Two teams but united — even bench warmers
THE Lions are now on a tour of two teams — but if the squad has split in number, it looks united in purpose.
Their 34-6 win against a weakened Chiefs side in Hamilton this morning was billed as a chance for players apparently on the fringes of Test selection to make their cases — if not for the first
Test, then for the second in Wellington.
Several of them flew into the match like their whole careers were on the line.
Courtney Lawes appears to be competing for a place on the bench in Auckland, with George Kruis, Maro Itoje and Alun-Wyn Jones ahead of him.
In the first half this morning he looked like he could cover both second-row spots on his own. He was commanding in the line-out and near-demonic in the loose.
And Lawes was not alone. Jack Nowell has had a damp and squibby tour so far, but his sharp dive to the line to score the first try, his lick of pace to pass two Chiefs defenders for his second, and his link-up with Liam Williams for the Lions’ fourth, suggested that he has finally woken up to the possibility of challenging George North for a spot on the right wing. He is now equal top-scorer on this tour, tied for first place with penalty tries.
As has been the case in all the midweek games so far, the Lions were suicidally indisciplined at times, particularly during the first
Courtney Lawes was commanding in the line-out and demonic in the loose