HAS CASH COME BEFORE GLORY?
Off-field demands in spotlight after Lions make ‘pathetic’ start
THE LIONS were busy winning hearts and minds yesterday — earning acclaim for their singing the morning after being lambasted in these parts for the quality of their rugby.
An unconvincing 13-7 victory over a New Zealand Provincial Barbarians side containing several part- timers generated Kiwi damnation, with the tourists derided as ‘pathetic’ and ‘disgraceful’ for their stuttering efforts. The local rush to write off Warren Gatland’s squad was breathtakingly premature, but there was an alarming lack of fluency and conviction about their on-field work.
Yet, the Lions are certainly making a positive impression in other ways, as was evident when they relocated to the far north for a Maori welcome ceremony at the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds; regarded as the birthplace of the host nation. Here, the cultural challenge produced a stirring response.
The tourists were met by large crowds and massed ranks of Maori warriors. They stood quietly to face this ‘welcome’ before moving inside for further ceremonial speeches.
Then came a demonstration of squad harmony, as the Lions made the most of their regular choir practice, with renditions of
Highland Cathedral, Jerusalem,
Fields of Athenry and Calon Lan. Their efforts drew warm applause from the gathered crowds.
It was all a far cry from the previous night, when Gatland’s men had been heckled by Kiwis who were unimpressed by their performance against the Provincial Barbarians. A try by home captain Sam Anderson- Heather, a gardener, left the Lions chasing the game until Anthony Watson touched down in the 52nd minute. But even then they had to hang on for victory in a game they were expected to win easily.
In the aftermath, the talk was of jet lag and limited preparation time. In truth, those factors only went some way to explaining the paucity of the collective effort. The Lions should have been far better, even allowing for the fact that they only arrived in the country three days before the game. Stage fright could be detected in some off those in red — in the face off modest opposition.
Yet, the context is relevant. The Lions were underprepared and the New Zealand Rugby Union insisted on holding them to a prior agreement to play 10 matches, rather than have a clear week out here after their arrival. But it is also explained by the prioritising off commercial objectives over sporting ones.
There are worrying signs that profit matters more than performance. Why else would the option of sending out an advance party be rejected on the grounds that everyone had to take part in an eve- of- departure sponsors’ dinner?
Yesterday’s Maori ceremony was a gloriously non-corporate event, but even that took the Lions away from the primary task of preparing to win a Test series against the All Blacks. But the commitment to activities beyond the rugby schedule will not be amended after a stuttering start to this tour.
Asked if the Lions would consider re-arranging or cancelling any engagements to allow Gatland and his coaches to concentrate fully on the job at hand, tour manager John Spencer said: ‘No, on a Lions tour we have traditions that other tours don’t have and part of that is engaging with the community.
‘The first match of the tour is always difficult because you have just travelled. But I hope everyone will remember that we have played one, won one, and that is the important thing.’
Spencer rejected the notion that the Lions could have benefited from sending a contingent of players and coaches out to New Zealand ahead of those who were involved in domestic play- offsoffs. ‘It can be very divisive to split the squad and then try to get it back together,’ he added. ‘We are a team, not a set of disorganised players.’
However, the hurried start to this mission was certainly deemed to be an issue by those who took part in Saturday’s surprisingly tense contest against a scratch Provincial Barbarians team, who were superbly marshalled by Gatland’s son, Bryn, at fly-half. Ben Te’o was among the stand-out performers, along with Taulupe Faletau and Kyle Sinckler, but the England centre admitted that being picked was double-edged.
‘You might be slightly disadvantaged compared to if you are playing on Wednesday,’ said Te’o. ‘In teams like this, with so many special players, you have to take your chances. Maybe you should have got to the semi-finals with your club teamteam, and you’d be playing on Wednesday! Get knocked out early and you play in the first game.’
Te’o frequently ran amok in midfield, but former Leinster teammate Johnny Sexton was unable to seize the opportunity to press for Test selection at No 10, and may have damaged his prospects of starting against the All Blacks.
This morning, a new Lions lineup will have been named for the game against the Blues on Wednesday. Beyond that, Super Rugby front-runners the Crusaders lie in wait on Saturday. The tour is entering a dangerous phase. The Lions must come through the jet lag, put aside commercial distractions and establish some momentum. If they cannot do so, no amount of vocal harmony will spare them from Kiwi ridicule.