Discipline key to success for Lions

Howley warns players against thinking about anything other than their jobs today

The British & Irish Lions are 80 minutes away from an all-too-rare series victory, but woe betide any tourist already picturing his name up in lights.

The appeal of achieving rugby immortality in Britain and Ireland as one of a select group of players to have returned from the southern hemisphere as a series winner is a siren call the Lions are extremely wary of as they head into today’s second Test with Australia.

Like all decent tragedies, answering the call would only end one way and Warren Gatland’s coaching staff are urging their players to resist temptation and concentrate on beating the Wallabies for the second successive Saturday rather than imaging the glory that would follow such an outcome under the Etihad Stadium roof today (11.05am Irish time).

“If you dare to dream it turns into a nightmare,” assistant coach Rob Howley said yesterday. “The players are very focused, they’ve been very task-orientated this week and they’ve got on with their job and that’s what you have to do in a Test match of this nature.

“You focus on your job, every 30 seconds, every minute, because if you dare to think about what you’regoing to create in the future, that doesn’t happen. It’s about making sure you’re accountable. International rugby is about keeping your discipline and this group of players for the last six weeks on and off the field have been absolutely fantastic in their discipline, in their preparation for their games, and also looking after themselves off the field.”

The fortunate nature of the 23-21 first-Test victory in Brisbane seven days ago should be fresh enough in the memory to bring that task in hand into even sharper focus. But for an unfortunate slip in the cut-up Suncorp Stadium turf, Kurtley Beale would have most likely sent over a game-winning penalty for Australia and it would have been a very different scenario facing the Lions this morning.

As it is, the Wallabies present a formidable challenge with the Lions having lost the leadership, lineout smarts and breakdown nous of Paul O’Connell, as well as the superior scrummaging technique of loosehead prop Alex Cobrisiero. The inclusion of destructive-type blindside flanker Dan Lydiate ahead of the more rounded Tom Croft is a calculated risk on Gatland’s part, as is the lack of specialist lineout cover on the bench, with the head coach naming Croft as a replacement ahead of a lock in the hope the Leicester and England man can, alongside fellow back-rower Sean O’Brien, bring some much-needed impact in the second half, given that Australia finished the first Test much the stronger.

The home side can also welcome back the fit-again midfield of Adam Ashley-Cooper and Christian Leali’ifano, both of whom failed to finish the first Test, the latter not making it past the first minute.

They also look stronger with Beale starting at full-back in place of the injured Berrick Barnes, while the stricken Digby Iaone is replaced on the wing by the sizeable presence of Joe Tomane. Looming large on the other wing is Israel Folau, who underlined his credentials as a coming force in the game after a switch from league earlier this year with an outstanding two-try Test debut.

There is plenty to occupy the Lions defensively and we can expect to see another furious opening to proceedings once Craig Joubert sounds the first whistle.

“There’s no doubt the Wallabies are going to come out and they’ll want to play rugby,” Howley said. “That’s the only way they want to play. We have to focus on what we need to do. There’s a learning process which occurred last week and we’ve tweaked things in attack and defence. No doubt Australia will present something different to us. It’s about being alert, not allowing them to take quick tap penalties or quick lineouts.”

Folau’s tries last week both came on the counter as the Lions failed to think on their feet. Gatland and his coaches have this week re-emphasised the absolute necessity of maintaining discipline, composure and patience in order to seize the moment and take the opportunities that present themselves, while avoiding the wrath of the referee — only the poor kicking form of the Wallabies let the Lions off the hook for a high penalty count.

“In the hurly burly of the battle, the emotional intelligence, good decision-making, being accurate, that’s what Test-match football is about and the side that’s been selected, we feel we’ve got Test-match animals that have made those decisions in games and understand what’s required,” Howley added. “Let’s hope we’re right.”

The Australians may be in do-or-die territory but the Lions have to think similarly and at 1-0 up the momentum is with them. They cannot afford to let the Wallabies level the series and head to Sydney in seven days on the back foot. That is what happened here in 2001 and the turn of events has haunted Brian O’Driscoll ever since, prompting some emotive words from him this week.

The emotion, though, will have to be measured come kick-off this morning. Destiny awaits the 2013 Lions but they need cold, sharp minds and steely bodies to fulfil their mission.