My place is in jeopardy – Vickery
PHIL VICKERY says his selection for the second Test against South Africa on Saturday in Pretoria could be in question following his performance against the world champions.
The Lions narrowly lost 26-21 in the three-Test match series opener in Durban after the former Gloucester tight-head prop was given a torrid time in the scrum by the Springboks' Tendal Mtawarira.
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Phil Vickery being replaced by Adam Jones as the Lions were defeated by South Africa
The 33-year-old has thrown his battered body into thousands of scrums over a long career, but he was left baffled by decisions of New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence.
On two occasions Vickery was penalised in his own half, which led to the hosts adding another vital six points to their tally.
After being hauled off five minutes into the second period following a heated conversation with the match official at the break, Vickery says he will accept whatever decision head coach Ian McGeechan now makes.
"It is strange because I had a couple of bad scrums but he (the referee) was saying about not boring in with the shoulder and not going around the outside, but I don't know," said Vickery, who lives in Gloucestershire.
"It is difficult to judge, but you have just got to take that and whatever the repercussions of that will be, you have just got to get on with it.
"If I am not selected for next week then that's life, you have to move on with it. You have to worry about that when the guys announce the team.
"But I am not going to get down about it. I am disappointed with my performance, but it is about the team.
"Whatever happens for next Saturday I have to make sure I do everything I can to make sure the team is successful whether I am involved or not."
Vickery's captain Paul O'Connell backed his team-mate.
"Bryce said that Phil was constantly boring in," he said. "I didn't think so but it is hard to see.
"Phil is a very experienced player and how he was seen to be making the same mistake four or five times in a row is beyond me."
McGeechan will take the matter up with International Rugby Board referees chief Paddy O'Brien as part of the official protocol before the second Test.
● Former Painswick prop Tim Payne, now of London Wasps, has been called up to the Lions squad as cover for Andrew Sheridan.
Swindon-born Payne who is a graduate of the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester played for Painswick during the early years of his career.
3 Comments
by Pom in Oz, Adelaide AUS
Tuesday, June 23 2009, 2:21AM
“Could it maybe be that your past it Phil, come on mate you have had a great career swith England and your respective clubs.
Maybe its time to hang up your boots and call it a day, after all the injuries you have had i am suprised your body has let you go on this long.
Respect to you tho mate, in all you have achieved.”
by Neil, Gloucester
Monday, June 22 2009, 9:18PM
“Phil Vickery must take some of the blame for his performance and I am sure wil be replaced on Saturday. However, Tim Payne, a British and Irish Lion.... Talk about devalueing the shirt.”
by Nick, Linden
Monday, June 22 2009, 9:56AM
“There are a lot of weasel words being spoken. Phil Vickery's ability to scrummage has been dubious at the best after the serious injuries he had at Gloucester. He was murdered. It wasn't interpretation that ejected vertically out of the first two scrums and with the fact that his repacement Jones did not have the problems he had only leads me to think that the Boks will be desperate for Vickery to hold his place.
It also gives me a warm feeling that the Wasps management have called up another sub standard Wasps prop into the squad.”