Lions play like kittens as they scrabble to flattering win
First the deluge, then the despair. The monsoon rains that afflicted Northland did ease but there was little blue-sky thinking to be found among the few thousand Lions supporters who have made the long trek to New Zealand.
The Lions did manage to avoid the ignominy of a defeat in their opening game but it was a close-run thing against a scratch side. The Barbarians captain, hooker and try-scorer, Sam Anderson-Heather, will clock on for work in Dunedin tomorrow morning, a property maintenance engineer by trade. The Lions had made all the right moves in the build-up, respectful and willing. Yet the hearts-and-minds mission counts for little if they do not strike the right chord on the field. They did not. It was a screeching, discordant display, a symphony of bum notes.
Perhaps it will be all right on the night of the first Test on June 24. Lions teams evolve dramatically. Eight years ago in Rustenburg they were equally dreadful yet the Test series against South Africa was epic.
The match-day judgment should be deservedly harsh. But beware of jumping to hasty conclusions. One thing is for sure, though: the All Blacks will sleep easy in their beds.
So much hype, so much hope, four years in the making and waiting – and the Lions made a mess of a clean take from the kick-off. It was a sign of things to come. They were sloppy and shoddy, missing chances, leaden, lumpy and off the pace.
There was little cohesion and a lot of angst. It looked for all the world as if they had got off a long-haul flight only three days earlier. Those responsible for such a murderous itinerary ought to have been shifting uncomfortably in their seats. It has been a ruinous experience, a schedule designed by Marquis de Sade. Every tour, complaints are raised. And nothing ever happens. It is a disgrace.
Jet-leg and fatigue were only partial mitigation. The opposition only met each other for the first time a week ago, effectively strangers. Yet they were on the same wavelength. At least one Gatland was pleased at how events turned out, Barbarians fly-half Bryn, a deft tactician whose mixed bag of kicks had the Lions in a right muddle. He looks a proper player. It was a star-turn performance. It was Gatland’s aerial bomb that created the situation from where Anderson-Heather’s try was scored in the 23rd minute.
It was a sobering, salutary evening for several Lions who might already have played themselves out of contention. Full-back Stuart Hogg had a nightmare, so too fly-half Jonathan Sexton.
He was replaced by Owen Farrell eight minutes into the second half, the Lions scoring a try from Anthony Watson just four minutes later, his England team-mate giving him the final pass before the wing cork-screwed over. Farrell looked more authoritative, harder-edged in thought and deed.
Few in red managed ticks in the credit margin. No 8 Toby Faletau was the pick of a very average bunch, his try-saving held-up tackle on Inga Finau in the 18th minute after a break from Luteru Laulala sparing blushes.
Prop Kyle Sinckler looked a better distributor than Sexton while Ben Te’o showed a couple of very fine touches in the centre. Justin Tipuric was lively and effective after replacing Sam Warburton.
The backdrop was worthy, a taste of what rugby in New Zealand is all about. The Toll Stadium was a sell-out at 19,951, a decent accomplishment for a smallish community about two hours north of Auckland. There was as much enthusiasm at seeing the Lions as cheering on the Kiwis. There were kids and Maori and fireworks, a proper sense of theatre. This was for real. How the crowd enjoyed seeing their boys take it to the Lions.
The Lions knew that they were on show. It is always a fine balance. This was their audition for a Test spot. Even at this distance they might get only one more start. Yet they also had to serve the best interests of the jersey first and foremost.
Iain Henderson’s blooper from the first whistle, with his lifters also culpable, put pressure on the Lions right from the start. It was seven minutes before they got over the halfway line, the Barbarians twice turning down easy shots at goal for a crack at a line-out. Henderson was at fault at another restart later, again putting his side under the cosh.
Bryn Gatland got some early treatment from Ross Moriarty and then Joe Marler, the Lions making sure that he knew that he would be in for a testing evening. He took it well, and looked sharp and unflustered.
Hogg slapped a touchline flag in anger after fluffing a take of a rolling ball. The Scotsman had a terrible first half. He threw a dreadful pass to Watson with the try-line begging. His defence, too, was under strain, wing Sam Vaka smashing through his initial tackle. Sexton shook his head after missing his first kick, an effort from 45 metres. Later he was to slice a clearance. It was a jittery display. The Irishman did get the first points for the 2017 tourists when converting a penalty in the 17th minute. Yet it was the Barbarians who made all the running. It looked as if they were the seasoned internationals rather than the Lions, with their 754 caps in the starting XV.
The hosts were quick, they had fast feet and they had a bit of devil in their eyes. It was all the Lions could do to hang on to their coat-tails.
The Lions kicked their goals to get themselves on the scoreboard, first from Sexton then from Greig Laidlaw, Farrell (left) later thumping one into the post. He did convert Watson’s try, though, from wide to put the Lions in the lead in the 52nd minute.
The Barbarians continued to press and only a good turnover won by prop Tadhg Furlong stemmed a late drive. When the final hooter sounded, Farrell just booted the ball into touch, relief all round for the Lions but little respect from across New Zealand earned.
Scores 0-3 Sexton penalty; 5-3 Anderson-Heather try; 7-3 Gatland conversion; 7-6 Laidlaw penalty; 7-11 Watson try; 7-13 Farrell conversion. Provincial Barbarians L Laulala; S Vaka, I Finau, D Sweeney, S Reece, B Gatland, J Stratton; A Ross, S Anderson-Heather, O Jager, J Goodhue, K Mewett, J Tucker, L Boshier, M Dunshea. Replacements A Makalio, T Fahamokioa, M Renata, M Matich, P Rowe, R Judd, J Lowe, J Ngaluafe. Referee A Gardner (Australia).