THE LIONS ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS
Lions can ascend to greatness by beating wounded All Blacks
NEW ZEALAND’S largest city was awash with tickertape and tension yesterday. A triumphant homecoming for the country’s America’s Cup heroes took place amid fears for the other great Kiwi sporting icons.
It rained on the sailors’ parade through the streets and the euphoric locals who lined the route will be wary of the Lions doing the same to their beloved All Blacks tomorrow.
The series decider is looming. An occasion which has been likened to a World Cup final awaits and the global rugby community will be looking on enthralled. With thousands of British and Irish supporters pouring into stormy Auckland, there was a pre-match edge in both camps. Sparks and jibes were flying. At New Zealand’s training session, there were reports of punches being thrown, while north of the city at Albany, Lions players engaged in what was described as a ‘ testy’ session, with plenty of aggressive verbal exchanges.
There is no escaping what is at stake. The hosts are operating in a pressure cooker, desperate to avenge the Wellington defeat and avoid becoming only the second All Black squad to succumb to a series defeat against the Lions.
In contrast, the tourists have brushed off doubts about their break in Queenstown and resumed training in good heart ahead of their shot at immortality. The unchanged 23 know a place in folklore is within reach. Both head coaches have downplayed the significance of this grand finale taking place at Eden Park — where the All Blacks last lost in 1994.
In a sense, they have a point. It is a quirk of the record books, as the place is not remotely imposing or intimidating, and Kiwi crowds are not known for providing rabidly partisan support.
The Lions’ ‘ Red Army’ will undoubtedly win the vocal battle but that is no guarantee of success on the scoreboard.
If the whole event lives up to what took place in Wellington last Saturday, it will be another epic. It is impossible to imagine that any of these players or coaches will ever be involved in a bigger one-off fixture.
Whatever transpires, the Lions concept is safe and vibrant. Another classic contest would provide further ammunition against the calendar-grab being led by English clubs.
Their negotiators must be following events out here in despair, as they witness the mass adulation for this four-nation crusade.
So much has already been done to secure the future, but that is not sufficient. From the day he was appointed head coach, Warren Gatland demanded that his players bought into the seemingly wishful notion that the All Blacks were beatable on their own terrain. Now, he stands on the brink of a momentous feat.
He does not sense a willingness within his squad to subconsciously accept gallant failure.
‘I haven’t witnessed that,’ he said. ‘We have a group of players who are incredibly competitive and realise this is a massive opportunity.’
The All Blacks appear unusually vulnerable. Not only has the aura of invincibility been stripped back by the result six days ago, Hansen’s side are also now without several key men, such as Dane Coles up front, and Ben Smith, Sonny Bill Williams and Ryan Crotty in the back line. In the absence of the latter trio, the hosts appear gifted but raw behind the scrum.
It is an irony not lost on Gatland that New Zealand — by picking Ngani Laumape at inside centre and Julian Savea on the flank — appear determined to take an approach based on physicality, which would be derided as Warrenball if the Lions did it.
Instead, the visitors will aim to carve open the opposition defence using the Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell axis.
In that regard, they may continue to shatter stereotypes in these parts.
‘People expected us to come here and kick the leather off it, drive every lineout and try to scrummage people to death,’ said Gatland. ‘We haven’t done that and people have been surprised by that — almost reluctant to give us credit for that. I’d like to think we leave here with some respect for the way we have played — and we’re confident we can improve again.
‘The All Blacks looked like they picked a team initially to stop our defensive line-speed. Now maybe they’ve picked a team to stop our 10- 12 combination. They’ve changed their game plan.
‘I see that as a sign of respect. Hopefully we can leave having earned the respect of the New Zealand public.’ Yet, for all the
focus on the Lions’ attacking potency, which has been seen in flashes, they are aware that the result is dependent on another monumental forward effort to quell an All Black pack driven by wounded pride.
Gatland admitted last weekend that his side have ‘poked the bear’, so they will have to raise intensity levels even further if they are to deal with the so-called ‘Blacklash’ — while also vastly improving their discipline.
The head coach spoke yesterday of a ‘fear factor’ among players facing New Zealand. That will help to sharpen the focus again. But he also noted the ‘confidence and self-belief’ coursing through his men as they approach the final weekend of a long season.
Fatigue will not come into it and the Lions are not trying to suppress an inferiority complex which grips so many visiting teams in this country. The odds are against them — and an All Black win by a handful of points remains the logical bet. But if they manage it, they will reach a pedestal where the greats reside.