Lions out to hit ground running

The British & Irish Lions open the 2013 tour in the Hong Kong heat today with instructions to hit the ground running and show the ruthlessness and intensity that will be required to defeat Australia this summer.

A tour match against a scratch Barbarians side pummelled by a second-string England side at Twickenham just six days ago may have all the characteristics of a gentle warm-up, particularly given the loose interpretation of a self-imposed booze ban by some of the Baa-Baas in Hong Kong this week.

Regardless of what the opposition bring to the table, Lions defence coach Andy Farrell insists the tourists will be playing at full tilt with just six games to prepare for the first Test against the Wallabies on June 22.

“You want an intense game, even if the scoreline runs away a little bit. You can still keep it intense,” Farrell said yesterday. “The attitude of our guys is that we need to keep the foot on the gas and be ruthless because we have to be able to play for a full 80 minutes to win a Test series against Australia. That’s what it will take and we’ve got to get up to that as soon as we possibly can.”

Paul O’Connell will lead the Lions in the absence of injured tour captain Sam Warburton and the Munster and Ireland lock is in strong company amongst a starting XV that despite the absence of those players involved in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Aviva Premiership finals last weekend, looks capable of generating the intensity that Farrell demands who is confident the team can hit the ground running.

“They’re ready to go,” he said. “I don’t think there’ll be one game-plan and that’s what’s been very impressive. This side can play how you want. They’re big and powerful and their contact skills are very good. They can play a wide, expansive game, hit you on the counter-attack, as good as any team I’ve seen. They can keep it tight, pick and go, drive them, whatever way you want to play it, these guys can do it. And the game should be like that because you can’t go out with a mindset of ‘this is what you’ve got to do’, because each game will take a different way as it unfolds.

“On top of that, we’ve got good generals who will direct the team around the field and good leadership on the field as well. That’s what has been impressive for me. They can play it a lot of different ways.”

While some members of this exciting Barbarians XV may have been enjoying the odd glass of wine at the racetrack this week, in keeping with Baa-Baas tradition, the Lions management are expecting a reaction from the Dai Young-coached outfit following that 40-12 reverse in London.

“If you look at their 8-9-10 hinge, they’re all world-class players,” said Rob Howley.

“I’ve got great admiration for Sergio Parisse, and with players like Yachvili and Nick Evans it’s important that we don’t give them the time to make decisions because they are going to hurt you. That’s something which we will need to do in our games in Australia and it’s important at the weekend that we stop that combination from working effectively.”

No warm-up here, then, just an intent to start as these 2013 Lions mean to go on when they reach Australia.