The deliberate assault on British Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll by the All Blacks during saturday's test match in Canterbury was no surprise. Our southern cousins have a cynicism which has never been part of British rugby. The only way to deal with this kind of thuggery is to retaliate in kind as Willie John McBride's team did in 1974 in South Africa. If I were a coach of the Lions I would not be averse to Tama Umauga suffering some unpleasant encounters with the Lions pack during the Second Test.
The Lions need to up their aggression and put the New Zealanders under pressure. Something they are not accustomed to at international level, their failings at the World Cups since 1987 would indicate that when genuine pressure is applied they crumple. The Lions need to fight New Zealand for the ball at every opportunity. The All Blacks must never be allowed to settle in possession.
The Rugby League style defensive approach needs to be ditched in favour of a fierce approach to rucking an mauling. Big hits need to be delivered on all the New Zealand side within the first 15 minutes. Any side who backs off New Zealand loses as the Lions discovered on Saturday.
As for who to play on Saturday I would suggest putting Wilkinson in at Stand off, bringing in Gavin Henson, Shane Horgan and Geordan Murphy in the backs. O'Callaghan, Ryan Jones, Simon Easterby and Gordon Bulloch would add some more verve to the pack. Woodward needs to accept the fact that his England World Cup winners are over the hill and past it. They didn't feature in the last two Six Nations championships because they weren't good enough, Clive knew that when he resigned as England coach. Now he needs to prove that he is a great rugby coach by facing the facts and putting out a Lions side that genuinely represents the best of modern British and Irish rugby.