FOUR Irish men have been chosen in the 35 man Lions squad to tour South Africa next month and all are forwards. They are prop Peter Clohessy, hooker Keith Wood, second row Jeremy Davidson, and back row Eric Miller. But Simon Geoghegan, also rated a front runner, has lost out. He has been out of the game until the last few weeks following operations on his toes.
The squad includes 18 from England, eight from Wales, five from Scotland and four from Ireland.
As was the case on the last Lions tour to New Zealand in 1993, Ireland has failed to get a back in the squad. But Richard Wallace and Vincent Cunningham were called out as replacements during the tour. As anticipated, Martin Johnson, of Leicester and England, will captain the side. He together with Jason Leonard and Ieuan Evans were the contenders. Leonard has led England once and Evans is a former Wales captain.
For Clohessy it is a remarkable turn of fortune. Now playing with Queensland, he was suspended for almost a year, 26 playing weeks, after Ireland's 1996 match against France in Paris, for a stamping incident. Many thought that was the end of the Limerick man's representative career. But Clohessy is nothing if not determined and resilient and when he was suspended he said that he would serve the suspension, take his punishment, learn from it and play again. "What I did was silly and intemperate but I do not want to go out of the game this way," he said, and he has proved as good as his word.
He decided to move from Young Munster to Garryowen during the summer, but then signed a short term contract to play for Queensland.
After his suspension was up, Clohessy came on as a replacement for Munster against Australia last November and has been playing for Queensland in the Super 12 competition since January. But Lions manager Fran Cotton, who rates Clohessy among the best prop forwards in the game, monitored Clohessy's form and fitness, studied videos of his performances with Queensland and kept in touch with the player. Clohessy has the physical attributes to stand up to the requirements in South Africa and certainly will not back off.
He was informed of his selection by fax to his home in Brisbane and said, "Obviously I am delighted, it is great news. I thought I had a 50-50 chance, no more than that, as there were quite a few quality props in contention. I certainly did not presume anything. I suppose you could say the wheel has turned full circle for me. Fran Cotton has told me that I can travel directly from Australia to South Africa to link up with the Lions there so I will not he joining the Lions party before their departure, or returning to Ireland until after the tour.
"I did not know if going to Queensland would damage my chances, but it was a move I thought would be in my best interests in all the circumstances and it has turned out that way. This selection makes up for a lot. I am very grateful to the people who supported me and had faith in me," he added.
Wood, who has not played since he damaged a shoulder playing for Ireland against France in January subsequently underwent an operation and has not played since. But the operation was a success and he hopes to soon play for Harlequins. "By being selected I have fulfilled an ambition. I am doing some physical work and hope to play a match in a week or so. I am especially delighted to be chosen as my late father also played for the Lions," said Wood.
The selectors have certainly shown immense faith in Wood bearing in mind his injury problems. He was out of the game all last season after sustaining a shoulder injury in the World Cup in South Africa against Japan. He joined Harlequins at the start of this season and was playing extremely well when he damaged the shoulder against the French. He had been made Ireland captain against Australia and also led the team against the French.
His late father Gordon toured Australia and New Zealand with the Lions in 1959. Only one other Irish father and son have played for the Lions, Andrew and Jamie Clinch. Andrew toured South Africa in 1896 and Jamie in 1924.
Davidson has been Ireland's best forward throughout the Championship and there was never any real doubt about his selection. Yet he greeted it with "relief and delight" yesterday. "I am just absolutely delighted. I have been playing fairly well and everyone suggested that I would get selected but the nearer the day of the announcement got the more I began to have personal doubts. I was very relieved when it was confirmed I was chosen. I am really looking forward to the experience but I know it will be very tough."
Davidson will celebrate his 23rd birthday later this month. He left Dungannon at the end of last season to join London Irish. He made his international debut against Fiji last season and after being capped in the back row, he reverted to the second row and has played extremely well in that position.
Miller has had a remarkable rise to the top. At 21, he is the youngest member of the Lions squad having celebrated his 21st birthday last September. He was eligible for the Ireland under 21 team this season. He was a member of the Ireland schools side that won the Triple Crown in 1993 and played for Ireland schools again the following season. He helped Ireland to win the under 21 Triple Crown last season after moving from Old Wesley to Leicester and also played for Ireland A last season. He is one of the Irish players who has really prospered in the English League. So good was his form that he was preferred to the Leicester captain Dean Richards at number eight by club coach Bob Dwyer.
Miller made his senior debut against Italy this season on the open side flank and was injured in the match. He played at number eight against France and Wales and also against England, but was concussed in that match and subsequently missed the game against, Scotland.
"It has been a wonderful season for me," said Miller. "It is just unbelievable that I have been chosen so soon after making my international debut. I knew I was in with a chance but kept trying not to think too much about it. I honestly did not think I would make it. I have no doubt at all that playing for a club like Leicester has helped me greatly. We are having a great season, have a lot of quality players in the side and a tremendous coach in Bob Dwyer."
Ireland coach Brian Ashton was reasonably pleased with Ireland's representation. He said, "I suppose it is a fair reflection of our Five Nations Championship. You could hardly argue with the four players selected. I am a bit surprised Nick Popplewell did not get in, especially because of his experience. But missing the match against Scotland because of injury did not help him." On Geogheghan's omission Ashton said, "I am convinced when he, is fully fit he is the best wing of the lot. He has been plagued by injury. I think Eric Miller will make a huge contribution and Peter Clohessy and Keith Wood are the type of aggressive, confrontational players you need and who will do well in South Africa."
Johnson is one of six Leicester players in the squad, a remarkable tribute to the quality in the club. He said, "I was tipped for the captaincy but was not at all sure until told officially on Tuesday night. It is a great honour but also a massive task for me and the players. But I am fortunate to have so much experience in the squad including several players who have captained their countries.
Manager Fran Cotton said, "We have a very talented squad and, I hope, the right attitude." On the decision to take several players who failed to get into the England team, Cotton added "Jack Rowell (the England manager) has different objectives and we have different re"
Coach Ian McGeechan said, "We knew the criteria for selection and we followed it, getting the right type of player for the game we want to play. All the selections were made irrespective of where they came from, club or country."
Tony Underwood, not named among the preliminary list of 62 players announced some weeks ago is the only three quarter in the squad who was a regular in the England team this season. He probably got in because of Geogheghan's injury and fitness problems. Among the three quarters chosen, Nick Beal, John Bentley, Jeremy Guscott and Will Greenwood all failed to win places on the England side. Guscott did win two caps as a replacement this season. Bentley, Scott Gibbs, Allan Bateman, Alan Tait and Scott Quinnell are all former rugby league players. Bentley has played for Britain at international level in league.
As expected, Tim Stimpson and Neil Jenkins are the full backs chosen and Paul Grayson and Gregor Townsend the outside halves. Austin Healy, Matthew Dawson and Robert Howley win the scrum half berths. Andy Gomersall has been first choice for England in that position but lost out to Healy for the final match in the championship.
Paul Wallace has lost out at prop with Leonard, Graham Rowntree, Clohessy, David Young and Tom Smith getting the places. Wood is one of three hooks with Martin Regan and Barry Williams of Wales who is preferred to Welsh captain John Humphreys.
Simon Shaw, Johnson and Doddie Weir are the second rows with Davidson while, as expected, Richardx Hill, Lawrence Dallaglio, Miller, Scott Quinnell and Tim Rodber are among the back row men with Neil Back and Rob Wainwright getting the other two places. Back was completely overlooked by England this season but he is a very good choice and is an excellent open side flanker who should do exceptionally well in South Africa.
