My greatest Lions team from the players I coached

Telegraph

2 days ago

I found picking my all-time best Lions 23 – from the players I have coached on tour – an extremely difficult task, even after writing down the most influential performers.
The exercise made me reflect on how privileged I have been and what makes a winning combination, because, as we keep saying, the British and Irish Lions do not win as often as they lose.
My memories of 1974, 1989, 1997 and 2009 are particularly fond, even though the Springboks beat us 2-1 in the last of those series. There was just so much right with the tour as far as the play was concerned.
Back in 1974 and 1977, the tours lasted nearly four months and there was one coach and 30 players. The challenge was different to what it is now because you were away from home for so long, which meant how the environment felt was more important. You cannot do without the selflessness of non-Test players.
Mike Burton, Chris Ralston, Tony Neary, Roy Bergiers, Jeff Evans, Jason Leonard, Graham Rowntree and Alan Bateman were the best I encountered in that regard. The 1974 group were incredible in training as well as in matches. They never took a backward step.
Poring back over my notes has not made it much easier, so I am going to pick a team of Lions I played with and a team of Lions I coached.
The first one is more straightforward, because so many of these individuals are just outstanding. The vast majority are from 1974.
JPR at full-back was immensely brave with a superb sense of timing when he hit the line. Dick Milliken was a fantastic centre to play with. I have opted for real pace on the wings and the half-backs speak for themselves. As for the pack, a front row of Ian McLauchlan, Bobby Windsor and Fran Cotton was never second best to anyone, and Bill Beaumont just edges Gordon Brown.
When I coached, I wanted the players to feel the way I did as a player. I came back from the tour a different person, which is what the environment can do to you. Putting together this line-up was almost impossible, I must admit. I changed my mind on one position overnight.
Maro Itoje, Tadhg Beirne, Dan Sheehan, Tom Curry and Finn Russell have all been excellent and would have all come close. I do think that it is tougher for players to really define themselves on these shorter tours in the modern game. Having said that, I believe Jac Morgan was in that category.
The longer tours I had as a coach gave me a chance to see chemistry building at first hand and to watch players emerge as they played alongside new and unfamiliar team-mates.
The four home unions must look at it as giving the Lions the very best chance of success. There is no other team in the sport with the same following that captures the imagination in this way. Perhaps the Ryder Cup comes closest.
I know there are plates to spin, but we should end the season earlier in a Lions year in the same way that happens for a World Cup. The next tour is to New Zealand in 2029, and the players are going to need to be given the best opportunity to prepare extremely well.
They must be made the priority, properly. You could see from 10,000 miles away that Andy Farrell had created a healthy environment. The challenge for him was the lack of the time he had in the build-up and factors like Blair Kinghorn coming in late.
I might be a little biased, of course, but I think everyone with a vested interest needs to come together and think about what an ideal Lions season should look like and buy into it, because the concept is unique and absolutely worth sustaining so it can thrive. Besides anything else, it is a huge driver of revenue for the four nations and the hosts.
My team of the greatest Lions I coached
15. Neil Jenkins
Gavin Hastings played all three Tests in 1989 and captained four years later. That is a record to be proud of, and one that reflects his ability. But if Jenks had not played in 1997, I cannot say for certain that we would have won the Test series. He rewarded the team by kicking his goals, delivering under the most severe pressure.
14. Ieuan Evans
Ieuan was very alert and quick while still being a good footballer. With speed on the outside, you can make a big difference. Tommy Bowe emerged brilliantly in 2009.
13. Jerry Guscott
I have a soft spot for Lions centre partnerships, obviously, but I have seen two of them become, in my opinion, the best in the world despite never playing before the tour in question. Those were Scott Gibbs and Jerry Guscott in 1997 and Jamie Roberts and Brian O'Driscoll in 2009. That's what Lions chemistry can do, and I must have Jerry because of his series-winning moments.
12. Scott Gibbs
This man was just exceptional in his own way and I feel I am being unfair to Roberts and O'Driscoll. Alan Bateman deserves credit for his performances in 1997 as well.
11. Rory Underwood
Alan Tait was a hero of 1997 but Rory gives us real speed out wide.
10. Gregor Townsend
Gregor was at his best when he was working off other really good players; his game went up a level in 1997 and he kicked on over the following seasons. I'll always remember the build-up to Guscott's drop-goal in 1997, when he carried hard to the line – not because that was a strength of his, but because it was absolutely the right decision in the moment.
Those moments, under severe pressure, reinforce what the Lions means to me. Neil Back and Guscott hit a ruck – one of about three Jerry hit in his life – and we turned the ball over. Keith Wood kicked down-field, our pack drove South Africa and Gregor carried before Jerry hit his dropped goal. That is what the Lions brings out of players. You read what is required and do things that you are not necessarily renowned for.
9. Matt Dawson
This was difficult. Robert Jones, Rob Howley and Mike Phillips were all great players. All of them had an unbelievable impact on the Lions teams they were part of, but I am sticking with Matt Dawson.
1. Tom Smith
Like David Sole, who is on my bench, Tom was ahead of his time. To start in six consecutive Test matches between 1997 and 2001 takes some doing. Technically, even against dominant packs, his scrummaging was fantastic, as were his game involvements.
2. Brian Moore
It is a coin-toss between Brian and Keith Wood. I am having them both, with Brian starting and Keith coming off the bench. They both shaped the respective characters of the tours they went on.
3. Jason Leonard
Technically, Jason was good. As a personality, he was immensely influential. Paul Wallace did remarkably well to keep our scrum competitive in South Africa.
4. Martin Johnson (captain)
There was no doubt about this one, though Paul Ackford and Paul O'Connell would have been next in line. Johnno was the ultimate Test-match animal.
5. Simon Shaw
I cannot forget how good Shaw was in 2009 against probably the two best second-rows in world rugby at the time – Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield. Back in 1997 he was outside the Test squad and he trained brilliantly to prepare his team-mates. He was on his third tour in 2009, and was brilliant when the opportunity finally arrived.
6. Lawrence Dallaglio
Mike Teague was sensational in 1989, the man of the series, and Ben Clarke impressed against the All Blacks in 1993. I have chosen Lawrence because he is the ultimate driver of emotion within a team and the perfect vice-captain.
7. Richard Hill
Amid all the competition in the back row, this man is the first name on my teamsheet; a definite inclusion. In all the key moments of any given game, he seemed to be in the right place half a second earlier than anyone else to impact things. Australia knew that in 2001, which is why they targeted him.
8. Dean Richards
The powerful figurehead of any side, whether for carrying or mauling, Dean impacted games in a similar way to Will Skelton did in this year's series. He was clever as well, with a good pair of hands and smart linking with his back line. Tim Rodber was tremendous in 1997, which made it so hard to leave him out.
Replacements
Keith Wood, David Sole, Paul Wallace, Paul O'Connell, Mike Teague, Mike Phillips, Brian O'Driscoll, Gavin Hastings