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This year's Lions are an empty shell of their former self
By Online Editors
The Lions team of 2020 is a pale shadow to the sides that reached three consecutive finals in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
The apologists will constantly point to the large number of senior players missing from the roster – through departures abroad, retirement or injury.
And that has had an impact.
However, the real issue may well be found in something far more significant and tangible.
The mien of the current crop of players can be found in the decline of their attack and defence.
Continue reading below...
The degeneration of the Lions’ defence may point to the real reason why the Lions have one win from five starts – as they hover outside the top 10.
To appropriate a phrase from South Africa’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus: ‘Defence is attitude’.
You can see how badly a team or player wants it in the way they defend.
Just look at how ‘bantams’ like Francois de Klerk, Herschelle Jantjies and Cheslin Kolbe defend and you will understand what it means.
This year, the Lions have scored just 13 tries in their five matches and conceded 21. They are scoring less than three tries per match and concede a touch over four tries per match.
The only match in which they did not concede four or more tries was against the Reds – their only win of the season, 27-20.
In 2018 the Lions scored 77 tries in 16 league matches (an average of five tries per match) and conceded 55 (3.4 per match).
In 2017 that was 81 tries scored (5.5 average) and 27 conceded (1.8 average), while in 2916 it was 71 scored (4.7 average) and 42 conceded (2.8 average).
Lions defence coach Sean Erasmus admitted defence is an issue, but felt they have been making progress.
“We are way over the goals we have set for ourselves,” Erasmus said, at the team’s training base in Auckland – ahead of their Round Seven encounter with the Blues.
“We have been working hard on certain issues within the [defensive] system, to ensure we are better,” he added.
Erasmus said the Lions’ defensive system is based on “getting in line and getting off the line” quickly.
However, not all the players seem to be on board – or ‘in line’.
“In the last couple of weeks we have been improving within that system,” he said.
“Our spacing is something we need to address to get a bit more width. With the modern defence, where teams look to put pressure on attack, a lot of teams will look to go wide.
“That is one area where we can be better at the moment.”
He admitted that one-on-one missed tackles it still an issue, with some players lacking confidence.
“It is something we are working on hard at the moment,” Erasmus said, adding: “I am quite happy with the progress of certain individuals.”
- Rugby365
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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