The whole of Ireland is in uproar. About the austerity measures imposed by the troika? About the Anglo-Irish tapes? About the endemic corruption of its politicians? The state of O’Connell Street maybe, now ruled by junkies and alcoholics? Why, nothing so trivial.
The country is sports mad. And they are most successful in international terms at rugby (and boxing, but that doesn’t fit this story). And the demi-god, the totem of the Irish national team is one Brian O’Driscoll. Regarded by many as the greatest northern hemisphere player of his generation he has skill, courage, leadership skills and film star looks. Though now 34 he was chosen for his fourth tour with the Lions, an amalgam of the four home nations, to tour Australia this summer.
‘Drico’ or ‘BOD’ was chosen for the starting XV for the first two Tests. He didn’t particularly shine, but he wasn’t alone in that. The Lions spluttered and the series stands at one apiece, the decider tomorrow. The skipper Gareth Warburton of Wales is unfit and it was unanimously thought that O’Driscoll would step up and fulfil his destiny, leading the side to a series win.
He was dropped. Entirely. Not even on the bench as a replacement. Never mind Ireland, most of the rugby world’s eyebrows shot up. Back home you’ve never seen such anger with everybody denouncing coach Gatland. No one, apart from the curmudgeonly George Hook, remotely agrees with the decision. But even Hook concedes that, even leaving aside the merits of the decision, it is a hugely sad way for O’Driscoll to end his Lions career.
In 1966 Jimmy Greaves was England’s first choice striker at the World Cup, and he played in the first three matches before being injured. He missed the next match but the public demand for him to be reinstated for the semi-final and final fell on the deaf ears of Alf Ramsey. Greaves’ replacement Geoff Hurst scored three times in the final as England beat Germany 4-1. Ramsey was a hero, Greaves the forgotten man.
Will Gatland be a hero tomorrow, or will his goose for ever be cooked?
Back On The Rock 
It appears being, “sports mad” is universal, Roy. I’m a sports lover, but here in the U.S. I’m always amazed how a story that surrounds an athlete, can trump the bigger issues our country is facing…..an don’t even get me started on their salaries!
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How true Jill, but at least it provides a source of escapism from the grimmer world. As to salaries, a Brit lad just got a contract with the 49ers – I believe the rookies start on US400,000 pa, even if they never get onto the field 🙂
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THIS is FAR more serious than recession, job losses, bent bankers, money – you are damned right we are MAD AS HELL. Gatland is a grudge bearer getting his own back on Ireland! For a couple of days we were hoping the Aussies will win tomorrow, and beat the Welsh to a pulp. Now that the time is nigh we are thinking that maybe, well perhaps, we should just maybe er well… turn out for the Lions? We will sleep on it and see! Either way, we win?????? 🙂
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Love it SV, spoken like a true patriot. When our most balanced and intelligent bloggers lose it then we know that Gatland’s decision is somewhat unpopular in the country 🙂
I’ll miss the whole thing through having to officiate at an even bigger fixture, Jersey v Guernsey primary schools at athletics!
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What ????? Oh for God’s sake- get to the pub and watch ! Can you delay the Guernsey ferry?
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Just love this Roy …. or at least what I can see of it after what was it 9 hours non-stop of Wimbledon today. Pure bliss with my strawberries and cream and Andy winning!!!!
As for BOD ~ how could WG have the cheek or is it guts? Talk about depriving us …..
If BOD was playing the Jersey v Guersney athletics would have to have been re-scheduled to let the kids see ‘poetry in motion!’
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Yes even I enjoyed listening to the tennis radio commentary last night and will do likewise on Sunday. Hope the Brit lad does it – he reverts to being Scottish if he loses! Yes I think there will be more than a few people recording the match this morning. Rugby has become THE game in Jersey over the last few years with the local team in the second tier of the English system. BOD will be OK, he’ll soon shrug off the disappointment and look forward to the rest of his life.
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Thing is will we be okay without BOD?
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Well, series won and BOD played his part. He’ll ultimately be happy with that.
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What about the possibility that Gatland is doing BOD a favour? Hook has always maintained that BOD has taken more punches than most professional boxers and is concerned about the longterm outcome of that. I think BOD should happily hang up his golden boots now and follow Mrs BOD out to LA where they`re sure to make a fortune. Think of BOD as Posh and Mrs BOD as Beckham.
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Indeed – there was the possibility that selection might have ended in disaster. Instead he’s been part of a winning outfit and he can sail off into the sunset, job done.
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