Time for Sir Clive to earn his spurs

For the thousands of fans already Down Under and many more getting up here early on Saturday morning bleary eyed to go down the pub or pull up their armchairs, the Lions were a bitter disappointment against the New Zealand Maori.

Billed as the 'fourth Test' the Lions failed dismally to pass any of the examinations set by the fired up Maori team full of traditional pride.

They appeared rudderless without any direction, badly missing a leader of real mettle and there seemed no plan of action.

Indeed, caught between two stools, the Welsh rapier and the English bludgeon, the Lions got nowhere, and were overwhelmed at ruck and maul where Martyn Williams never stood a chance.

Now it's back to the drawing board, and unless the Lions win their next three games against Wellington, Otago and Southland pretty convincingly the Test series could well be a write-off.

So now is the time for Sir Clive to start earning his spurs. He has been given every conceivable aid to help make this only the second time for a British Lions team to win a Test series in New Zealand.

He's so far used a massive 49 players, many of whom will make just one start on the tour, which has already involved ridicule at home and abroad. Graham Henry hasn't been slow with the odd sarcastic comment.

On top of that the Lions have got a 19-strong entourage ranging from midweek coaches to fitness chiefs, physios, doctors, technical adviser, chef, lawyer, public relations guru, Press officers, you name it they've got it.

Money and resources have been thrown at the Lions, which means there will be a heavy price to pay if the Test series goes down the pan.

And if it goes badly wrong, which could well be the case given the different pace the rivals appear to be playing the game, there will be a huge inquest. And Sir Clive will be at the heart of it, rightly so.

Given that his back is very much against the wall already, the signs are that he will revert to what he knows best - his England entourage.

He has kept Jonny Wilkinson back and wrapped in cotton wool for as long as he possibly can after all his injury problems so that he finally launches him against Wellington tomorrow.

A half decent game and Wilkinson will be in for the first Test, and so will Neil Back, Jason Robinson and many of his other former England team.

Even now it's not difficult to imagine him going with as many as 11 England players in his team for the first Test including the entire pack - Andy Sheridan, Steve Thompson, Julian White, Danny Grewcock or Simon Shaw, Ben Kay, Richard Hill, Martin Corry and Neil Back plus backs Josh Lewsey, Jason Robinson and Jonny Wilkinson.

That would risk howls of protests from the Celts, but Sir Clive wouldn't give a damn about that - provided the selection works. But if it doesn't he can look out, for the cost of failure will be pretty high.

Of course, the war hasn't been lost yet, only a battle, but having seen the All Blacks smash Fiji the day before the Maori-Lions I'm sticking to my pre-tour prediction of a Test series whitewash for the Lions.

But hidings of the magnitude suffered by the smaller nations at the weekend do nothing for the game worldwide.

The Fijians leaked 91 points against New Zealand, Uruguay shipped a massive 134 points against South Africa, Canada were hammered 60-3 by Wales, Samoa had 74 points inflicted on them by Australia while Japan conceded 44 points against Ireland, though the Irish, like Wales, were well below strength.

It's the same story at every World Cup where the smaller nations appeal for help from the International Board if they are to make progress and challenge the big boys.

Platitudes are made, but precisely nothing is done and the outcome is another four years of stagnation.

I reckon the major countries want to keep it among themselves anyway so that there remain only half-a-dozen countries capable of winning the World Cup every four years. They don't want their cosy little cartel damaged.