Biggest game of their lives
That will be answered today as the uncertainties surrounding the quality, form and organisation of South Africa and the British and Irish Lions will be tested to the full.
Despite the fact that the Lions arrive at this point unbeaten and appear very much a united force, there is a feeling they will not have experienced anything like the examination that will be asked of them today. From the outset, Ian McGeechan made it clear both in word and deed that everyone in the squad would be presented with the opportunity of fighting for a test. No player can complain on that front.
Yet the team announced on Thursday had a very predictable ring to it and hardly sent shivers down the spine of the Springbok squad. The biggest question surrounding South Africa is that a lot of their players are operating from memory without any meaningful game time in recent weeks. Their key player, Ruan Pienaar, for example, has only played 50 minutes of competitive rugby in the last two months.
Pieter de Villiers’ assertion earlier in the week that his team would have to use the opening 20 minutes as match practice was arrogant and could come back to haunt him.
The Lions should take their lead from the French performance last weekend when against all the odds they went to Carisbrook and beat the (admittedly under strength) All Blacks 27-22, building an impregnable defensive wall that New Zealand were unable to cope with.
It is clear from this tour, and the French triumph last week, that Super 14 players — used to more space — find it difficult to operate against a blitz defence. That is why Shaun Edwards has such a key role to play today.
One also hopes — and judging by Warren Gatland’s comments — expect the Lions will have a lot more strings to their bow both in terms of lineout variation and attacking moves than they have revealed thus far on tour. One can also expect a far more varied kicking game that is designed to put the South African back three under a lot of pressure. McGeechan has decreed that Stephen Jones is the man to do just that despite a poor showing against Western Province last week.
Both Frans Steyn at full back and Pienaar have comparatively little international experience in the positions in which they start today and the Lions must exploit that. In fact, expect a kick-fest from both teams as they each try and establish a territorial foothold in this all-important first test.
The priority for the tourists is that they dominate the opening quarter when the home side are vulnerable due to a lack of individual and collective game time and attempt to build a score. If the Boks start well and dominate physically, the Lions will be in trouble.
The intricacies and importance of the breakdown have been highlighted ad nauseum in recent weeks and the recent adjustment in the laws whereby a greater contest is allowed for possession on the deck is set to shape this game.
In any other circumstance the loss of Schalk Burger would be seen as colossal. Such is the impact of Henrick Brussow, aka The Ball Burglar, the locals are willing to put up with Burger’s absence.
For a player making his first start in the green and gold it is a heavy burden to carry. The Lions will simply have to commit more numbers to the ruck in an effort to get as many bodies between the opposition and the ball.
THE interpretation of New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence will also be key. In all their games to date the Lions have been guilty of conceding far too many penalties and must correct that tendency quickly. The absence of a proven international goal kicker in the Springbok ranks may prove a blessing in disguise.
This is a game where the respected leaders of both teams will be subject to immense pressure. John Smit has long been hailed as South Africa’s best ever captain, leading the side for the 56th time today and this side has regularly suffered in his absence.
In reality he is no longer their best hooker, Bismark du Plessis is that man, so Smit has returned to where he set out over a decade ago as a tight head prop.
Thirty five years ago Willie John McBride’s Lions conquered all before them by investing heavily in their scrum. Despite all the changes in the game since then, it has been the platform on which the current Lions can attribute their unbeaten record. That is why Gethin Jenkins will seek to expose any apparent weakness in Smit’s lack of international experience as an anchor to the Springbok scrum.
Likewise Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha will seek to undermine Paul O Connell’s presence by denying him a lineout platform. O’Connell has played well on this tour and yet is struggling for the recognition he deserves. This is the biggest game he has ever played. The Springbok lineout as a unit is a highly effective platform and the Lions need to employ plenty of variation to ensure good quality ball. It should prove a titanic contest.
For the Lions to have any chance of winning the series then everything must go right for them today. While the South Africans have painted a confident and composed image in public, internally they are concerned. They are notoriously slow starters as evidenced when they struggled in their opening two tests against Wales and Scotland last November before smashing England at Twickenham. Ditto last summer’s Tri Nations. The magnificent performance of the Blue Bulls in the Super 14 final is slightly overstated given that only five of that side start this test. Should their points machine Morne Steyn be introduced to win his first cap it could well be because Piennar has failed to deliver.
I think the Lions have a chance of causing an upset in this one but everything needs to go right for them. Creating pressure in itself will not suffice; they have to convert every single point scoring opportunity that comes their way. Even then, it may not be enough.
