Williams has the X-factor needed to threaten the All Blacks on home turf
LIAM WILLIAMS has forced his way into the Lions Test team because he possesses the “X-factor” that will be needed if the All Blacks are to beaten.
The world champions have not lost at Eden Park since 1994 and it will take something special to give the Lions a First Test triumph. Head coach Warren Gatland is so convinced Williams is that player he has left
Leigh Halfpenny, the best goal-kicker in the game, on the bench.
Williams’s selection will not have surprised Mark McCall, the Saracens director of rugby, who chose the Scarlets utility back to replace Chris Ashton — who has quit the club to join Toulon, having been ignored by England anand the Lions. Like AshAshton, WilliamWilliams plays on rugby iinstinct and made hhis way into the proprofessional game whenwh he was spotted pplaying for his local clclub WaunarlwWaunarlwydd — he was a scaffolderscaffolde at the time.
Ashton’s try-scoring instincts makem him a unique attattacking threat but WilliamsWilliam can match that pace andan predatory ability while adding a better defensive gamgame to the equation. It is this packagepackag that has enabled Sarries to boast five Lions Test starters — Williams, Owen Farrell, Mako Vunipola, JJamie George and George Kruis — plus Maro Itoje on the bench.
Itoje came very close to starting but Gatland has stuck by formformer Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones, a veteran of 116 Tests, and will use the 22-year-old Sarries lock as an impact player off the bench.
Itoje (left) prefers to ststart but his energy and incredibleincredibl defensive work rate in the looloose and also at the line-out woworking with George and Kruis,Kru could have a real game-ga changingchanging impacti for the Lions ini the final quarter oof the Test. Jones isi nearly 10 years older than ItojeIto and
missed key matches at the end of the season due to a shoulder problem. He is unlikely to have the legs to last a full 80 minutes against the All Blacks and the sight of Itoje prowling the touchline, desperate to get into the action, will be a major boost for the Lions.
The inclusion of Jones is designed to give the Lions their strongest scrummaging second row combination and add ballast to turn their driving maul into a potential game changer. This tactic relies on quality line-out ball and Peter O’Mahony will be a key figure.
If the Lions can make big inroads it will force the All Blacks to either concede plenty of territory or penalties for pulling it down illegally.
The front row of Vunipola, George and Tadgh Furlong is the heaviest the Lions could put together and they will believe their technique and weight will give the Lions an advantage in the scrums.
The sight of Itoje prowling the touchline, desperate to get into the action, will be a major boost for the Lions
The back row trio of O’Mahony, Taulaupe Faletau and Sean O’Brien has been consistently effective both in nullifying the opposition at the break down and also providing link work in attack. Faletau’s off-loading and support running will be crucial.
Supplying a third of the Lions starting XV is testament to Sarries’ domination of European rugby, which has been achieved with a heady mix of clever tactical kicking and incisive back play. That template is one the Lions need to adopt for the First Test.
Williams is even rated by the famously one-eyed New Zealand rugby family, having been one of the few Welsh players to cause the All Blacks problems on last summer’s three-Test tour.
Gatland set out his stall right from the start of the tour, stating: “I honestly feel we’ve got some players with some X-factor to match the All Blacks.” The selection of Williams, Watson and Daly confirms that remains his belief heading into the biggest game of his coaching career.