IAN: WE MESSED UP TOUR TACTICS

IAIN HENDERSON has criticised the tactics used by the British and Irish Lions in their series defeat to South Africa and also claims Warren Gatland selected on reputation rather than form.

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.

Ulster star Henderson, who captained Ireland in the Six Nations, 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 gameplan against the Sharks or someone like that and whenever you get however many points up, you’re winning the 50-50s, the slap-downs become a 50 metre-try and all of a sudden people go ‘well they’re playing free-flowing rugby today’,” Henderson said.

Game

“Before you know it, you’re trying to beat South Africa at their own game. South Africa just won a World Cup doing their own game. They’re incredible at it.

“Falling into what they’re incredibly good at I think is something a team probably shouldn’t try to do.”

It was Henderson’s second Lions tour but, despite his imposing

Six Nations form, he was overlooked for Courtney Lawes.

When asked if Gatland was a “guy who had his guys”, Henderson said: “I would tend to agree with that statement.

“Courtney Lawes, for example. Hadn’t played a lot of rugby, was injured going in, missed a lot of rugby, comes in as bit of a surprise maybe and starts all three Tests.

“Courtney is a class player and he probably deserved to be playing, but that would lead you to believe he [Gatland] wasn’t picking who was on form at that stage, because Courtney had already banked his form from before.”