 Probyn won 37 caps for England in the front row |
Former England rugby union prop Jeff Probyn says the Lions' series whitewash by New Zealand is the fault of coach Sir Clive Woodward. The Lions flew back to Britain on Monday after being beaten 3-0 in the Test series by the All Blacks.
"Clive has to take the blame. He was the one who made the promises," said former England prop Probyn.
"He asked for total control, got everything he wanted and then promised the Lions would come back victorious."
Probyn, who as England under-21 team manager worked with Woodward from 1995 to 97, insisted the Lions' defeat will give people a clearer idea about Woodward's true standing as a coach.
"He can't now say it was one of those things that they lost and it was a successful tour, because it clearly wasn't," said Probyn, who won 37 England caps.
"It was all about winning the Tests. If we'd won, Clive would be telling everybody what a great coach he is.
"He took the credit for England's World Cup success while ignoring all the disappointing performances he presided over in the years before that - the 1999 World Cup failure, all the Grand Slam misses.
"He then releases a book called 'Winning' when the reality is that as a coach he has spent more time losing.
"There's no getting away from the fact he played a part in winning the World Cup but this Lions series has brought public perception of Clive's ability closer to the reality understood by those who know him.
"The public's perception of what he contributed to the 2003 World Cup success has been very different to the reality."
Probyn also attacked the decision to take former Labour spin doctor Alistair Campbell to New Zealand as the Lions' media officer.
"The Campbell situation was a disaster and was always going to be a disaster," said Probyn.
"The fact Campbell gave a team talk to the players is ludicrous and insulting beyond belief.
"What the hell does he know about playing rugby at any level, let alone at Test level?"
Woodward is expected to join Southampton Football Club next month, prompting Probyn to issue Saints boss Harry Redknapp with a word of warning.
"Harry Redknapp will have to be a very good football manager if he is going to deal with Clive week in, week out," he said.
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Harry Redknapp will have to be a very good football manager if he is going to deal with Clive week in, week out
