Lions peaking at just the right time
Iam flying to New Zealand later this week quietly confident that the Lions will be smiling on Saturday night. Warren Gatland has undoubtedly got his preparation right and they have a very decent chance of achieving an ‘ upset’ in the first Test.
They will start as underdogs but not massively so. I see a team and squad peaking at the right time — the stage is really set for an epic encounter.
There is clearly a sea change going on in rugby since the 2015 World Cup, when the southern hemisphere provided all four semi-finalists. australia are declining sharply, argentina standing still while South africa have huge issues.
an understrength England have just beaten the Pumas 2-0 in argentina, Scotland have claimed a famous win in Sydney and frankly it is only New Zealand who are truly flying the flag for the southern hemisphere at present. Is this the occasion when they too crash to the northern hemisphere?
Some things never change. If you have a world- class forward pack that can ensure quality set-piece possession and win the collisions, you are in business.
If you have a world-class kicker behind that pack you always have a chance, and the Lions are likely to field two in Owen Farrell and Leigh Halfpenny.
and if you have a physical and disciplined defence you can always hang tough and stay in the game until the chances come your way.
The Lions also possess that, having conceded just one try in their games against the Crusaders and the maori all Blacks, who both fielded stellar back divisions.
I am also reassured by the presence of Gatland at the helm.
I have been amazed at some of the criticism he copped for bringing in the four Welsh lads and the two Scots at short notice to augment the squad for the two remaining midweek games against the Chiefs and the Hurricanes. This is a man who understands what it takes to thrive down there. He also understands the Lions as well as anybody. It is misguided to suggest otherwise. He was part of a famous Waikato win over the Lions in 1993 — so he knows what it means for a Kiwi to beat the Lions — he was assistant coach with the 2009 Lions and he made the hardnosed decisions that saw the Lions emerge victorious in australia four years ago.
You do not have to agree with every decision Gatland makes but never doubt for one second that everything he does is with the sole purpose of hopefully enabling the Lions to win the Test series.
I for one am very glad it will be Gatland up on the top table this week handling the verbals which Steve Hansen, rather untypically, seems to have started.
New Zealand will get no joy out of Gatland in that respect, he gives as good as he gets and the players and fans will love him for that.
Of course, they read the press and are online every day seeing what has been said and they will love it that Gatland never backs down.
With regards to the replacements issue he is just doing what it takes. He is calling in players basically in the same time zone, which is plain common sense.
In 2005 I felt we needed to travel with two 22- man match- day squads from the start, which I still think is the right way to approach a Lions tour in New Zealand, but it was very challenging to operate.
Warren has delayed that moment for as long as possible in the tour and then, unemotionally, just brought in the reinforcements to do specific jobs in two particular games. Everything is for the common cause and those six called in are doing a valuable job and contributing to the Lions effort.
To say this is devaluing the Lions jersey is an absolute nonsense and an attitude from a bygone era.
Those same voices felt the need to publicly question Gatland when he had the temerity to leave out Brian O’Driscoll four years ago in australia.
The only thing that matters and which adds value to the Lions shirt is beating New Zealand this weekend and going on to win the Test series.