Sam’s Lions get ready for the ultimate challenge
WARBURTON & CO MEET UP AT THE VALE RESORT AS THE HARD WORK BEGINS AHEAD OF TEST SERIES IN NEW ZEALAND
THE Lions have already got stuck into ‘meaningful work’ in preparation for the series in New Zealand, with the players having undertaken a double training session at Wales’ Vale Resort headquarters yesterday.
While just 14 of the 41-man squad are in camp because of a raft of club commitments, management insisted work has begun in earnest.
There is an acknowledgement that those who have been able to report for duty this week are in the box seat to start the first game against Provincial Barbarians on June 3, a situation which forwards coach Graham Rowntree says is ‘obvious.’
Opening up on what has been going on since the Lions met up at the Vale, Rowntree said: “We have 14 guys here, but they’ve not all trained today.
“Some guys are away in competition which is great because we want them going on the plane battle-hardened preferably from playing in finals.
“We had fitness this morning then a good hit out on the field this afternoon. It’s been very useful to get our calls and systems up and running and the lads have taken hold of things very quickly.
“It was always going to be we would miss a few guys for camp one then get a few back for Ireland.
“But we knew what was coming and we’ve catered for that.
“But guys have got on with things and we’ve got some meaningful work done.
“The guys here are now obviously a bit ahead of where the guys coming in are going to be.
“Getting everyone used to intensity of how we train, used to systems, lineout calls, phase plays and how we defend has been the priority. We want everybody on the same page.”
Rowntree revealed that most of the 14 already with the squad are in peak condition with the exception of a few niggles. He also reported positively on captain Sam Warburton, who is on his way back from a knee injury and on course to be fit for the first game.
Rowntree added: “A couple of guys have niggles but others trained today for around 45 mins and very intensely. So we are happy with that.
“Sam Warburton is here but on a modified load as you would expect from someone coming back from injury, but he will be fine.”
As for whether Warburton will be available to play for the Blues in their Champions Cup play-off game against Stade Francais on Friday, Rowntree was non-committal.
“That’s a decision for Sam and the Blues and for Warren,” he said.
“He (Sam) is not due to train with us today but maybe tomorrow. We are managing him back from an injury.
“He looked pretty fit to me this morning. I don’t think there will be any trouble with him playing certainly the first game on tour.”
Asked whether the 14 players in camp will form the bulk of the squad that features in the first warm-up game, Rowntree said: “Potentially, or we are wasting the extra time we have with them.
“It would be good sense to do that. We have enough combinations here to get some meaningful work done.”
There was a concerted effort to play down the impact of absentees, with Rowntree batting away suggestions life is difficult with reduced numbers.
He said: “We are training hard. You don’t need the full quota to get systems up and running in terms of calling, defending and how you’re going to approach the breakdown.
“We’ve had a double-session today starting with fitness this morning.”
And the former Leicester prop stressed how everything the Lions do on the training paddock must be of the highest quality.
“New Zealand are a difficult team, the ball is on the field for a long time and defence is going to be massive,” he added.
“We have to challenge them. We don’t have massive amount of prep time so what we do has to be done immaculately.
“We have an idea of how we want to play and we’ve been doing that this morning.”
The subject of pre-tour optimism was put to Rowntree given the daunting nature of the challenge, but he was bullish about Lions prospects.
“We’re very optimistic, what do you expect me to say?
“We will go down there full of confidence.
“It’s a great squad, the best I’ve been involved with for a long time and it will have to be let’s face it because this is going to be the hardest tour.
“The provincial games will be tough enough but I am confident we can produce a good game.”
Rowntree admitted the quality of the provincial Super Rugby sides is high enough never mind the world champion All Blacks.
“Their teams have a lovely blend. Crusaders play with width and score off driving lineouts.
“They always seem to be able to pull every tool out of the box when they need to.
“They play extremely quick (all sides) they have great defensive lineouts, etc.
“As a forwards coach we have to address all those areas in training.
“We have plenty of numbers to do meaningful work on the scrum.”