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Paul O’Connell hopes to heal Clive Woodward wounds
Chris Jones26 May 2009
Captain Paul O'Connell wants to banish the memory of Clive Woodward's disastrous 2005 Lions tour by defeating the world champions on their home turf.
The Lions kick off their 10-match tour of South Africa against a Royal XV in Phokeng on Saturday with O'Connell, a key member of the Test side that lost 3-0 to New Zealand, revealing the current 36-strong squad is much happier than Woodward's bloated party.
Woodward named 44 players in his squad and a much bigger management team, which meant the Saturday and mid-week Lions teams operated as separate units.
O'Connell said: “The fact that there are fewer people on the tour is the best thing about it. Everyone is on the training pitch, in the gym and in the team meeting room at the same time. It is more intimate.
“A lot of things went against us on the last tour and I don't feel we did the tradition justice and that's a big motivation for those of us who were on that trip in New Zealand.”
Reader views (1)
yes, let's hope tyhe flop manager that was Clive Woodward
can be forgotten once and for all, just as the Soutampton fans have forgotten how he was paid a fprtune for sending them down to the Championship
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 26/05/2009 14:17
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