Thomas, who scored the first of the Lions’ tries in Saturday night’s 48-18 hammering in the second Test in Wellington, had no complaints with the defeat or the manner in which the All Blacks won, but he did say that if the Lions lie down and roll over in Auckland later this week, it will be an utter disgrace.
“We cannot do that,” said Thomas. “If we go out there and give up just because the series is lost it will be a disgrace. We will have let everyone down including ourselves. We have to go out and make sure that we finish the tour on a winning note.”
However, it will be a tough task against a side that Thomas has described as the best in the world. He added: “It was an honour to lead the side and I was delighted with the manner in which we came out at them. Unfortnately after that, they hit us hard and to be honest they taught us a few lessons on the night. They are certainly the greatest team in the world and we have no complaints about the result.”
Meanwhile former Wales boss Graham Henry believes the Lions would have been better off doing things the ‘Welsh way’. Henry, who was celebrating the All Blacks success in Wellington, suggested that the Lions had done a number of things wrong on this tour. Henry said that the Lions would have done far better had they have copied Mike Ruddock’s Grand Slam stars.
“I think Wales play a good game and I like the look of that,” said Henry. “Maybe the Lions would have been better looking at the way they play. They use the ball really well and I think Steve Hansen has had a lot to do with that. Honestly, the message to how things are done was really close to the English border.”
Meanwhile, Sir Clive Woodward has named Martyn Williams and Michael Owen in the starting line-up for Tuesday’s game against Auckland at Eden Park, with fellow Grand Slam winner Brent Cockbain on the bench. Scotland back row Jason White gets his first start since replacing the injured Richard Hill.
British & Irish Lions v Auckland
Tuesday 5th July 2008, 8.10am (BST)
Lions
G Murphy
M Cueto
W Greenwood
G D’Arcy
D Hickie
C Hodgson
M Dawson
G Rowntree
G Bulloch (capt)
J Hayes
S Shaw
B Kay
J White
M Williams
M Owen
Replacements
A Titterell
M Stevens
B Cockbain
M Corry
C Cussiter
R O’ Gara
S Horgan
