Tame Lions suffer again after dismal late collapse
WHEN the Lions retreated from the Forsyth Barr Stadium to their team coach after this shock defeat, they were greeted by just a handful of bedraggled supporters, amid a monsoon downpour.
It was a bleak scene on a grim occasion for the tourists. An ‘unacceptable’ performance meant they lost a match that they could and should have won.
With 25 minutes to go, the Lions led 22-13. Despite some glaring problems along the way, it was all in hand. The tourists were seemingly destined to surge past another landmark on their treacherous journey towards the Test series against the All Blacks. And then the wheels fell off. The closing stages of this fourth tour match brought the Lions’ fragile momentum to a shuddering halt. There was euphoria in the aftermath of Saturday’s lockdown win over the Crusaders in Christchurch, but the midweek side’s ordeal under the roof here served as another mood-changing episode. At a stroke, the Kiwi superiority complex has been emphatically restored.
The Lions lapsed back into the bad habits that scarred their defeat against the Blues in Auckland six days earlier; by conceding a rapid series of penalties. One of them led to a try for Liam Coltman, from a line-out drive on the hour, which meant that the Otago team were back in the big-game hunt.
Even then, with the contest on a knife-edge, it appeared that the greater pedigree in the red ranks would avert a setback result. In the 68th minute, on came Owen Farrell, bang on cue; just as goal-kicking composure was required. His first act was to line up what — for him — was a routine shot at the posts, but he struck the ball wide and the hosts stayed just two points adrift.
Six minutes later, a heavily-weakened Highlanders pack routed their illustrious opponents at a scrum. Marty Banks seized his moment; his shot at glory. Over went the kick, to spark delirious scenes among the locals in a near-capacity crowd.
That wasn’t the end of the drama and tension though. Another penalty to the Lions, two minutes from time, was lined up by Elliot Daly from his own half. The Wasps back has a cannon of a boot, but when referee Angus Gardner ordered him to move the ball back a further two metres, it took him to the limit of his range and the ball fell short. Still there was a last chance, but a pass by Farrell was spilled by Jonathan Joseph and the upset was confirmed.
It wasn’t just this failure to close out the game that will alarm Gatland and his assistant coaches. Ignore the red-herring gripes about the officiating — the Lions weren’t good enough and they know it. Scoring three tries went some way to addressing the lack of clinical cutting edge in the opening three fixtures, but there was none of the defensive resilience or control that characterised the victory over the Crusaders.
In Christchurch, Conor Murray and Farrell ran the show. They dictated terms; leading their rivals a merry dance. This time, the Lions were often in the passive role — they were dictated to by a side without a large core of their Test contingent. The Highlanders didn’t even have their head coach to guide them, as Tony Brown is currently fulfilling a stint with the Japan national team.
Yet, the depleted squad he left behind did him proud. They besieged the Lions with aggressive hits, choke tackles and breakdown tenacity. And they bewitched the visitors with their footwork, bold intent and sorcery. Their All Black backs, Lima Sopoaga, Malakai Fekitoa and Waisake Naholo, regularly ran amok — and the latter also touched down.
The uncomfortable perception after this game was that the touring squad has acquired a two-tier look. The Saturday side will reconvene against the Maori in Rotorua in three days’ time, with the chance to re-establish precious momentum before the series opener against the All Blacks on June 24. But the midweek men — those who are surely consigned to that role for the rest of this trip — seem likely to endure more discomfort in the next fortnight, against the Chiefs and Hurricanes.
Joseph scored a try yesterday and showed flashes of his attacking brilliance, but the wobbles in defence which also occurred may prevent him from claiming the Test No13 shirt ahead of Jonathan Davies. Tommy Seymour was another try-scorer, but the Scotland wing was given a torrid time by Naholo. Few of those on duty really made their mark, with the exception of Kyle Sinckler, Iain Henderson and Dan Biggar.
Rhys Webb again made dazzling breaks, but he cannot control the contest with his kicking in the way that Murray does so effectively. Another Welshman, captain Sam Warburton, competed gamely at the breakdown and showed signs of finding his stride after another injury — and he also blasted over for the Lions’ third try. Nevertheless, the openside hierarchy will continue to be open to debate. The same can be said for many Test places.
A second defeat in four games will be deflating for the Lions, who will need armour-plated confidence for their showdowns with New Zealand. Today, Gatland’s squad will fly north, once again in dire need of Saturday saviours.