RUGBY Digest: TSUNAMI BENEFIT MATCH: North XV v South XV, Twickenham, today 2.0 With barely five weeks to go until Clive Woodward unveils his Lions squad, his former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio has claimed that simply choosing the best 44 players in Britain and Ireland will not guarantee a successful tour to New Zealand this summer, reports Robert Kitson.
Dallaglio, captain of the North XV in today's tsunami aid game at Twickenham, has made no secret of his desire to make a third Lions tour and has dropped a broad hint that Woodward should include him in his plans to conquer the All Blacks when the party is announced on April 11th.
"I don't pick the Lions squad but I think we're all pretty much aware it will be predominantly made up of players from the Six Nations Championship," said the 32-year-old Dallaglio, who stood down from the England team at the start of this season.
"But if the selectors feel there is a need to look elsewhere I think there is a handful of players who might warrant a bit of thought. It's not something I feel I would be unable to do if I was asked to step up."
Dallaglio remains adamant that Woodward needs at least one wise old head in his squad. "From my experience of touring around the world, New Zealand is probably the hardest place to go. Lions tours are funny because it's not always about taking the best players, it's about picking the best tourists as well.
"It's a seven-week tour which is something of a novelty in professional rugby with most tours lasting only two to three weeks. It asks different questions of players. The key to any Lions tour is selection and making sure every player wants to be wearing the red shirt in the first Test."
Woodward, for his part, is sticking to his line that any player from outside the Six Nations squads would have to present a "compelling" case for Lions selection, which is one of the reasons, besides wishing to support the tsunami cause, why Dallaglio offered to pit himself against a tough South XV back-row comprising Schalk Burger and Toutai Kefu and Phil Waugh.
NORTH: Paterson (Scotland); Mirco Bergamasco (Italy), Smith (England), Sweeney (Wales), Cohen (England); Humphreys (Ireland), Cooper; Yapp (both Wales), Titterrell, Horsman (both England), Bortolami (Italy), O'Callaghan (Ireland), Dallaglio (capt), Sanderson (both England), Taylor (Scotland).
SOUTH: Latham (Australia); Lima (Samoa), Fourie (South Africa), Umaga (New Zealand), Bobo (Fiji); Mehrtens (New Zealand), Gregan (Australia, capt); Hoeft (New Zealand), Smit, Visagie (both South Africa), Mustchin (New Zealand), Matfield, Burger (both South Africa), Waugh, Kefu (both Australia).
EASTERBY CONTRACT: Ireland international Simon Easterby has signed a new three-year contract with Welsh region Llanelli Scarlets. The deal will keep 29-year-old flanker Easterby at Stradey Park until the end of the 2007-2008 season.
"I'm looking forward to the challenges of next season and proud to remain a member of the squad," said Easterby.
"We've had our work cut out this season and things haven't gone our way, but we're a strong squad and I believe we'll come back fighting."
Easterby's decision will be a blow to Connacht who had hoped to entice the Ireland backrow and some of their former players like Johnny O'Connor to sign.
Scarlets chief executive Stuart Gallacher said: "We are pleased to announce Simon has signed with the region on a further three-year contract. Simon is the consummate professional and has been indispensable as captain in a season that has not gone to plan."
IRELAND A COACH: Connacht coach Michael Bradley has been appointed Ireland A head coach for their clash with France. The former Ireland scrumhalf, a possible replacement for Munster coach Alan Gaffney who leaves Thomond Park at the end of the season, will be supported by Ulster assistant coach Allen Clarke in next Friday's fixture.
Joey Miles will act as team manager for the match at Donnybrook, Ireland A's first match since they met England's shadow side two years ago.
BLACKADDER CONTRACT: The Scottish Rugby Union insist that negotiations with Edinburgh player-coach Todd Blackadder are "at an advanced stage". The 33-year-old, who joined the club in November 2001, wants to remain in Scotland and is looking for a new deal.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh have signed former All Blacks prop David Hewett on a two-year contract.
