Gatland rolls the dice... but will 10 and 12 be a winning combination?

WARREN Gatland hasn’t been averse to the odd punt during his coaching career and his decision to start with Owen Farrell alongside Johnny Sexton in the starting line-up for today’s second Test in Wellington has been described as one of his biggest gambles yet.

The call has divided opinion, based on the relative success of the Jonathan Davies-Ben Te’o midfield combination on this tour, as well as the threat posed by Sonny Bill Williams in the New Zealand No. 12 jersey.

Four years ago, Gatland put his reputation on the line by deciding to drop Irish icon Brian O’Driscoll – a decision vindicated by the display of the Lions’ midfield in the decisive final Test against the Wallabies.

ROB LLOYD looks at the pros and cons of Gatland’s latest roll of the dice. So, why has Gatland made this call? Te’o has been one of the success stories of this tour, but it has become clear that route-one rugby isn’t going to be enough to claim the scalp of this multi-dimensional All Blacks side.

In sacrificing Teo’s gainline-busting charges and relegating the former rugby league man to the bench, Gatland has gone away from his default, opting for a play-maker who can put team-mates into space and provide another kicking option.

While Gatland has banked on Jamie Roberts as his focal figure for Wales, England coach Eddie Jones has favoured Farrell as his 12 in a second five-eighth role, as it is known down south.

It has transformed the Red Rose’s attacking game since the 2015 World Cup.

Sexton and Farrell are yet to start together on tour, but they did combine impressively following Davies’s early injury against the Crusaders, although they had less success chasing the game at Eden Park last Saturday.

More inclement weather was expected in Wellington this weekend, so the kicking argument is a valid one.

But this is another statement of attacking ambition from Gatland, a concession that the Lions need to score far more tries and Te’o’s decision to cut inside instead of exploit an overlap in the second half last Saturday has clearly highlighted a need for change.

This is as far removed from a ‘Warrenball’ selection as we have witnessed under Gatland in recent years. So, what’s the big issue with the decision? Apart from the fact that the Te’o fan club has grown in number as the tour has gone on, defensively his absence leaves the Lions vulnerable, particularly when there is a certain Sonny Bill Williams lining up in the opposition midfield. There is no better player in the game at punching holes and off-loading out of contact than the former pro boxer and Kiwi sides have already exposed the tourists in that area on this tour. Farrell will put his body on the line, but the Saracen does lack the physical stature of the abrasive Te’o. Gatland insists that the size issue isn’t a concern, but has admitted the Lions have to deal with Williams better than they did in Auckland. “We allowed him a bit too much time on the ball last week,” he said when unveiling his combination. “I can’t remember him passing the ball, but he got some good gain-line for them and got a couple of off-loads away and got them some frontfoot ball. “In terms of stopping that, we have to make sure our line-speed is good. We have to stop him being as effective as he was and we have been working pretty hard on that.”