Henderson critical of Lions tactics and selection

IAIN Henderson has criticised the tactics used by the British & Irish Lions in their series defeat to South Africa and claims Warren Gatland selected his team on reputation rather than form, writes Duncan Bech.

The Lions seized a 1-0 lead in a dismal series, but lost the next two Tests with head coach Gatland subsequently criticised for using a limited gameplan against the equally conservative world champions.

It was only with the injuryenforced arrival of Finn Russell ten minutes into the decider that South Africa were stretched and even though the pivotal game was lost 19-16, it offered a glimpse of what might have been.

Henderson, right, Ireland’s captain in the Six Nations in the absence of Johnny Sexton, is the first member of Gatland’s touring party to publicly denounce the lack of imagination that played into the Springboks’ hands.

“You could play South Africa’s game-plan against the Sharks or someone like that, and whenever you get however many points up, you’re winning the 50-50s, the slapdowns become a 50 metre-try and all of a sudden people go ‘well they’re playing free-flowing rugby today’,” Henderson told the Ulster Rugby Show.

“Before you know it, you’re trying to beat South Africa at their own game, and they just won a World Cup doing their own game. They’re incredible at it. That’s something a team shouldn’t try to do.”

It was Henderson’s second Lions tour but he was overlooked for the Tests in favour of rival back five forward Courtney Lawes.

When asked if Gatland was a “guy who had his guys”, Henderson said: “I would tend to agree with that. Courtney Lawes hadn’t played a lot of rugby, was injured going in, and starts all three Tests. He’s a class player, but that would lead you to believe that (Gatland) wasn’t picking on who was on form.”