Call-ups of convenience spell death knell for ‘Untouchable Jersey’

With players brought in according to postcode, Mick Cleary sees trouble ahead for proud institution

This is the death knell of the British and Irish Lions. The fans have turned against them. Not all of them. But enough, following the six call-ups to the tour, Welsh and Scottish players chosen because of their June postcode rather than (necessarily) their ability.

The Lions are nothing without the backing of the supporters here in New Zealand in their many thousands. But a sizeable chunk no longer feel the connection they once did. Cory Hill and not Joe Launchbury? Kristian Dacey and not Dylan Hartley? Seriously?

Don’t dump on the players, for they are innocents in all this, all too aware that they are a sticking-plaster, Lions of convenience. Somewhere within there will be a smidgen of embarrassment but they will give it their everything. Yet it is not right. Something is amiss. Something is broken.

As warned in these columns a few weeks ago, either the Lions concept is taken seriously by the powerbrokers or it should be abandoned, left to gather cobwebs as a fond old memory of what used to be, like a steam train in a siding.

And don’t blame Warren Gatland. Blame the system. Blame the schedule. Blame all those who would wish to see the time span for tours trimmed still further. It cannot be done properly with fewer than 10 fixtures.

Ignore, too, the notion that the tour party will split as a result of this. The decision has been made to protect the group, not to splinter it.

Gatland outlined his plans way back in September in Edinburgh when he was unveiled as head coach. He realised even then that the schedule that had been passed down to him by administrators – who have as much backbone in negotiating these things as a chocolate teapot – was impossible, an itinerary devised by the Marquis de Sade.

Under the circumstances, Gatland has given the players a reasonable crack at pressing their claims. One start, maybe two. Now it is all about preserving the match-day 23, about giving them proper preparation for a Test match.

And, gosh, do they need every last bit of time available to them after the All Black masterclass against Samoa on Friday.

Gatland was damned if he did, damned if he didn’t. Would Lions fans really want to see Test match players on the bench against the Chiefs in Hamilton, potentially called on as a substitute while the All Blacks put their feet up?

This has been poorly handled. It comes to something when the news emerges from the opposition camp. The Lions cannot have whizz-bang marketing campaigns about ‘The Untouchable Jersey’ and then hand it over to whoever happens to be in the vicinity. It cheapens the product.

These are serious matters. The Lions are trying to make the best of a bad job. Get behind them. They need every last scrap of support.