- 2. Ken Owens (Wales)
- 3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
SECOND-ROW:
- 4. Maro Itoje (England)
- 5. Ian Henderson (Ireland)
Woodward wrote: "At lock, Itoje is shoo-in and Iain Henderson is possibly the pick of the bunch, but everybody is going well, Jonny Hill, Adam Beard and then Courtney Lawes and Tadgh Beirne, who have been moonlighting at six.
"The recovery of Alun Wyn Jones has been remarkable but can he really start on Saturday? For me it’s a risk, I think he will be on the bench."
BACK-ROW:
- 6. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
- 7. Hamish Watson (Scotland)
- 8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales)
Woodward wrote: "My hunch is that Beirne will get the nod, which leaves openside and No 8. There is nothing between Hamish Watson and Tom Curry. It’s the toss of a coin and I’m going with Watson.
"At No8, I think that the more experienced Taulupe Faletau will start. He has never let Gatland down."
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