Sir Clive Woodward selects ‘brave’ Lions XV for series finale

Monday, 02 August 2021 at 01:03

byRugby Rucker

The Lions must go for extreme pace and try to prevent the constant stoppages, according to World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward.

Woodward wrote in his column for the Mail Online: "They need some clear thinking and brave calls need to be made by Gatland and Co.

"Gregor Townsend needs to come into play — he will have been frustrated at the limited part his Lions back division played in that game, scarcely firing a shot in anger.

"The Lions can only beat South Africa if they up the pace massively and somehow prevent all those stoppages which are a godsend for the Boks. Every prolonged TMO episode is manna from heaven for their forwards."

FInd Woodward's XV, below with only one back retaining his place in the starting team.

BACK-THREE:

15 .Liam Williams
for Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
14. Louis Rees-Zammit for Anthony Watson (England)
11. Josh Adam (Wales) for Duhan van de Merwe (Scotland)

Woodward wrote: "Liam Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit, Josh Adams and Elliot Daly must all come into play. The theme must be extreme pace in everything the Lions do."

CENTRES:

13. Elliot Daly (England) for Chris Harris (Scotland)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)

HALFBACKS:

10. Finn Russell (Scotland) or Marcus Smith (England) for Dan Biggar (Wales)
9. Ali Price (Scotland) for Conor Murray (Ireland)

Woodward wrote: "The Lions have to go for broke. It must be Finn Russell if fit or Marcus Smith at fly-half. And whichever of those two doesn’t start needs to be on the bench. I’m a huge Owen Farrell fan but he offered no threat off the bench on Saturday, he just continued in the same vein as Dan Biggar."