FORMER LEAGUE STAR JOINS THE LIONS
April 26, 2001 - 10:16am
Story by: AAP
Former rugby league star Jason Robinson was named for this summer`s British Lions tour of Australia on Wednesday despite the fact that he is yet to start a game for England.
But there was no room for experienced stars Scott Gibbs of Wales and Scotland`s Gregor Townsend.
Robinson, the former Wigan star who is well known known to Australians as a league player, has made three appearances for England since switching codes earlier this season but all as substitute. The Sale star is yet to score a try.
"I am overwhelmed by all that has happened to me since joining Sale Sharks," Robinson said after receiving the Lions call-up.
"I was surprised to get into the England side so quickly, and then that was because Dan Luger was injured, so it is unbelievable to get a Lions` call-up.
"I suppose it all boils down to my original decision to switch codes this season after achieving everything possible in rugby league.
"The tour is something I am really looking forward to because I have experienced playing in Australia with the Great Britain Rugby League side. I am only 26 and have achieved so much in my career that I really have been blessed."
Robinson will have set something of a record, playing on a Lions team less than a year after he had been playing rugby league.
"Jason has made a real impression in club football and the opportunities with England. He is the type of guy who can win matches," said Wales coach Graham Henry, a Kiwi given charge of leading the squad to Australia.
"He is still on the upward graph as far as I am concerned and will make further improvement in Australia."
With England on a streak of eight wins in a row, including four in the Six Nations championship, the entire regular starting lineup plus Robinson, fullback Matt Perry and versatile back Austin Healey have made the squad of 37. There are 10 Welshmen, six Irishman and only three Scots in the squad which plays three tests in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
"Australia is probably the number one country in the world for sport," Henry said. "They put huge emphasis on quality and bringing the best through.
"The attitude of their country is that they want to be the best and that`s reflected in their rugby team. Recent records show that they`re the best team in the world so that`s our challenge," Henry said. "What better test is there?"
The most notable omissions are Gibbs, who currently is sidelined with a broken thumb, and Townsend. Gibbs, who also had a spell playing rugby league, returned as a beefier player capable of surging runs and strong tackles but Henry has opted for the other Welsh center, Mark Taylor, along with the talented Irish pair of Rob Davidson and Brian O`Driscoll and England`s Will Greenwood and Mike Catt.
"I can console myself with the fact that the midfield positions were probably the most hotly-contested in the squad, but the disappointment will take a long, long time to get over," said Gibbs, who had been on two previous Lions tours.
"Life goes on and there is always tomorrow, but from the start of the season my main aim was to go to Australia with the Lions.
"I have been happy with my form this season and I hoped that my experience with the Lions in 1993 and 1997 would count for something."
Townsend, who can play at center of fly half, has not reached his true form this season and Henry has chosen three standout kickers, Neil Jenkins, the world record points scorer from Wales, England`s Jonny Wilkinson and Ireland`s Ronan O`Gara.
Henry said he hoped that Newcastle fly half Wilkinson would recover from a neck injury in time.
"The reports say he will be fine with some rest. We`re confident he will be okay for the tour," the coach said.
The pack has England`s standout back row of Lawrence Dallaglio, Richard Hill and Neil Back with the powerful Scott Quinnell of Wales Ireland`s formidable hooker Keith Wood, who scored four tries in one game at the last World Cup, and towering England lock Martin Johnson, who will captain the team and becomes the first player to lead two Lions tours.
"Australia are the world`s best and they`re at home. It will be a formidable challenge," said Johnson, who led England to a 22-19 victory over the Australians at Twickenham in November.
"They are going to have a couple of key players back and it`s in the middle of their season rather than the end. The conditions will suit them better."
AP
