Warren Gatland gets it wrong so, so badly
It came, it went, we all left disappointed. In too few areas did the Lions show they could compete with the might of the All Blacks machine. At times it was like a Ferrari racing a VW Golf. The Lions weren’t poor but save a magic moment started by Liam Williams, and finished by the superb Sean O’Brien, they would’ve been even further adrift. It has to be considered that 12 of the Lions 15 points came from that moment and right at the death when the game was already lost. The gulf wasn’t the 15 points it was on paper, it could easily have been 27 points or more.
Let’s start with selection. Arguably it was the best front row the Lions could’ve fielded; however, Mako Vunipola didn’t step up to the level expected and Tadgh Furlong was outdone at the scrum at times and largely non-existent in the loose. Jamie George went about his business without really setting the field alight.
George Kruis made a couple of errors at key moments and Alun Wyn Jones looked knackered after 15 minutes. He hasn’t played well for the Ospreys or Wales this season and for him to be starting in a Test for the Lions shows Gatland playing favourites once again. Maro Itoje has such a bigger impact and can combat the All Blacks physicality better that there is a very strong argument to thank AWJ for his service and replace him in the squad altogether. The Lions showed though that they don’t have anyone to match Brodie Retallick.
The back row performed with accuracy and can should keep their places for the next Test; however, I wouldn’t be surprised if Gatland uses a First Test defeat to install not just the underwhelming tour captain Sam Warburton, but also his compatriot Justin Tipuric. Let’s hope not. Kieran Read was simply magnificent, with 18 carries to his name, and I really don’t think Sam Warburton or Justin Tipuric are up to it quite frankly.
I have to say I’m going to applaud Connor Murray, he was obviously asked to play applaud box kicking game but too often it gifted possession back to a dangerous and electric All Black backline, with Rieko Ioane opening up the razzle dazzle cupboard and punishing the Lions. The one handed scoop from Beauden Barrett 5 minutes in, whilst racing backwards, was a moment of pure genius and shows how special this kid really is. Owen Farrell was outclassed by his opposite number.
There wasn’t too much else to write home about, all solid with some moments of class but for Liam Williams’ moment of class he failed to collect a high ball which led to Ioane’s second try. Too often did this happen and the Lions were caught napping.
You could argue the Lions set the stage early on when applying the pressure to the All Blacks yet conceded a soft offside penalty and let them off the hook. It must’ve been frustrating for much of the 48,000 crowd at Eden Park in Auckland, which was large swathes of Lions red.
What Next?
Well, only a bold and imaginative selection quite frankly. Two words not normally associated to Warren Gatland or any of his most recent sides. The tried and trusted; the strong and balanced; the low risk selection hasn’t worked. The Lions need to ‘have a go’ and I think the fans would forgive a hammering defeat if they did that. Meek, low risk selections and performances just won’t cut it.
Now don’t get me wrong, Gatland and the Lions coaches are the professionals, this is their day job, they are best placed to decide upon these things but sometimes you can’t help but wonder, “just go for it, and be adventurous.”
So here is my selection for the Second Test, a selection to light up the paddock a little bit and inject an “unknown” into the proceedings:
15 Williams, 14 Watson, 13 Joseph, 12 Te’o, 11 Daly, 10 Farrell, 9 Murray; 1 M Vunipola, 2 George, 3 Sinckler, 4 Itoje, 5 Lawes, 6 O’Mahoney, 7 O’Brien, 8 Faletau
16 Best, 17 McGrath, 18 Furlong, 19 Kruis, 20 CJ Stander, 21 Webb, 22 Russell, 23 North
Norfolk wholesale changes, but tweaked here and there. I think the game plan needs changing more than the personnel. Why not gamble? Keep it relatively tight at the beginning and throw the unknown into it when the AB’s are least expecting it. That’s why I have included Finn Russell on the bench. Russell plays a high risk brand of rugby that you either love or hate. He’ll take the ball to the line and quite happily take the hit all day long for the good of the team. Give him a chance for 20 minutes if the Lions need a moment of magic.
It is by no means over and I am fully of the belief that the vast majority of the players that took to the field yesterday can do so again and produce a different result. I hope I am wrong, I fully intend to don my red jersey and cheer on the boys until I have no voice left, let’s just have a go at them.
It’s the tactics not the individuals.
Mike
Revo Rugby - Grow the Game! 