Lions: Five talking points heading into the first Test
The British and Irish Lions series against South Africa begins in Cape Town on Saturday to end months of uncertainty over whether it would actually take place due to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
Here, the PA news agency looks at five talking points ahead of the match.
TMO ON TRIAL
Controversy has marred the build-up to the first Test after Marius Jonker, a South African, was appointed as television match official for all three Tests. World Rugby has been criticised for failing to find a better alternative after New Zealand’s Brendon Pickerill was forced to pull out because of coronavirus-related travel restrictions, and Warren Gatland is rightly furious that an essential principle in international sport – neutral officiating – has been violated. Whether right or wrong, a contentious decision by Jonker could cause uproar.
FIRST TEST IMPERATIVE
A glance through the history books underlines the importance of Saturday’s collision. Only once before have the Lions come back from defeat in the first Test to win the series and that was Finlay Calder’s vintage of 1989. Four years ago they came from behind to draw with New Zealand, but it is fiendishly difficult to rebuild from a losing position. Both teams are well aware of what a victory in the opening instalment will mean, raising the stakes for the clash.
HOW READY ARE THE BOKS?
So many imponderables cling to South Africa as they enter the first Test. It will be only their second international since lifting the 2019 World Cup and no-one really knows what shape they will be in. Concerns over their rustiness aside, they have a number of players including captain Siya Kolisi and fly-half Handre Pollard who have just recovered from coronavirus and were forced to spend 10 days in self-isolation. In addition Pollard, a key figure, has endured an injury-disrupted season. The Springboks have faced major disruption and their response will be intriguing.
GATLAND ROLLS THE DICE
When details of the Lions team emerged before the official announcement, some wondered if it was a red herring. Jack Conan, Ali Price, Elliot Daly, Duhan Van Der Merwe and Stuart Hogg are all bold selections by Gatland, who has rolled the dice by opting for attacking players to create and finish tries. Each comes with risks attached yet at the same time is capable of carving up a Springboks side that was inactive for over 18 months. Gatland is an accomplished selector with a contrarian streak and his long track record of getting the big calls right will be tested again.
LOCKS AT WAR
In a match teeming with heavyweight collisions, it is the battle between second rows Maro Itoje and Eben Etzebeth that will provide the greatest fireworks. Itoje will set the physical tone for the Lions, acting as a destroyer of the Springboks in the tight and at the breakdown. Etzebeth is less destructive on opposition ball, but is a snarling aggressor who serves as South Africa’s enforcer. It is a contest between two world class operators that will underpin the entire series.
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Skelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
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