FUTURE OF THELIONS AT STAKE
There is more than just the series up for grabs in Wellington
ENOUGH of the sideshows. After foulplay rows, the ‘ Geography Six’ saga, cartoon clowns and more Warrenball digs, the serious business resumes tomorrow and the stakes are higher than ever.
The Lions have an almighty battle on their hands as they seek to defy history and safeguard their future. All week, the talk has been about this second Test being do-or-die for the tourists, as they strive to keep the series alive. But that is not the full extent of the equation.
Another defeat for Warren Gatland’s team would leave them on course for another ‘blackwash’ — a repeat of 2005.
And if the outcome at the Cake Tin falls heavily in favour of the hosts, it would re-open the door to all those perennial doubts about the viability of this four- country concept.
As the new, post-2019 global calendar takes shape, the Lions are under threat as never before.
Their cherished status is in jeopardy, as English clubs in particular seek to restrict furtherer the limited window in a crowded schedule.
The best barrier to erosion is success but that is fiendishly hard to achieve in these parts against the mighty Kiwi rugby machine.
So Sam Warburton and his team-mates are fighting for something profound, beyond the outcome of this campaign.
They are seeking the prestige of securing just the second series victory over here, and they are also on a preservation mission.
Win a Test here — especially this one to set up a decider — and it would give the Lions more chance of surviving.
All the noises off will have registered with Gatland, but the players will be largely oblivious.
The coach has had a gruelling week. Having raised concerns about All Black players targeting Conor Murray’s standing leg when he kicks, he was accused of being ‘desperate’ by Steve Hansen, his New Zealand counterpart, who called a radio show to protest.
The next day, after being depicted as a clown in a local newspaper, Gatland found himself in the eye of another storm, over the so-called Geography Six who joined the squad as temporary cover.
He revealed that the coaches had resolved to only deploy them from the bench against the Hurricanes in the event of medical necessity, as a result of the uproar caused by their call-ups. A weary Lions side were held to a 31-31 draw.
On the back of the 30-15 first Test loss, the Lions are the subject of fading expectations, with odds of 5-1 against them for tomorrow’s two-horse race. They earned some Kiwi respect with their 85-metre wonder try, but the view here is that they are no-hopers — although surprisingly entertaining ones.
Gatland has called for more ‘pride’ from his men after they were overpowered by the All Blacks in the opener.
The wounded Lions will surely summon up greater intensity, while the addition to the pack of Warburton and Maro Itoje will add breakdown prowess, athleticism and clout. On the flipp side, there could be a negative impact on the lineout in the absence of George Kruis and Peter O’Mahony, who have been dropped from the 23.
Furthermore, Warburton and Alun Wyn Jones hhave been picked oon pedigree, not on the strength of form, so both esteemed Welshmen know they need to deliver statement performances. Last weekend, Ben Te’o was a powerful asset but this time he will bide his time, ready to explode off the bench, in a direct confrontation with another ex-NRL rival, Ngani Laumape.
The England centre’s demotion is harsh but the coaches want enhanced distribution as a means of capitalising on line-breaks.
Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell is a 10-12 combination which looks great on paper. Time will tell if it clicks on grass.
The Lions’ hunch is that New Zealand will struggle to achieve the same intensity which they brought to Eden Park.
Gatland and Co are braced for the prospect of a tactical kicking duel in the likely event of bad weather and if that happens they will use Murray, Sexton and Farrell to unleash an aerial barrage in the hope of targeting All Black wings Rieko Ioane and Waisake Naholo.
The Lions simply cannot afford the sort of lapses which undermined them at Eden Park.
A chronic switch-off moment in defence allowed the Kiwis to score a soft first try, a scrum surrender midway through the second half paved the way for the home side to strike again and the tourists did not take their own prime chances.
They have to be near-perfect tomorrow to have any hope at all. If they are not virtually flawless they will be swept aside.
New Zealand can improve, which is a frightening scenario. The hosts have lost Ben Smith and Ryan Crotty but gained Naholo and Anton Lienert-Brown. It doesn’t get any easier.
Never mind the sideshows, the real trouble awaits on the field.
A victory for the Lions would be epic and historic, and perhaps the greatest of them all, given the calibre of their opponents.
It is an unlikely vision, but extreme motivation can go a long way, and Gatland’s team are fighting for much more than a mere Test win and series survival.