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Rugby World Cup Question

How could he ever justify playing over the hill back row forwards, Dallaglio, Back and Hill whilst leaving the best flanker in the world at the time (Martin Williams) on the bench for all but 2 minutes of the last test.

Well even if you are right, he still had to play 2 of that 3 - even myself as a Williams-supporter could not suggest he could do teh job of all 3 ;)

But then i'm not welsh :)



PS losing BOD 10 mins in of the first game made a huge difference that tour
 
Why oh why did someone have mention Woodward in to this post???? How I detest that man for what he did to the 2005 lions in NZ - pure cronyism!

How could he ever justify playing over the hill back row forwards, Dallaglio, Back and Hill whilst leaving the best flanker in the world at the time (Martin Williams) on the bench for all but 2 minutes of the last test.

Quote - The 44-man tour squad was announced on 11 April 2005, with 20 Englishmen, eleven Irishmen, ten Welshmen and three Scots selected. Three further Englishmen were selected subject to them proving their fitness. Many criticised this distribution as England had performed poorly in the 2004 and 2005 Six Nations Championship and Wales had won the 2005 Grand Slam. There was also concern that the squad included English players who had retired from international rugby, were returning from injury

I couldn't agree with you more. Just proved how different a Lions tour is compared to managing a national side. As I pointed out in my post, SCW had the 2003 Grand Slam / World Cup winning side peaking to perfection and also had the benefit of working with them on a regular basis.

I think he has come out on record now saying he got the Lions tour all wrong, and I think the Wales Grand Slam side should've made up the majority of the touring party. IMO Geech should be the Lions head coach until the day he joins the rugby greats in the sky - the man is a Lions legend.
 
I think he has come out on record now saying he got the Lions tour all wrong, and I think the Wales Grand Slam side should've made up the majority of the touring party. IMO Geech should be the Lions head coach until the day he joins the rugby greats in the sky - the man is a Lions legend.

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What a team Geech and Carwyn James would have made..... if only.
 
I think he has come out on record now saying he got the Lions tour all wrong, and I think the Wales Grand Slam side should've made up the majority of the touring party. IMO Geech should be the Lions head coach until the day he joins the rugby greats in the sky - the man is a Lions legend.

What a team Geech and Carwyn James would have made..... if only.

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It wouldn't have mattered who he picked on that Tour.

Whatever combination XV from the Home Nations would have been murdered by that All Black side and with Dan Carter in that kind of form.

Not to say that SCW didn't cock it up. Alastair Campbell....
 
As far as the 2003 team goes, they had already peaked and were on their way down. It is a huge credit to them and a testament to their mental strength that they still managed to get the job done.

Although, no-one has won a World Cup playing really attractive rugby since 1987 anyway.

1991? Great defence and great half backs
1995? Great defence and a great kicking display from the fly half
1999? Great defence and an opponent that was finished after their exertions from the semi final
2003? Great defence and a dominant pack
2007? Great defence and superb kicking game

Hopefully that will all change this time and Fiji will win. ;)
 
As far as the 2003 team goes, they had already peaked and were on their way down. It is a huge credit to them and a testament to their mental strength that they still managed to get the job done.

Although, no-one has won a World Cup playing really attractive rugby since 1987 anyway.

1991? Great defence and great half backs
1995? Great defence and a great kicking display from the fly half (you forgot to mention the sabotage of keeping the All Blacks awake all night and then food poisoning them before the final)
1999? Great defence and an opponent that was finished after their exertions from the semi final
2003? Great defence and a dominant pack
2007? Great defence and superb kicking game

Hopefully that will all change this time and Fiji will win. :(

A couple of changes for you ;)
 
As far as the 2003 team goes, they had already peaked and were on their way down. It is a huge credit to them and a testament to their mental strength that they still managed to get the job done.

Although, no-one has won a World Cup playing really attractive rugby since 1987 anyway.

1991? Great defence and great half backs
1995? Great defence and a great kicking display from the fly half (you forgot to mention the sabotage of keeping the All Blacks awake all night and then food poisoning them before the final)
1999? Great defence and an opponent that was finished after their exertions from the semi final
2003? Great defence and a dominant pack
2007? Great defence and superb kicking game

Hopefully that will all change this time and Fiji will win. :(

A couple of changes for you ;)

Made an amendment for you
 
What sabotage? You mean the deliberate poisoning of the All Blacks that never got mentioned in Invictus? :D

No need for changes. Come on, Fiji!!! ;)
 
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