2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
In 2005, the British and Irish Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand for the first time since 1993, playing seven matches against first and second division teams from the National Provincial Championship, one match against the New Zealand Maori team, and three test matches against New Zealand. The Lions lost the test series 3-0, the first time in 22 years that they lost every test match on tour.
The team was managed by former England and Lions player Bill Beaumont, coached by former England coach Sir Clive Woodward, and originally captained by Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll. O'Driscoll suffered a controversial tour-ending injury two minutes into the first test, and Wales captain Gareth Thomas took over as captain for the final four games of the tour.
The poor test results of the 2005 Lions, despite having one of the most experienced playing squads and the largest management team of any Lions tour, led to criticism of Woodward, particularly his selection policy, and prompted commentators to question the future of the Lions.
This tour followed the Lions' 2001 tour to Australia and preceded the 2009 tour to South Africa.
Schedule
The Lions' campaign involved a warm-up match against Argentina before the departure for New Zealand, three Tests against the All Blacks, and several tour matches, where the quality of the opposition was expected to be high. This proved to be the case against New Zealand Māori and Auckland, and most of the other tour matches were close for at least the first half. But the match against Manawatu was a one-sided affair, the Lions winning by a score of 109–6.| Date | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | |
| 23 May | British and Irish Lions | 25–25 |  Argentina | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | Match details |
| 4 June |  Bay of Plenty | 20–34 | British and Irish Lions | Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua | Match details |
| 8 June | Taranaki | 14–36 | British and Irish Lions | Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth | Match details |
| 11 June | New Zealand Māori | 19–13 | British and Irish Lions | Waikato Stadium, Hamilton | Match details |
| 15 June | Wellington | 6–23 | British and Irish Lions | Westpac Stadium, Wellington | Match details |
| 18 June | Otago | 19–30 | British and Irish Lions | Carisbrook, Dunedin | Match details |
| 21 June | Southland | 16–26 | British and Irish Lions | Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill | Match details |
| 25 June | New Zealand | 21–3 | British and Irish Lions | Jade Stadium, Christchurch | Match details |
| 28 June | Manawatu | 6–109 | British and Irish Lions | Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North | Match details |
| 2 July | New Zealand | 48–18 | British and Irish Lions | Westpac Stadium, Wellington | Match details |
| 5 July | Auckland | 13–17 | British and Irish Lions | Eden Park, Auckland | Match details |
| 9 July | New Zealand | 38–19 | British and Irish Lions | Eden Park, Auckland | Match details |
Squad
The 44-man tour squad was announced on 11 April 2005, with 20 Englishmen, 11 Irishmen, 10 Welshmen and three Scots selected. Three further Englishmen were selected subject to them proving their fitness. The squad also included English players who had retired from international rugby, were returning from injury, or had no international experience. The original 44-man squad was named as:| Player | Position | Country | Club |
| John Hayes | Prop | Munster | |
| Gethin Jenkins | Prop | Cardiff Blues | |
| Graham Rowntree | Prop | Leicester Tigers | |
| Andrew Sheridan | Prop | Sale Sharks | |
| Matt Stevens | Prop | Bath | |
| Julian White | Prop | Leicester Tigers | |
| Gordon Bulloch | Hooker | Glasgow | |
| Shane Byrne | Hooker | Leinster | |
| Steve Thompson | Hooker | Northampton Saints | |
| Andy Titterrell | Hooker | Sale Sharks | |
| Danny Grewcock | Lock | Bath | |
| Ben Kay | Lock | Leicester Tigers | |
| Donncha O'Callaghan | Lock | Munster | |
| Paul O'Connell | Lock | Munster | |
| Malcolm O'Kelly | Lock | Leinster | |
| Neil Back | Back row | Leicester Tigers | |
| Martin Corry | Back row | Leicester Tigers | |
| Lawrence Dallaglio | Back row | Wasps | |
| Richard Hill | Back row | Saracens | |
| Lewis Moody | Back row | Leicester Tigers | |
| Michael Owen | Back row | Newport Gwent Dragons | |
| Simon Taylor | Back row | Edinburgh | |
| Martyn Williams | Back row | Cardiff Blues | |
| Iain Balshaw | Fullback | Leeds Tykes | |
| Geordan Murphy | Fullback | Leicester Tigers | |
| Josh Lewsey | Fullback | Wasps | |
| Gareth Thomas | Fullback | Toulouse | |
| Shane Horgan | Wing | Leinster | |
| Denis Hickie | Wing | Leinster | |
| Jason Robinson | Wing | Sale Sharks | |
| Shane Williams | Wing | Ospreys | |
| Gordon D'Arcy | Centre | Leinster | |
| Will Greenwood | Centre | Harlequins | |
| Gavin Henson | Centre | Ospreys | |
| Brian O'Driscoll | Centre | Leinster | |
| Tom Shanklin | Centre | Cardiff Blues | |
| Ollie Smith | Centre | Leicester Tigers | |
| Charlie Hodgson | Fly-half | Sale Sharks | |
| Stephen Jones | Fly-half | Clermont Auvergne | |
| Ronan O'Gara | Fly-half | Munster | |
| Gareth Cooper | Scrum-half | Newport Gwent Dragons | |
| Chris Cusiter | Scrum-half | Borders Reivers | |
| Matt Dawson | Scrum-half | Wasps | |
| Dwayne Peel | Scrum-half | Llanelli Scarlets |
Additions to the squad
Injured England players Jonny Wilkinson, Phil Vickery and Mike Tindall were pencilled in, to be added to the squad subject to them regaining fitness. Only Wilkinson subsequently did so and was called up on 8 May. Iain Balshaw suffered a torn thigh muscle and was replaced in the squad by Mark Cueto on 17 May. Additional players were called up when players suffered injury during the tour proper. The full list of call ups is:- Jonny Wilkinson – Added 8 May
- Mark Cueto – Added 17 May for Iain Balshaw
- Simon Shaw – Added 2 June for Malcolm O'Kelly
- Simon Easterby – Added 4 June for Lawrence Dallaglio
- Ryan Jones – Added 10 June for Simon Taylor
- Brent Cockbain – Added 26 June for Danny Grewcock, who was banned for 2 months after biting Keven Mealamu during the first test.
- Jason White – Added 27 June for Richard Hill
Management
There were 26 back room staff. After problems with the midweek team feeling disillusioned in 2001, the midweek team got their own coaches.| Name | Role | Home Country |
| Clive Woodward | Head coach |  England |
| Bill Beaumont | Tour manager | England |
| Eddie O'Sullivan | Assistant Coach |  Ireland |
| Ian McGeechan | Assistant Coach |  Scotland |
| Gareth Jenkins | Assistant Coach |  Wales |
| Andy Robinson | Assistant Coach | England |
| Louise Ramsay | Team manager | England |
| Phil Larder | Defensive coach | England |
| Mike Ford | Defensive coach | England |
| Dave Alred | Kicking coach | England |
| Dave Reddin | Fitness Coach | England |
| Craig White | Fitness Coach | England |
| David McHugh | Specialist Advisor | Ireland |
| Tony Biscombe | Video Analyst | England |
| Gavin Scott | Video Analyst | Scotland |
| James Robson | Head Doctor | Scotland |
| Gary O'Driscoll | Doctor | Ireland |
| Phil Pask | Physiotherapist | England |
| Stuart Barton | Physio/Masseur | Scotland |
| Bob Stewart | Physio / Masseur | Scotland |
| Richard Wegrzyk | Masseur | England |
| John Feehan | Chief Executive | Ireland |
| Richard Smith | Legal Support | England |
| Louisa Cheetham | Media Officer |  United States |
| Alastair Campbell | Press relations | England |
| Dave Campbell | Chef | England |
| Dave Tennison | Kit Technician | England |
Matches
Argentina
The Lions drew with the Pumas of Argentina at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 23 May in a warm-up Test match. The Pumas were without 25 players who may have made their first-choice team due to club commitments and the Lions rested many of their top players to field a second-string combination. Tour captain Brian O'Driscoll was rested, so Wales vice-captain Michael Owen took his place.The Lions looked disjointed, turning over the ball 15 times in open play. Their pack was outplayed; the Pumas shoved them off their own scrum three times. The Lions also conceded five penalties for holding on to the ball while grounded, usually because their support failed to arrive in time. In the meantime, the Pumas played a match that was almost universally called "inspired" by rugby media worldwide. The Pumas led 19–16 at half-time, and could easily have been ahead by more. The main plus for the Lions was the performance of Jonny Wilkinson, making his first appearance against international opposition since the 2003 World Cup, who set up their first try, converted it, and kicked six penalties. His last penalty saved the Lions from defeat, salvaging a 25–25 draw in the eighth minute of stoppage time. The match was granted full test status by the IRB in 2006.
Bay of Plenty Steamers
The first tour match was against the Bay of Plenty Steamers on 4 June in Rotorua. The Lions started the match strongly, with Josh Lewsey scoring a try after two minutes and then a second four minutes later. The Lions were up 17–0 after 11 minutes but the Steamers recovered for a 17–17 half-time score. The Lions controlled the second half and won 34–20. A significant injury was the fractured ankle suffered by experienced back-rower Lawrence Dallaglio, who had to withdraw from the tour.Taranaki
hosted the Lions on 8 June at New Plymouth. The first half was closely fought in more ways than one, as the Lions' Danny Grewcock and Taranaki's Paul Tito came to blows. The Amber and Blacks had a 7–6 lead at half time but soon after the break Martin Corry scored a Lions' try. Shortly afterwards, Taranaki's Andrew Hore was sin-binned for holding the ball, and the Lions took control. Consensus man of the match Charlie Hodgson kicked two penalties during Hore's absence, and the Lions kept their momentum even after Hore returned. Shane Horgan added a try and Geordan Murphy two as the Lions won 36–14.New Zealand Māori
The Maori match at Hamilton on 11 June promised to be the most competitive test lead-up, being billed by rugby media as virtually a fourth Test. In the first half, the Maori had the better of possession and tackling, but the Lions had the better of the set pieces, and the half ended 6–6.Just before the break, the Lions' Andrew Sheridan was sin-binned for punching Maori Luke McAlister. When the sin-bin period ended Sheridan was replaced by Gethin Jenkins. A McAlister penalty shortly afterwards, a Leon MacDonald try, and then a second McAlister penalty, gave the Maori a 19–6 lead. The last 15 minutes were the Lions' best period, rewarded by a Brian O'Driscoll try which was converted by Stephen Jones. The Lions threatened strongly but the Maori, inspired by their replacement first-five Carlos Spencer and stalwart captain Jono Gibbes, held on for a historic 19–13 win - their first ever over the Lions.
Wellington Lions
After the loss to the Maori, the British & Irish Lions went to Wellington to take on the city's NPC side, the Wellington Lions, on 15 June. The British & Irish Lions team was selected primarily from players in contention for the Test team, including Jonny Wilkinson in his first tour match.The British and Irish Lions had most of the possession and scoring chances, but committed numerous unforced errors when points looked likely. Tries came from Gethin Jenkins and Gareth Thomas, both converted by Wilkinson who also scored three penalties. The British & Irish Lions' 23–6 win, while seemingly showing their tour was back on track, left almost as many questions as answers. In post-match comments, O'Driscoll said "The ball was like a bar of soap out there and both sides made a lot of unforced errors," and Wellington Lions coach John Plumtree remarked, "The All Blacks would have put 50 or 60 points on us."
Otago
In their first appearance in the South Island the Lions played Otago on 18 June at Carisbrook Stadium. The stadium is known to visiting teams as the "House of Pain", particularly for the Lions who lost games to the Otago side on four previous tours. Otago began strongly and the Lions were penalised four times in the first eleven minutes, Otago converting two. The Lions' stronger scrum play brought them back into the game, and the first half was closely fought, ending 13–13. The Lions clearly had the momentum, as Will Greenwood had scored a try, converted by Charlie Hodgson, just before the break.Otago took a 16–13 lead shortly after half-time, but strong Lions scrum play led to a try by man of the match Ryan Jones, who put himself in contention for a Test position. The try and Hodgson's conversion gave the Lions a solid, though far from insurmountable, lead. Otago rallied to 20–19 with a penalty, but the Lions pulled away soon afterwards. A Hodgson penalty, Shane Williams try and Hodgson conversion took the final margin to 30–19.
Southland Stags
The Southland match at Invercargill on 21 June was the last before the first Test. Lions coach Clive Woodward announced that no players in the night's line-up would play in the Test. In the first 15 minutes, the Lions looked formidable as they took an early 10–0 lead over the Stags, keyed by a Gavin Henson try. However, they became disjointed and by half-time had turned over the ball 14 times and were considered lucky to be ahead 10–3 at the break.The first few minutes of the second half were even worse for the Lions, as Hale T-Pole scored a converted try. Woodward immediately substituted four players to settle down his team. T-Pole made an interception to save a Mark Cueto try, but the Lions kept the pressure on, and Henson scored his second try. The Lions then changed tactics, choosing to kick for territory more often, and were never truly threatened again, winning by 26–16.
First Test
Less than two minutes into this match against the All Blacks on 25 June at Jade Stadium in Christchurch, the Lions lost their captain Brian O'Driscoll, who suffered a dislocated shoulder after contact by Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu. Eight minutes into the game, Daniel Carter opened the scoring for the All Blacks with a penalty. Three minutes later, the Lions suffered a further blow when Paul O'Connell was sin-binned for a professional foul, and Carter kicked the penalty. Already a player short, the Lions then lost Richard Hill to injury. Ali Williams scored the first All Blacks try shortly after O'Connell returned, and the half ended with the Lions down 11–0.Carter kicked a penalty in the second half, followed by a converted try from Sitiveni Sivivatu to end the All Blacks' scoring, and Jonny Wilkinson kicked a penalty in the 56th minute to provide the Lions with their only points of the night. The 21–3 win was considered by almost every commentator to be even more one-sided than the score indicated. The Lions' sloppy set-piece play included ten losses of their own line-outs.
It was announced post-match that three injured Lions were out for the rest of the tour—O'Driscoll and Hill from incidents in the match, and Tom Shanklin for inflammation from an existing knee injury. Also, Danny Grewcock was suspended for two months after he was cited for biting All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu.
O'Driscoll injury incident
At a ruck early in the match, New Zealand captain Tana Umaga and hooker Keven Mealamu attempted to clear Brian O'Driscoll from the ruck, each lifting one of his legs before driving him towards the ground. O'Driscoll's shoulder was dislocated upon landing, ending his tour. Opinions differed on the incident. The Lions staff and many British and Irish commentators believed that it was an illegal spear tackle, and Lions coach Woodward reported the pair to the IRB's citing commissioner, William Venter. Venter decided, based on the video footage available, not to refer the matter to a disciplinary tribunal. New Zealand commentators largely took the view that the two All Blacks were just clearing out the ruck and had no intention to injure O'Driscoll.Manawatu Turbos
The Lions scored their first convincing tour victory in this game at Palmerston North against NPC second division side Manawatu Turbos, winning 109–6. They led 38–6 at half time and scored 71 unanswered points in the second. Welshman Shane Williams scored five tries to help the Lions post their all-time record score in New Zealand, surpassing their 64–5 victory over Marlborough/Nelson 46 years ago.Tries were shared by Williams, Ronan O'Gara, Mark Cueto, Geordan Murphy, Charlie Hodgson, Jason Robinson, Martin Corry, Neil Back, Gareth Cooper, Gordon D'Arcy and Ollie Smith, with Manawatu restricted to two Jonathan Hargreaves penalties.
Lock Donncha O'Callaghan and flanker Martyn Williams both retired at half-time but had impressed enough to secure Test selection for the next Saturday. Murphy also impressed at full-back but it was wing Williams, with elusive running and awareness, who most thrilled Lions supporters.
Second Test
From the high point against Manawatu, the Lions fell to a low in the second Test at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on 2 July, losing 48–18 and conceding the highest number of points against a New Zealand team in a Test.Woodward selected a radically different Test squad from the one that had been embarrassed in Christchurch a week earlier, replacing eleven players. Key to the Lions' hopes of staying in the series was Woodward's decision to add several of the Welsh team that won the Grand Slam in the 2005 Six Nations.
The Lions started strongly, with captain Gareth Thomas scoring a try under the posts and Jonny Wilkinson converting two minutes in. A minute later, Wilkinson hit the post with a penalty attempt, but gathering the rebound the Lions were in a good attacking position when Paul O'Connell was penalised for diving over a ruck. The All Blacks settled down and then scored through two Daniel Carter penalties before he set up their first try, racing 50 metres off a turnover before offloading to captain Tana Umaga to score near the posts. Although the rest of the half remained close, the All Blacks went into the break with a 21–13 lead.
The second half turned into a showcase for New Zealand in general and Carter in particular. He scored two tries, converted three, kicked two penalties, and constantly kept the Lions on the back foot with his distribution. Flanker Richie McCaw powered his way over for a try after Carter missed a hat trick by a matter of inches. Rugby media were in virtually unanimous agreement that the Lions were greatly improved and that the All Blacks were dominant. Carter's tally of 33 points broke the all-time record for points by an All Black against the Lions.
Auckland
Having lost the Test series on the previous Saturday, the mid-week Lions came to Eden Park with something to prove. Refereed by New Zealander Steve Walsh, the match was marked by the Lions' inability to find touch and Auckland's willingness to attack and run the angles. Auckland gave up some guaranteed points from early penalties to take the Lions on in set piece play. Auckland tighthead prop John Afoa was denied a try after a tap and run saw him held up in goal. A series of handling errors throughout the first half let Auckland down and saw the Lions to a 14–3 lead at the half. The second half saw the Lions give away points to a stoic Auckland pack and the scoreline was narrowed to 14–13 Lions lead. A late Ronan O'Gara penalty saw the Lions extend to a 4-point winning margin of 17–13. This victory completed an impressive clean sweep of matches for the mid week Lions against host Unions throughout New Zealand.Third Test
Following two early penalties by Stephen Jones, the Lions led 6–0 and things looked promising for them. All Black captain Tana Umaga was sin-binned for killing the ball, but even without their captain, the All Blacks managed to score two tries, by Conrad Smith and Ali Williams, both converted by Luke McAlister. The Lions were awarded two more penalties, which Stephen Jones kicked, but just before the break, Umaga scored a try to give the All Blacks a half-time lead of 24–12.Seven minutes into the second half Umaga scored another try. Soon after, scrum-half Byron Kelleher was replaced by Justin Marshall, who then played his final half-hour of All Black rugby. Another All Black try was thwarted when Jerry Collins was sin-binned for a late tackle. The All Blacks then spent several minutes defending as the Lions pushed towards the line from within ten meters, and after a long struggle Lewis Moody managed to score, making it 31–19. Both sides made errors that cost them tries. Sitiveni Sivivatu had two very close calls but it was Rico Gear who followed his own deep kick to toe the ball over the line and score a fine individual try. McAlister converted, giving him a 100 percent kicking rate, to make the full-time score 38–19.