Keep calm and carry on
There were positives in defeat – and any team in the world would have lost to all-conquering hosts
Selection vindicated
I thought Warren Gatland was fully vindicated in terms of his selection. The back three, with Elliot Daly on the wing and Liam Williams at full-back, worked well. They looked a threat with ball in hand.
Some of the Lions’ attacking play – notably the build-up to Sean O’Brien’s try – was reminiscent of some of the great attacking Lions rugby of the 70s. The problem was that the Lions weren’t clinical enough. They could have had a try at the beginning of the first half and the beginning of the second, both of which would have put pressure on the All Blacks. But they didn’t. And that was the difference. New Zealand stayed patient, confident that if they kept on playing at the pace they were playing, and kept switching the point of contact, the holes would eventually appear. They were right.
Their speed at the breakdown, and the pressure they put the Lions under, led to errors and turnovers. The Lions need to be more clinical in Wellington. But I thought their attacking approach was spot on. Gats had to pick a team to score three or four tries. Unfortunately we only got two.
Don’t change too much
I would not make too many changes in terms of selection. I would give the players the experience of this game and challenge them to learn from it. Maro Itoje for Alun Wyn Jones is one change I would consider, simply because I feel that to beat the All Blacks you need to get your ball carriers and second rows involved in phase play, to have a high game involvement.
They have to match New Zealand’s second rows, Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock, who are so important to them. Itoje – and Courtney Lawes, who has been brilliant on this Tour but has sadly taken a couple of knocks to the head – does that more naturally. But the first half in particular was an outstanding contest, with attacks dictating the rhythm of the game.
Play smarter
You need clever players to take on the All Blacks. It is not just about ability, it is about speed of thought and repositioning. If you’re in position early you control the next phase. That speed of repositioning is vital. New Zealand’s first two tries came from speed of thought allied to technical skills, the first when Aaron Smith took a quick tap and threw it wide before the Lions could reorganise (it still required an incredible catch from their hooker, Codie Taylor, off his boot-laces), the second a similarly swift attack off an attacking scrum.
Slow New Zealand down
One of the Lions’ biggest pluses on this tour has been their line-speed in defence. To counter that, you either chip in behind the centres or you play inside them. New Zealand did the latter, and they did it brilliantly. They kept the ball in hand and played directly off Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett (until he moved to full-back and Aaron Cruden slotted in at 10). They kept it narrow, switching the point of attack, sending big carriers like Retallick charging through tight channels, forcing the Lions rush defenders to turn and retreat. The All Blacks were patient. They were accurate. Their offloading was sometimes so slick – almost sleight-of-hand stuff – it was impossible to see. And when they had the Lions defence on the rack, they switched it wide.
Be more clinical in attack
When New Zealand had the upper hand, they accelerated play brilliantly. By contrast, when the Lions had the upper hand – despite some wonderful attacking rugby – they couldn’t get any scoreboard pressure going. New Zealand are the most ruthless team in world rugby. The Lions must take their chances in Wellington.
New Zealand’s scramble defence was excellent, admittedly, but it felt as if the Lions left maybe two or three tries out there. Owen Farrell also didn’t have his best game with the boot – the missed conversion off O’Brien’s try was a particular blow as 13-10 at half-time would have been a real boon – while everything Barrett struck flew through the posts.
Forwards must raise game
Another of the areas where the Lions might have expected to exert some pressure was at the set-piece but New Zealand’s scrum held firm – more than held firm in the case of their second try, when an enormous drive saw them push the Lions pack backwards. That allowed Kieran Read – who had an unbelievable game, shaded probably only by Retallick – to scoop the ball off the ground to Aaron Smith, who sent the ball down the line for Rieko Ioane to score. Barrett kicked it and it was 20-8, game over to all intents and purposes. The fact that the All Blacks had parity up front was almost a win for them, as that was perceived to be an area of strength for the Lions. Nor did the Lions get any line-out dominance. They stole a couple but then they lost a couple, too.
Take the positives
I don’t think Australia or South Africa would have fared any better than the Lions yesterday. The All Blacks are the best team in the world, they were at home, at a ground where they have not lost for 23 years. It was always going to take something extraordinary to beat them. The Lions played well in parts and there were positives: the back three, the centres. I thought both Jonathan Davies and Ben Te’o had good games. Te’o’s contest against Sonny Bill Williams was intriguing. It was only once Te’o went off that Sonny Bill got significantly across the gain line. Tadhg Furlong’s attempted overhead pass in the first half aside, the Lions’ offloading was excellent. And I was pleased that they got the try at the end through Rhys Webb. Not only did it give the scoreboard a healthier look, it showed that if you put the All Blacks under pressure they are human. So I wouldn’t change too much. This week will be about learning the lessons so that the Lions get value from the experience. It will not get any easier – New Zealand will improve as well – but it is vital the Lions continue to believe.