Sexton’s golden opportunity to prove he’s no fly-by-night
THE ALL BLACKS’ alchemy is a simple one. Accuracy of thought and deed, at speed, sees them home more often than not, regardless of opposition.
Lions coach Warren Gatland is fast running out of time and options to find his own sorcery.
There is talk of a raft of reinforcements being called in from nearby tours, but that is more likely to bump up the numbers for Tuesday’s game against the Chiefs to keep the Test squad safe for next Saturday’s date with destiny.
Gatland himself spoke of keeping some of his first-Test combinations up his sleeve, of keeping the All Blacks guessing, but in truth he does not have much choice.
The loss of Billy Vunipola before the party even gathered and the injury suffered by Owen Farrell on Thursday, making the playmaker a doubt for Auckland, saw to that.
So what you see this morning is likely to be very close to what you get in a week’s time. And an awful lot now rests on Johnny Sexton’s shoulders.
The Ireland fly-half was far from fluent in the tour opener, when Farrell replaced him to engineer the win, but had improved a little – although he could not spark victory – against the Blues and more still in the win over the Crusaders, leading Gatland to suggest Sexton has rediscovered his “mojo”.
If he has – and the only evidence that counts will be his performance against the Maori All Blacks today – Gatland can breathe a little easier.
Few on the tour know Sexton better than his Leinster and Ireland team-mate Sean O’Brien, and he is certain the fly-half is close to finding his best form. “Johnny was really sharp against the Crusaders. It was probably a difficult game to come into off the bench but he was up to speed straight away,” said O’Brien.
“He did look sharp and he was crisp again, and bossing us around like Johnny does. You know he’s on it when he’s giving it out to you a lot.
“You give him a bit of a cuddle sometimes and he perks up and gets his head back in the game.
“He’s a competitor and someone who doesn’t like losing, and that can be tough. He puts pressure on himself at times but I wouldn’t have him any other way. I’d rather him barking and yapping at us than not saying a word.
“You’ll get the normal Johnny against the Maori. Nothing changes for him. He’s a perfectionist. He’ll prepare as normal, he’s excited.
“Obviously losing somebody to an injury is a blow but with the calibre of player we have, there’s other lads to fill the void.
“You have Ben Te’o, Jon Davies, Robbie Henshaw – a lot of lads there who can cover that 10-to-12 position and Johnny obviously
would be pulling the strings. Owen Farrell has a lot of experience and has been playing very, very well, and he’s a good leader for us.
“He’d be a loss obviously but with the quality of lads we have, someone else can fill that slot.”
O’Brien knows too that he has been given the perfect platform to prove that Sam Warburton will not be missed when it comes to the All Blacks at Eden Park.
Warburton has been struggling with injury and while his decisionmaking was again superb against the Highlanders in midweek, he looked undercooked.
O’Brien starts today knowing the blindside jersey is his if he performs.
The same is true across the field – positions for the first Test are there to be retained rather than won.
If any names are written in pencil rather than pen, it is Jamie George at hooker with Ken Owens pushing, Alun Wyn Jones is an option to break up the all-Saracens second row of Maro Itoje and George Kruis, and Leigh Halfpenny needs to show some attacking intent, although his reliable boot makes him difficult to leave out. But it is the back row that will be critical, as Samoa captain Kahn Fotuali’i eloquently pointed out with his advice after the All Blacks rattled in 12 tries against his men last night.
“Defend well,” the Bath scrumhalf said. “When you turn the ball over they capitalise on it. It was tough.”
Samoa coach Alama Ieremia added: “Good luck to a team that turns the ball over against them. They took their opportunities.
“They were pretty impressive in their finishing and any weakness you show you get punished.”
The Lions have been warned – as if they needed it.