Lions’ pride bruised as reality bites
Yet the foundation for this famous victory for the Brumbies can be traced directly to the complete systems failure of the Lions set-piece in the opening half.
What this game proved without question was that had the Australians the foresight and bravery to allow more of their squad partake in the earlier provincial games, the Lions unbeaten run could well have ended far sooner than this gripping contest at the Canberra Stadium.
As to what impact this result will have in advance of Saturday’s opening test remains to be seen but, in my opinion, it will be insignificant. The fact the tourists almost dragged a result out of the fire, due primarily to the impact of an excellent bench which once again Gatland introduced en masse for the last quarter, will be of little comfort as a clear divide in the standard of performance from sections within the party has now emerged.
A scrum that was put under pressure from the outset by an inexperienced Brumbies trio was completely transformed once Alex Corbisiero, Richard Hibbard and Dan Cole were introduced. Quite why that should be the case given that Matt Stephens, Rory Best and Ryan Grant had infinitely more caps between them than the entire Brumbies team is a bit of a mystery.
Stephens has had a very poor tour which has highlighted just how unlucky Mike Ross was to lose out while Rory Best’s joy at getting a reprieve after his initial non-selection will be tempered after a very poor performance. The fact that he was also captain of the first side to lose on tour will only add further to his misery.
The Lions management will be disappointed rather than distraught with this performance and result but the party will quickly put it behind them with the entire focus now set firmly on events over the next two weeks. Warren Gatland had catered for a setback of this nature even before the tour started and has always pointed out that in terms of results, winning at least two of the tests and delivering a series win is all that will be remembered.
The one decision that has backfired is the failure to select a third out-half in the original squad, especially now as there are 43 players on tour. Stuart Hogg is a talented young player but against opposition of the quality of the Brumbies, his lack of experience and game management at No 10 was badly exposed.
It is all well and good doing it against a scratch side like the Combined Country outfit but if anything happens to Jonny Sexton or Owen Farrell over the next fortnight, the Lions will have to look elsewhere. Rather than that player being well integrated into the squad at this stage, he will then be hopelessly attempting to play catch-up.
Instead of dragging in the retired Shane Williams from the Mitsubishi Dynaboars in Japan, Dan Bigger or Ian Madigan would have been a far more prudent choice. I sincerely hope that decision in relation to the absence of a third out-half doesn’t come back to haunt the Lions over the next few weeks.
ON the flip side, just days out from what promises to be one of those special rugby occasions at the Suncorp Stadium, there appears to be a massive level of uncertainty surrounding the type of challenge that Australia will pose. Wallaby coach Robbie Deans has divided the opinion of the rugby public in this country and it is fair to say the New Zealander doesn’t enjoy a lot of support.
There are even those who could live with a series loss against the Lions as it would definitely signal the end of the Kiwi’s five-year reign at the head of the national squad.
Word is that he is not all that popular either with the Queensland Reds contingent in his squad, much of that to do with the controversial omission of Quade Cooper.
Deans does little to camouflage his opinion of the flawed genius.
Speaking to a legendary former Wallaby in Sydney last weekend, he told me that when he asked Deans why he had left Cooper out of his squad, he just said “I don’t need him, mate”. That remains to be seen.
Deans appears to be staking his impressive coaching reputation on James O’Connor having a key role in opening up the Lions defence from out- half despite the fact that he has started there just once in 37 tests. We will have confirmation of that when the team is announced tomorrow.
He also appears to be prepared to gamble on selecting new rugby union recruit Israel Folau, who incredibly has also played rugby league and Australian Rules professionally in this country, on the wing. Comparisons are already been made with the impact Jason Robinson had when he starred for the Lions in the first test here in 2001 after only three substitute appearances for England.
His magical try in the opening quarter, when he left Chris Latham for dead, ignited the series. Folau has played all his rugby at full-back for the Waratahs this season and the Lions would be quite happy to see him selected on the wing on his debut as they feel it may be easier to expose his lack of experience there.
Deans has a few big decisions to make with his choice of inside-centre which will offer a clear insight into how he will set up his team. If he picks Pat McCabe, a noted favourite of his over the last few seasons and a very direct player, then he could end up playing to the Lions strengths.
If he opts to go for broke and select the in-form Christian Lealiifano for his first cap, and insiders are suggesting that he will, then the Wallabies will be less predictable with two decision-makers and gifted passers with him and O’Connor. Lealiifano has starred for the Brumbies at both out-half and centre all season and would help to take some of the heat off O’Connor.
His choice of second row to partner his captain James Horwill will also be telling. The injured Sitalek Timani would definitely have started but for breaking his thumb a few weeks ago and his physical presence will be missed. The easy option is to run with Horwill’s Reds partner Rob Simmons but he is a bit passive and could be blown away by the Lions physicality. That could open the door for Kane Douglas. Either way, the Lions should have the edge in that department despite the return to arms of the excellent Horwill, who missed all of last season due to injury.
All will be revealed tomorrow with both camps stepping out from the shadows and putting their cards on the table for the first time since the start of the tour. We will also discover for the first time the definitive state of play in relation to the fitness or otherwise of key Lions three-quarters in George North, Tommy Bowe, Manu Tuilagi and Brian O’Driscoll. For the Lions to win the series, North, Bowe and O’Driscoll must see game time in at least two tests and Sexton has to avoid any further hamstring niggles.
The margin for error has narrowed even further.
