SOUTH AFRICA: RUGBY - Lions assistant coach Rowntree confident ahead of the opening match of their South Africa tour

Record ID: 452218

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: RUGBY - Lions assistant coach Rowntree confident ahead of the opening match of their South Africa tour
  • Date: 30th May 2009
  • Summary: RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (MAY 29, 2009) (REUTERS) WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS ASSISTANT COACH GRAHAM ROWNTREE SAYING: "He's a real competitor (British Lions captain Paul O'Connell), very professional how he goes about with things. What has impressed me about him, he is obviously under a lot of pressure as the captain of the Lions. He has not said very much, he has not said things that need not to be said, he's said things at the right time. That's a great characteristic of a captain, I thought Martin was very good at that, just comparing him to Martin Johnson - he was very good at that. I've been very impressed what he said at the right time. He has not gone overboard and just his ethic in the way he goes about his business is exemplary." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS ASSISTANT COACH GRAHAM ROWNTREE SAYING: "We have various contingency plans with all the backup options we have, we can make decisions right at the day of the game." (REPORTER ASKING QUESTION) "We'll sort that out in the morning, we have enough guys to put in all positions, everybody has trained well, all the backrows have trained in all the positions, and we are able to make that decisions on those guys tomorrow." END OF NEWS CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF THE ROYAL BAFOKENG STADIUM
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA6C1CIAMSDIHDJVMHPMALX2SR0
  • Story Text: Nine players will make their debuts for the British and Irish Lions on Saturday (May 30) in the opening match of their South Africa tour against the Royal XV.
    Irish centre Keith Earls, the youngest player on tour at 21, and 22-year-old Welshman Jamie Roberts will form a fresh centre pairing although there is plenty of experience in the line-up with Martyn Williams, Ronan O'Gara and Simon Shaw all beginning their third Lions' tour.
    Paul O'Connell will captain the side for the match in Phokeng, the first of six warm-up matches before the first Test against South Africa in Durban on June 20.
    "He's a real competitor (British Lions captain Paul O'Connell), very professional how he goes about with things. What has impressed me about him, he is obviously under a lot of pressure as the captain of the Lions. He has not said very much, he has not said things that needn't to be said, he's said things at the right time. That's a great characteristic of a captain," Lions assistant coach Graham Rowntree told a news conference on Friday (May 29).
    The Lions held their first on-field training session on Tuesday (May 26) morning and forwards coach Warren Gatland reported everyone had taken part, including centre Brian O'Driscoll.
    English forward Joe Worsley will win his first Lions cap alongside Andy Powell and Martyn Williams.
    "We have various contingency plans with all the backup options we have, we can make decisions right at the day of the game. We have enough guys to put in all positions, everybody has trained well, all the backrows have trained in all the positions," Rowntree said.
    Team: 15-Lee Byrne, 14-Tommy Bowe, 13-Keith Earls, 12-Jamie Roberts, 11-Shane Williams, 10-Ronan O'Gara, 9-Mike Blair, 8-Andy Powell, 7-Martyn Williams, 6-Joe Worsley, 5-Paul O'Connell (captain), 4-Simon Shaw, 3-Adam Jones, 2-Matthew Rees, 1-Andrew Sheridan
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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