Lions must rise to the test

IN a game billed as an unofficial “fourth Test”, the Lions faced their first real challenge of the tour on Saturday and were found wanting.

After two wins against provincial opposition in the opening games, the step up in quality against the New Zealand Maori produced an indication of the stiff challenges that lie ahead.

The emotional baggage surrounding the final game with the Maoris for Carlos Spencer and coach of 10 years, Matt Te Pou, inspired the New Zealanders. Their reward was a first victory over the Lions in their proud history. In truth, the winning margin of six points hardly reflected their dominance.

With less than two weeks to go to the opening Test in Christchurch, the Lions now face an early test of character. With both Wellington and Otago lying in wait in the next two matches, Wednesday’s clash against the former now assumes a massive importance. It is a must-win game.

Prior to departure Clive Woodward had suggested that he would unveil his test side against Wellington. The difficulty now is that after four games, at best, only five players have cemented their positions. Saturday’s game proved more of an exercise in ruling out players from test selection, which is worrying.

That said, the back line picked for Wednesday, with Dwayne Peel and Jonny Wilkinson at halfback along with Brian O’Driscoll and Gavin Henson in midfield, has very much a test look about it.

The most worrying aspect of Saturday’s game was the manner in which the Lions forward unit were comprehensively outplayed. They were devoid of aggression and lack ruthlessness. Once again, the contest at the breakdown proved embarrassingly one-sided. The ability of the Maori players to stay on their feet and compete for the ball was a lesson for the tourists. In this respect, both Marty Holah and captain Jono Gibbes were outstanding. When one considers that neither will start the first Test for the All Blacks, you get an idea of the quality of loose forwards available to Graham Henry.

The Lions have serious problems in this area. In the absence of Lawrence Dallaglio, one hoped that Richard Hill would impose his undoubted class on the proceedings. However, due to injury, he has played precious little rugby this season, and it showed. We are now left hoping that Neil Back, at 36 years of age, will step forward and provide much needed continuity. While Dallaglio was undoubtedly missed for his playing ability, it seems more obvious than ever that his leadership qualities up front will be the biggest loss to the Lions.

The manner in which the Maoris dominated both possession and territory will be of major concern to the Lions management. Almost the entire opening half was played deep in their own territory. To their credit, their defence was heroic and ensured the sides were level at the interval.

It is a measure of the tourists’ lack of control that in the four games played, they have never led at the break. In the previous encounters, their superior physical condition was responsible for turning the game. This will no longer be a factor against the bigger teams.

On the positive side, there were definite signs of improvement in the Lions scrum. Yet, due to the inability of referee Steve Walsh to cope with the technicalities of this area, practically every engagement yielded a free kick. While massive Andrew Sheridan coped well with the threat posed by All Black tight head Carl Hayman, a decision on whether he is Test material is inconclusive after he failed to return after his half-time sin binning. That was a bad call. In fact, the Lions management made poor use of their reserves in attempting to alter the course of the game in the second half.

The one area where the Lions hope to dominate the All Blacks is in the line-out. This is conditional on first choice hooker Steve Thompson finding his jumpers. Once again on Saturday, he had his problems and the Lions lost five of their own throws. Shane Byrne is now playing for the Test shirt against Wellington.

At present, rival coaches Henry and Woodward are playing a game of tactical ‘cat and mouse’. Henry managed to secure a massive win over Fiji on Friday without showing too much of his hand. When one considers that the Maoris only beat Fiji by two points last week, the task facing the Lions becomes all the more apparent.

Likewise, in the games to date, the Lions have gone for ball off the top in the line-out and have rarely used their powerful maul. If the weather turns nasty in Christchurch they will need to show this aspect to their game.

However, there is greater necessity in the short term for the visitors to put together a more comprehensive team performance, otherwise confidence will be hugely affected.

Apart from the opening 10 minutes against Bay of Plenty, the Lions strike runners have been starved of opportunity. On Saturday, O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy and Josh Lewsey were offered precious little space.

D’Arcy did himself no favours in conceding a number of needless penalties. Another to disappoint was Stephen Jones. Playing his first game on tour, he failed to offer any direction from the pivotal out half position. On far too many occasions, he seemed to take first option himself to the detriment of those around him.

One also has to question the logic of holding back Wilkinson given his lack of competitive matches over the last year. All this has done is increase the level of responsibility that now rests on his shoulders for the game against Wellington. It is remarkable to think that despite playing four games since assembly, Gareth Thomas, Simon Taylor, Neil Back and Jason Robinson have yet to feature. Having to accommodate so many players has resulted in a lack of continuity in selection. Time is running out for Test combinations to generate familiarity.

Defeat against the Maori will ensure the tour party will be subjected to a rubbishing from the New Zealand media and the public. Their ability to cope with this pressure will be put to the test over the next week. Their response will shape the outcome of the tour.