Halfpenny’s a luxury... I’d be bold and go for Watson, insists Barnes
LEIGH Halfpenny’s prodigious goalkicking is an ‘unnecessary luxury’ Warren Gatland could do without as the Lions boss has been urged to make ‘the boldest gamble of his career’ and pick England wing Anthony Watson to start at full-back against the All Blacks.
The Bath and England wing came off the bench for a bloodied Scotland No.15 Stuart Hogg in the 12-3 victory over Super Rugby kingpins the Crusaders and produced an eye-catching performance.
Ireland’s Jared Payne starts at fullback on Tuesday night against the Highlanders with Halfpenny expected to fill the shirt next Saturday against the New Zealand Maori with the first Test against the All Blacks looming at Eden Park on June 24.
With Hogg’s tour in the balance after a freak collision with teammate Conor Murray, in Christchurch, Welsh star Halfpenny is the overwhelming favourite to start at 15 against the Kiwis in Auckland.
But former England and Lions outside-half Stuart Barnes has called on Gatland to ‘confound his critics’ and go for Watson.
Writing in The Times, Barnes said: “If the Lions are to win this series, they will need more than the setpiece and hard graft that saw them to a notable victory against the Crusaders. Points tallies of 13, 16 and 12 — an average of less than 14 points a game — are way short of what is required to beat the All Blacks.
“The Lions can control the tempo and territory of the Tests but they will not stop New Zealand scoring considerably more than 14 points.
“They are at least one, probably two tries (preferably converted) from notching a tally to threaten New Zealand.
“Risk is the key word. The Lions have to find players capable of punishing the All Blacks if their aggressive defence can pressurise New Zealand into kicking errors.
“Counterattacking isn’t a glittering extra to their plan, it should be at its heart.
“Leigh Halfpenny is surplus to this scenario.
“His metronomic qualities with the boot are an unnecessary luxury with Owen Farrell in the team.
“Forget the way Ihaia West turned him to stone last Wednesday. Few would have stopped the Blues’ flying fly-half.
“It is the lack of acceleration, of ambition, of ability to punish loose Kiwi kicks that is the concern.
“Stuart Hogg is the other specialist full-back in the squad. I saw him walking out of the team hotel on Sunday evening. The cheekbone did not look good.
“Hogg was having a better game than his tour opener nine days ago. He is a daring counter-attacker. His profile fits the bill for the Test fullback.
“However, perhaps the most intriguing contender of them all is Anthony Watson, the Bath and England wing.
“When Hogg left the field the Lions management retained Liam Williams on the left wing, presumably giving him a shot at forcing his way into the Test team in his chosen position. Or maybe not.
“Watson was oozing menace in Christchurch. Hasty kicks were returned with a vengeance as the replacement sliced his way through the Crusaders’ chasing game.
“There was no more dangerous broken-field runner in a match that included Israel Dagg and George North. “But is he a risk too far? “Once, the ball was hacked through. Watson gathered it but was smothered, turned over immediately by the home attackers.
“Halfpenny would have held on to the ball, but would Watson be beaten quite as readily as the Welshman was one on one in Auckland?
“Halfpenny will start at full-back on Saturday, but with Gatland saying: ‘You have got to hold something back...’ What price the boldest gamble of his career, one to confound his critics: Watson at full-back for the first Test.
“It is certainly worth a thought.”