Lions have need for speed: Gats wants crackdown on Boks
The British and Irish Lions have the need for speed. They used their meeting with the match officials this week to stress their desire for an up-tempo test series decider with South Africa tomorrow (NZ time) in Cape Town.
Coach Warren Gatland blamed the Springboks for the constant stoppages that caused the second rugby test last weekend to be dragged out for an extra 37 minutes, almost another half that was not a bonus.
But it takes two to tango, and the Lions weren’t blameless in a match which was on an emotional knifeedge and well controlled — and well explained — by New Zealand referee Ben O’Keeffe. The frequency of injuries, set pieces and incidents needing a review from officials bruised by heavy criticism after the first test turned the game into a trek.
The Lions were frustrated, the Springboks were content. The slow game was to their advantage after their fitness was handicapped by coronavirus lockdowns.
The Lions blew a great chance to clinch a fifth series in the Republic while the Springboks were regaining their match fitness, and the way they dominated the second half 21-0 and finished strong 27-9 winners.
Neither was their ability to emotionally rise to the occasion again, coach Jacques Nienaber promised after a massive investment of passion to level the series. He cited the 2019 World Cup knockout stage as proof.
Despite Gatland wanting more flow this weekend, neither team is expected to change tactics. Kicking has dominated the games, for territory, pressure and points. Defence has limited the Boks to three tries from kicks (two more ruled out) and the Lions to one try (and one held up).
The tactics have worked for both: The Lions finished the first test in charge, and the Springboks finished the second test in charge, setting up a first series decider in South Africa since 1955.
Gatland is hoping to have addressed the struggles on attack against the Springboks’ rush defence by picking noted bomb defuser Liam Williams, his leading try-scorer Josh Adams on one wing, and Bundee Aki in a third new midfield. The backline hasn’t fired a shot and Gatland has reverted to the backline from the pre-tour match against Japan.
By contrast, the pack has hardly changed, with the back row, both locks and tighthead Tadhg Furlong starting every test. Only the front row is changed again, with Wyn Jones, the loosehead Gatland wanted from the start, finally available after a shoulder issue, and Ken Owens picked at hooker ahead of the untried Jamie George. They up the quota of starters from the Welsh Six Nations champions from two to six.
The Springboks have surprisingly ditched their effective “Bomb Squad” ploy of six forward reserves that served them well last weekend, to make room for Morne Steyn, who kicked the winning points for the South Africans on the Lions’ previous tour in 2009.
They are also without two kingpins in flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit and halfback Faf de Klerk, both injured. Into the side come lock Lood de Jager, impressive off the bench last weekend, and halfback Cobus Reinach.
The lack of imagination in the series has been widely panned — “a hard watch” for former Lions coach Graham Henry, “a painful watch” for former Lion Lawrence Dallaglio — but Springboks assistant coach Deon Davids defended the displays.
“It’s a spectacle. I think it’s fantastic,” Davids said. “Rugby has always been about a physical battle on-field, but also a battle where opponents try to outsmart each other.
“The competitiveness and talent shown by both teams, it’s good for world rugby. And if we can continue being competitive at this level and aspire to be better, then rugby in South Africa will just get better.”