CLIVE WOODWARD
Former Lions coach
THE Lions made it difficult for themselves at times yesterday but nobody should underestimate the size of their magnificent win — and the key to everything was remembering rugby is an 80 minute game. I mean that in two ways. At times a succession of soft penalties threatened to undermine their cause, but crucially at no stage did they forget that the All Blacks were down to 14 men and that would, at some stage, come into play.
In the last 20 minutes, after going 18-9 down, the Lions visibly tightened things up, started to take the game to New Zealand and ensured it was the All Blacks who came under pressure as the match moved to the sharp end.
And secondly Warren Gatland, in the heat of battle, coolly reacted to what he saw in front of him rather than any pre-conceived plans on how to use his bench.
What he saw among other things was Jamie George having a stormer, Taulupe Faletau back to his best and Conor Murray starting to tick over nicely. Meanwhile the Sexton/ Farrell axis was beginning to stress the shorthanded New Zealand defence as it started to feel the absence of Sonny Bill Williams.
There might have been an argument to replace some or all of those with fresh legs against a short-handed side working overtime. But no, Gatland trusted the evidence of his own eyes.
Yesterday the Lions performance was not going to be improved purely by ‘fresh legs’, especially against New Zealand, whose fitness levels are second to none.
It was all about players in the groove, beginning to find their A games and gradually turning the screw. It was close but that’s how the Lions won.
And that rather contrasted with Steve Hansen — a great coach — who for once, got it badly wrong with one of his crucial calls.
Aaron Smith was having a monstrously good game for the All Blacks and I was astonished to see him come off in the second half to be replaced by TJ Perenara. The whole momentum of the game started to change at that point.
On the subject of 80-minute performances, I am in awe at what Maro Itoje brings to the table.
He was immense from start to finish and the feeling of invincibility a young tyro like the England lock brings to proceedings should not be underestimated.
It wouldn’t occur to him for a second that New Zealand were unbeatable. He doesn’t really understand the concept of defeat and long may that last.
No wonder the Lions fans were chanting his name football style afterwards. There were shades of Ronaldo and Messi in their worship of the man. The only thing I can find fault with in Itoje’s entire performance was that he did leak a few penalties.
When you play close to the edge and you are tasked with looking for turnovers, that can happen, but he must try to tighten that a little. Itoje is an extremely intelligent young man and he will know that.
Overall it was a compelling game played in pretty awful conditions. I’m not sure if it came over on TV back home just how heavy the rain was, especially in the first half.
The dismissal of Sonny Bill Williams set the narrative and for a while the Lions did not cash in.
I’ve seen that so many times in my playing and coaching career. It can be just plain difficult playing against 14 that early in a game against a really quality side.
They automatically raised their effort levels and intensity by five per cent and the subconscious temptation for the team with 15 is just to take the foot off the pedal a tad. You have to fight that and it was a battle the Lions eventually won. Finally a quick word on that Williams red card.
He is not a dirty player. On the contrary, he is fine ambassador for the game and a chivalrous guy who is rightly admired throughout the game. But on this occasion he got it wrong.
That was a tackle from his rugby league days when it may have been met with more leniency.
For a couple of seconds he lost concentration, his sense of time and place, and paid the penalty. He got it wrong and referee Jerome Garces got it right. End of story.