Henderson and Lawes ‘give food for
They took their leave at the final whistle, the Lions players who have played their last game in the red jersey, the absentees from that list being locks Courtney Lawes and Iain Henderson, both of whom made significant contributions ahead of the naming of the team tomorrow for the second Test on Saturday.
“Primarily, these two are really strong [contenders] and have given us some real food for thought,” said head coach Warren Gatland, who will meet his fellow selectors today before revealing the team to the players tomorrow.
Unfortunately for Henderson, though, there was a notable entry in the debit column, when the Ulsterman was sent to the sin-bin for upending Jordie Barrett at a ruck in the 65th minute. It was a costly error, the Hurricanes storming back during that period, salvaging – and almost winning – the match with two converted tries and a near-miss on another.
The Lions had led 23-7 at the interval against the Super Rugby champions, and looked comfortable at 31-17 until Henderson suffered his brain fade, thereby throwing away the chance to send the Lions into the make-or-break Test with a morale-boosting win.
Even if it was a sizeable blot on Henderson’s copybook, it ought not to impair due consideration of his worth. The 25-year-old was perhaps fortunate that it was only a yellow card, albeit referee Romain Poite had been considering a penalty award in the first instance, but was encouraged to review it by the television match official. Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd felt the offence was “an orange – somewhere between red and yellow”.
Whatever the merits of the decision, it turned the game on its head. But what will please Gatland is the fact that there was more bite and intensity in the forward play.
“It was a big moment in the game with his yellow card,” said Gatland. “It was a penalty to us which ends up being a penalty reversed and a yellow card, and that’s the game. It was a crucial moment.
“He’s probably disappointed with himself. I don’t think there was anything malicious in terms of him lifting the player and putting him on his back. Look, he carried extremely well and that was a big positive.”
Henderson himself made no attempt to dodge the blame or the consequences of what he had done. “That yellow was frustrating and although I got a bit of ball in hand, it was overshadowed by the silliness of the yellow card,” he said. “It was a little bit of mistimed rucking. It was definitely hard for me sitting there and watching those 10 minutes, putting the guys in that tough position.”
There are five locks in contention for the two Test spots. Maro Itoje is certain to start, with a decision to be made between Lawes and George Kruis as to who partners him in the starting XV. Henderson has come through strongly, with Alun Wyn Jones a warrior but a weary-looking one.
Lawes was suitably fierce and involved, injecting bite and energy before being withdrawn in the 53rd minute, an indication perhaps that he was being spared for a more significant tour of duty on Saturday. Kruis came on for Lawes and the Saracen’s place is under threat, although his line-out expertise is always a big plus in his favour.
“I thought Courtney Lawes carried well in the first half,” said Gatland. “It’s a toss-up in terms of selection.”
The imperative for Gatland is to put together a side who offer far more physicality than they managed in the first Test, to bring relentlessness and hammer in the tackle. He also has to gauge how much this game against the Hurricanes has taken out of Lawes and Henderson. The players themselves have no doubts that they will be at full tilt.
“I’m ready and feeling confident that if I do get called up I’ll be able to lay it on the line,” said Lawes.
There were other possible Test candidates at the outset. Jack Nowell at full-back was suitably