Chris Gleadell: Murray deserves Lions call
Congratulations to Euan Murray on being the single Northampton Saint in the British & Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa over the summer.
As every pundit and supporter has been picking their own selections over the last few weeks, the names Ben Foden and to a lesser degree Dylan Hartley have featured in a few but when Ian McGeechan named the squad on Tuesday, Euan was our sole representative.
On his form this year, it's a well-deserved choice.
I have always thought Geech the master tactician, and he will have picked a squad best suited to fit his gameplan in beating the Springboks.
However, on first reading there were a few names that might have raised an eyebrow or two and not for them being maverick choices.
While it is good to see the likes of Leigh Halfpenny get the nod, you do wonder what the likes of Simon Shaw, Joe Worsley and Phil Vickery will bring to the party on this year's form.
Of course, all three play for Wasps, who McGeechan coaches.
Those with long memories will remember him getting lambasted by all for picking too many Saints the last time the Lions toured there a dozen years ago, and look what happened then.
He has been getting the same stick this time round, especially from other clubs' supporters, but I have a sneaking feeling once he gets them all together as a group he might just prove an awful lot of people wrong. Time will tell.
It was not just the 1st XV hitting the heights over the last week, the second string were doing the business too.
On Monday night down at Henley the Wanderers won their first leg of their Guinness A League final against Wasps 26-10.
The result was all the more remarkable because the Wanderers were down to 13 men at one stage but hung on defensively by their fingertips.
And not only a well done to the team, but to all those supporters who found their way to Henley on Monday too.
A Wasps supporter commented this week that it was like a home game for the away team, as the travellers made themselves heard.
Of course it is not all over yet.
The Wanderers defend that 16-point lead in the second leg at the Gardens on Monday night.
Kick-off is at 7.30pm, and if you can do so, get along to give them your support.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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