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03rd Jul 2013

In BOD Gatland doesn’t trust – shocks all round as O’Driscoll and Heaslip dropped from matchday squad

Warren Gatland has made one of the biggest calls in his managerial career by dropping Brian O’Driscoll not only from the Lions team, but from the match-day squad.

JOE

Warren Gatland has made one of the biggest calls in his managerial career by dropping Brian O’Driscoll not only from the Lions team, but from the match-day squad.

There was evident shock in the press room as Gatland announced his team to face the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday and O’Driscoll will be joined in the stand by Leinster colleague Jamie Heaslip.

In all the Lions manager has made six changes to the team that was defeated so narrowly last time out with Jamie Roberts returning from injury at centre, allowing Jonathan Davies the opportunity to move into a more familiar role at outside centre now that O’Driscoll has been deemed surplus to requirements, while Mike Phillips is back in the number nine jersey.

Richard Hibbard and Alex Corbisiero come into the front-row which should provide more stability at the set-piece, while the highly competitive back-row sees Sean O’Brien get his chance from the start with Sam Warburton out injured and Toby Faletau taking over at the base of the scrum. Alun-Wyn Jones will captain the side from second row.

Many will view the changes in the back-row as a panic move by Gatland considering none of the three starters appeared from the off in the first Test, while Justin Tipuric on the bench wasn’t even in the squad that day. Jamie Heaslip too can consider himself unfortunate to drop out of the squad.

It is of course the axing of O’Driscoll that is the main talking point and Gatland has said that the Leinster man was disappointed with the news, something he has never had to deal with in his career, with Manu Tuilagi the replacement named on the bench.

“We told Brian this morning,” said Gatland. “Obviously, he was disappointed, as anyone would be, but he appreciated the fact that he was spoken to before the announcement.

“It’s the first time that any coach has had that decision with him in 15 years of rugby. It’s not easy for that to be the first time, but he’s still going to be very important for us for the next 72 hours in terms of his experience and leadership.

“He’s been involved in the first two Tests, but Jamie’s back fit and Jamie’s been given the nod in terms of that partnership of Jamie and Jon Davies in the midfield.”

It is a monumental call on O’Driscoll, who while has not been in top form, could claim that the tactical game plan enforced by Gatland has had an influence on his performances thus far.

A sad end to what has been a magnificent Lions career, though we have no doubt he will do his best to motivate the troops ahead of the make-or-break contest on Saturday.

British and Irish Lions team to face Australia in the third Test at the ANZ Stadium, Sydney, on Saturday, July 6:

L Halfpenny (Wales); T Bowe (Ireland), J Davies (Wales), J Roberts (Wales), G North (Wales); J Sexton (Ireland), M Phillips (Wales); A Corbisiero (England), R Hibbard (Wales), A Jones (Wales), A-W Jones (Wales, capt), G Parling (England), D Lydiate (Wales), S O’Brien (Ireland), Toby Faletau (Wales).

Replacements: T Youngs (England), M Vunipola (England), D Cole (England), R Gray (Scotland), J Tipuric (Wales), C Murray (Ireland), O Farrell (England), Manu Tuilagi (England).

JOE’s Lions coverage is brought to you in association with Kelloggs.

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