Fitzpatrick has high hopes for Ford's future

Published on Wednesday 22 April 2009 23:21

SEAN Fitzpatrick knows a thing or two about beating South Africa in a Test series in their own backyard having been the only All Blacks captain to achieve the feat in 1996.

The former hooker was hoping that young Scot Ross Ford would be part of the British and Irish Lions' attempt to repeat what they achieved in 1997 and 1974, as he is mentoring the 24-year-old under the Winning Scotland Foundation/SRU 'Winning Mentors' programme.

Fitzpatrick, who won 92 caps for New Zealand, has been advising Ford on areas of his game to improve and he believed the Borderer's development would have taken a major stride forward in South Africa. However, he believes that the 2009 tour has perhaps come one year too early for his pupil.

"I'm obviously very disappointed for Ross," he said. "But you look at the forwards selectors, Warren Gatland and Graham Rowntree, and they know what they want.

"There was an argument for taking Euan Murray and Ross because they have proven they are a good combination for Scotland against good sides like South Africa and New Zealand, but the Lions coaches have picked a team to play a certain style of rugby, and while Euan and Ross are obviously good together they clearly see other combinations of guys in form that they believe will gel very quickly out in South Africa.

"In terms of size, Ross would have added quite a bit alongside Euan, but the coaches also made a big point about form and you can see that in the squad they have chosen. Jerry Flannery and Lee Mears have played pretty well in the Test matches and in the Magners League and Premiership, and Gatland and Shaun Edwards know plenty about Matthew Rees and what he can do. The Lions coaches have been watching the players week-in week-out and they obviously see something in the trio that have been selected that they don't see in Ross."

Fitzpatrick believes that were Ford to be called up as a replacement he would have no problem dealing with the South Africans, and insisted his attitude and ability to shrug off the disappointment of not being initially selected made him the ideal replacement should a hooker fall by the wayside.

"If he gets the call-up at a later stage, I've no doubt he'll do himself and Scotland proud, and if he has to wait another four years he'll be a better player for the experience," he said. "Sometimes you have to wait a little, but I'm confident Ross' time will come."