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In 2005 the British and Irish Lions Rugby union team toured New Zealand for the first time since 1993, suffering a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of the New Zealand All Blacks. For the Lions, having toured Australia in 2001 and South Africa in 1997, it was the first time for 22 years they lost every test match on tour.

The team was managed by former England international Bill Beaumont, coached by former England coach Sir Clive Woodward, and originally captained by Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll. O'Driscoll however suffered a controversial tour-ending injury two minutes into the first test and England captain Martin Corry took over the captaincy for the remainder of that match. Wales captain Gareth Thomas took over as captain for the second and third tests.

Song

Sir Clive Woodward specially commissioned an "anthem" "The Power of Four" for the 2005 tour to New Zealand. Neil Myers composed the tune, and Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins first performed the piece before the Lions' match against Argentina at the Millennium Stadium in 2005. It was played, along with the New Zealand National Anthem, before all The Lions matches. It is uncertain as to whether the song will be used in future tours.

Schedule

The Lions' campaign involved a non-cap test against Argentina before departing for New Zealand, three test matches against the All Blacks, and several tour matches where the quality of the opposition was expected to be high. This proved to be the case against New Zealand Māori and Auckland, and most of the other tour matches were close for at least the first half. However, this was anything but true in the match against Manawatu (the only Lions opponent in the second division of New Zealand's domestic league, the National Provincial Championship), which the Lions won by an embarrassing 109-6 score.

Date Opponent Location Result Score
Match A 23 May Argentina Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Drew 25-25
Match 1 4 June Bay of Plenty Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Won 20-34
Match 2 8 June Taranaki Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth Won 14-36
Match 3 11 June NZ Māori Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Lost 19-13
Match 4 15 June Wellington Westpac Stadium, Wellington Won 6-23
Match 5 18 June Otago Carisbrook, Dunedin Won 19-30
Match 6 21 June Southland Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Won 16-26
Match 7 25 June 1st Test Jade Stadium, Christchurch Lost 21-3
Match 8 28 June Manawatu Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North Won 6-109
Match 9 2 July 2nd Test Westpac Stadium, Wellington Lost 48-18
Match 10 5 July Auckland Eden Park, Auckland Won 13-17
Match 11 9 July 3rd Test Eden Park, Auckland Lost 38-19

Total: Played 12. Won 7, drew 1, lost 4. Points for 334, against 207.

Tour squad

The tour 44-man squad was announced on 11 April 2005, with 20 Englishmen, eleven Irishmen, ten Welshmen and three Scots selected. Many criticised this distribution, saying that when England had performed so badly in the 2004 and 2005 Six Nations Championship the selection of so many Englishmen was unjustified. However many of these might be seen as squad players, unlikely to start the test matches, having experience in the tough competition of the Zurich Premiership. The original 44-man squad was named as:

Injured England players Jonny Wilkinson, Phil Vickery and Mike Tindall were pencilled in, to be added to the squad subject if they regained fitness. Only Wilkinson subsequently did so and was called up on 8 May. Iain Balshaw suffered a torn thigh muscle and was replaced in the squad by Mark Cueto on 17 May. Additional players were called up when players suffered injury (and in one case a ban) during the tour proper. The full list of call ups is:

Three team members did not travel to New Zealand with the bulk of the touring party. Jason Robinson was excused in order to spend time with his pregnant wife. Stephen Jones and Gareth Thomas were forced to delay their departures due to commitments to their French clubs. Jones arrived in New Zealand on 31 May, before the Lions played their first tour match, while Robinson arrived on 7 June. For a time, it was doubtful whether Thomas would be able to contend for a spot in the first Test, as he had not been released by his club, Toulouse. However, Toulouse, which were trying to add a French league title to their Heineken Cup, crashed out in the French semifinals, allowing Thomas to leave for New Zealand. Thomas also arrived in New Zealand on 7 June. Eventually, Thomas would substitute for Brian O'Driscoll as tour captain after O'Driscoll suffered a tour-ending dislocated shoulder soon after the start of the first All Blacks Test on 25 June.

Management

There were 26 back room staff. After problems with the midweek team feeling disillusioned in 2001, the midweek team got their own coaches.

The matches

Argentina

The Lions only drew with Argentina at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 23 May. This was seen as a warm-up run, and The Pumas were without 25 players who may have made their first-choice team, due to club commitments. The Lions rested many of their top players to field a second-string combination. Tour captain Brian O'Driscoll was rested, so Wales vice-captain Michael Owen took his place.

The Lions looked disjointed, turning over the ball 15 times in open play. Their vaunted pack was outplayed; the Pumas shoved them off their own scrum three times. The Lions also conceded five penalties for holding on to the ball while grounded, usually because their support failed to arrive in time. In the meantime, the Pumas played a match that was almost universally called "inspired" by rugby media worldwide. The Pumas led 19-16 at halftime, and could easily have been ahead by more. The main plus for the Lions was the performance of Jonny Wilkinson, making his first appearance against international competition since the 2003 World Cup, who set up their first try, converted it, and kicked six penalties. His last penalty saved the Lions from a humiliating defeat, salvaging a 25-25 draw. Match referee, Australian Stuart Dickinson, controversially added eight minutes to normal time.

Bay of Plenty

The first tour match was against the Bay of Plenty Steamers on 4 June in Rotorua. The Lions started the match strongly, with Josh Lewsey scoring a try after two minutes and then a second four minutes later. The Lions were up 17-0 after 11 minutes but the Steamers recovered for a 17-17 half-time score. The Lions controlled the second half and won 34-20. A significant injury was the fractured ankle suffered by experienced back-rower Lawrence Dallaglio, who had to withdraw from the tour.

Taranaki

Taranaki hosted the Lions on 8 June at New Plymouth. The first half was closely fought in more ways than one, as the Lions' Danny Grewcock and Taranaki's Paul Tito came to blows. Taranaki had a 7-6 lead at half time but soon after the break Martin Corry scored a Lions' try. Shortly afterwards, Taranaki's Andrew Hore was sin-binned for holding the ball, and the Lions took control. Consensus man of the match Charlie Hodgson kicked two penalties during Hore's absence, and the Lions kept their momentum even after Hore returned. Shane Horgan added a try and Geordan Murphy two as the Lions won 36-14.

New Zealand Māori

The Māori match at Hamilton on 11 June promised to be the most competitive test lead-up, being billed by rugby media as virtually a fourth Test. In the first half the Māori had the better of possession and tackling, but the Lions had the better of the set pieces, and the half ended 6-6.

Just before the break, the Lions' Andrew Sheridan was sin-binned for punching Māori Luke McAlister. When the sin-bin period ended Sheridan was replaced by Gethin Jenkins. A McAlister penalty shortly afterwards, a Leon MacDonald try (converted by McAlister), and then a second McAlister penalty, gave the Māori a 19-6 lead. The last 15 minutes were the Lions' best period, rewarded by a Brian O'Driscoll try which was converted by Stephen Jones. The Lions threatened strongly but the Māori held on for a historic 19-13 win—their first ever over the Lions.

Wellington

After the loss to the Māori, the British & Irish Lions went to Wellington to take on the city's NPC side, The Wellington Lions, on 15 June. The British & Irish Lions team was selected primarily from players in contention for the Test team, including Jonny Wilkinson in his first tour match.

The British & Irish Lions had most of the possession and scoring chances, but committed numerous unforced errors when points looked likely. Tries came from Gethin Jenkins and Gareth Thomas, both converted by Wilkinson who also scored three penalties. The British & Irish Lions' 23-6 win, while seemingly showing their tour was back on track, left almost as many questions as answers. In post-match comments, O'Driscoll said "The ball was like a bar of soap out there and both sides made a lot of unforced errors," and Wellington Lion's coach John Plumtree remarked, "The All Blacks would have put 50 or 60 points on us."

Otago

In their first appearance in the South Island the Lions played Otago on 18 June at Carisbrook Stadium. The stadium is known to visiting teams as the "House of Pain", particularly for the Lions who lost games to the Otago side on four previous tours. Otago began strongly and the Lions were penalised four times in the first eleven minutes, Otago converting two. The Lions' stronger scrum play brought them back into the game, and the first half was closely-fought, ending 13-13. The Lions clearly had the momentum, as Will Greenwood had scored a try, converted by Charlie Hodgson, just before the break.

Otago took a 16-13 lead shortly after halftime, but strong Lions scrum play led to a try by man of the match Ryan Jones, who put himself in contention for a Test position. The try and Hodgson's conversion gave the Lions a solid, though far from insurmountable, lead. Otago rallied to 20-19 with a penalty, but the Lions pulled away soon afterwards. A Hodgson penalty, Shane Williams try and Hodgson conversion took the final margin to 30-19.

Southland

The Southland match at Invercargill on 21 June was the last before the first Test. Lions coach Clive Woodward announced that no players in the night's line-up would play in the Test. In the first 15 minutes, the Lions looked formidable as they took an early 10-0 lead, keyed by a Gavin Henson try. However, they became disjointed and by halftime had turned over the ball 14 times and were considered lucky to be ahead 10-3 at the break.

The first few minutes of the second half were even worse for the Lions, as Hale T-Pole scored a converted try. Woodward immediately substituted four players to settle down his team. T-Pole made an interception to save a Mark Cueto try, but the Lions kept the pressure on, and Henson scored his second try. The Lions then changed tactics, choosing to kick for territory more often, and were never truly threatened again, winning by 26-16.

First Test

Less than two minutes into this match against the All Blacks on 25 June at Jade Stadium in Christchurch, the Lions were devastated when captain Brian O'Driscoll suffered a dislocated shoulder after an alleged double spear tackle (which was later adjudged to have been legal by officials). However in October 2005 amateur video footage emerged which brought this judgment into question again - many rugby experts believe the tackle not only to have been illegal but very dangerous. Eight minutes in, Daniel Carter opened the scoring for the All Blacks with a penalty. Three minutes later, the Lions suffered a further blow when Paul O'Connell was sin-binned for a professional foul, and Carter kicked the penalty. Already a player short, the Lions then lost Richard Hill to injury. Ali Williams scored the first All Blacks try shortly after O'Connell returned, and the half ended with the Lions down 11-0.

Carter kicked a penalty in the second half, followed by a converted try from Sitiveni Sivivatu to end the All Blacks' scoring, and Jonny Wilkinson kicked a penalty in the 56th minute to provide the Lions with their only points of the night. The 21-3 win was considered by almost every commentator to be even more one-sided than the score indicated. The Lions' sloppy set-piece play included ten losses of their own lineouts.

It was announced post-match that three injured Lions were out for the rest of the tour—O'Driscoll and Hill from incidents in the match, and Tom Shanklin for inflammation from an existing knee injury. Also, Danny Grewcock was suspended for two months after he was cited for biting All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu.

Mealamu was also part of a different controversy, as he and All Black captain Tana Umaga were involved in the widely questioned tackle that ended O'Driscoll's tour. At a ruck early in the match Mealamu and Umaga each grabbed one of O'Driscoll's legs then lifted him off the ground. O'Driscoll fell to the ground arm-first and dislocated his shoulder, putting him out of the remainder of the tour. Opinions differed on the incident, with many British and Irish commentators and fans claiming that this was an illegal "spear tackle" and Lions coach Clive Woodward reporting the pair to the IRB appointed citing commissioner, William Venter. Venter decided that the incident did not require the disclipinary tribunal to adjudicate on the actions of Umaga and Mealamu. New Zealand commentators and fans were largely of the opinion that the two New Zealand players were simply clearing out the ruck and that there had been no intention to injure O'Driscoll. It was also suggested that Alastair Campbell was using the incident to take the spotlight away from the Lions' poor performance in the match.

Manawatu

The Lions scored their first convincing tour victory in this game at Palmerston North against NPC second-division minnows, Manawatu. They led 38-6 at half time and scored 71 unanswered points in the second. Welshman Shane Williams scored five tries to help the Lions post their all-time record score in New Zealand, surpassing their 64-5 victory over Marlborough/Nelson 46 years ago.

Tries were shared by Williams (5), Ronan O'Gara (2), Mark Cueto (2), Geordan Murphy, Charlie Hodgson, Jason Robinson, Martin Corry, Neil Back, Gareth Cooper, Gordon D'Arcy and Ollie Smith, with Manawatu restricted to two Jonathan Hargreaves penalties.

Lock Donncha O'Callaghan and flanker Martyn Williams both retired at half-time but had impressed enough to secure Test selection for the next Saturday. Murphy also impressed at full-back but it was wing Williams, with elusive running and awareness, who most thrilled Lions supporters.

Second Test

From the high point against Manawatu, the Lions fell to the lowest point of their 114-year history in the second Test at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on 2 July, losing 48-18 and conceding the highest number of points any Lions team has had scored against them in a Test.

Woodward selected a radically different Test squad from the one that had been embarrassed in Christchurch a week earlier, replacing eleven players. Key to the Lions' hopes of staying in the series was Woodward's decision to add several of the Welsh team that won the Grand Slam in the 2005 Six Nations.

The Lions started strongly, with captain Gareth Thomas scoring a try under the posts and Jonny Wilkinson converting two minutes in. A minute later, Wilkinson hit the post with a penalty attempt, but gathering the rebound the Lions were in a good attacking position when Paul O'Connell was penalised for diving over a ruck. The All Blacks settled down and then scored through two Daniel Carter penalties before he set up their first try, racing 50 metres off a turnover before offloading to captain Tana Umaga to score near the posts. Although the rest of the half remained close, the All Blacks went into the break with a 21-13 lead.

The second half turned into a showcase for the All Blacks in general and Carter in particular. He scored two tries, converted three, kicked two penalties, and constantly kept the Lions on the back foot with his distribution. Flanker Richie McCaw powered his way over for a try after Carter missed a hat trick by a matter of inches. Rugby media were in virtually unanimous agreement that (1) the Lions were greatly improved and (2) the All Blacks were completely dominant. Carter's tally of 33 points broke the all-time record for points by an All Black against the Lions.

Auckland

Having effectively lost the Test series on the previous Saturday the mid week Lions came to Eden Park with something to prove. Refereed by New Zealand's top whistle blower Steve Walsh, the match was guided by the Lions inability to find touch and a typical Auckland willingness to attack and run the angles. Auckland gave up some garunteed points from early penalties to take the Lions on in set piece play. Auckland loose Head Prop John Afoa was denied a try after a tap and run saw him held up in goal, however a series of handling errors throughout the first half let Auckland down and saw the Lions to a 14-3 lead at the half. The second half saw the Lions give away points to a stoic Auckland pack and the scores were evened to 13-14. A late Ronan O'Gara penalty saw the Lions extend to a 4 point winning margin of 17-13. This victory completed an impressive clean sweep of matches for the mid week Lions against host Unions throughout New Zealand- a feat well praised by an enthusiastic Eden Park crowd.

Third Test

Following two early penalties by Stephen Jones, the Lions led 6-0 and looked promising. All Black captain Tana Umaga was sin-binned for 10 minutes for killing the ball, but even without their captain, the All Blacks managed to score two tries, by Conrad Smith and Ali Williams, both converted by Luke McAlister. The Lions received two more penalties, but just before the break, Umaga scored a try for an All Blacks lead of 24-12.

Seven minutes into the second half Umaga scored another try, and halfback Byron Kelleher was replaced by Justin Marshall who then played his final half-hour of All Black rugby. Another All Black try was thwarted when Jerry Collins was sin-binned for a late tackle. The All Blacks then spent several minutes defending as the Lions pushed towards the line from within 10 metres, and after a long struggle Lewis Moody managed to score, making it 31-19. Both sides made errors that cost them tries. Sitiveni Sivivatu had two very close calls but it was Rico Gear who followed his own deep kick to toe the ball over the line and score a fine individual try. McAlister converted, giving him a 100 per cent kicking rate, to make the full-time score 38-19.

External links

2005 in rugby union | British and Irish Lions tours | Rugby union in New Zealand

Tournée des Lions 2005

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand".

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