WIN OVER MAORI ALL BLACKS:
Tourists sweep aside Maori to sound warning to All Blacks:
WHILE all the talk prematch had been about the fringe figures in the stand, it was the Mane men on the pitch who delivered a huge statement on a memorable night in Rotorua.
Up until kick-off, game day had been dominated by Warren Gatland’s decision to call up the Welsh quartet of Cory Hill, Kristian Dacey, Gareth Davies and Tomas Francis to his squad.
It was a move which provoked howls of protest, with the Kiwi coach accused of tarnishing the reputation of the Lions by selecting players based on proximity rather than ability.
But by the final whistle, the debate had very firmly moved on after a hugely impressive performance from the tourists.
Whatever you might think of Gatland’s chosen reinforcements, he has to take a great deal of credit for overseeing a display like this.
It was one of the very best from the Lions in recent history and a record victory over the Maori – a fixture which is often referred to as the fourth Test out here.
Also, let’s not forget why he has called up the men he has.
It’s because Wales have been based just a few hours drive away and the four players can come straight on board.
They were able to get to Rotorua in time to watch the game and will be able to go straight into training and straight onto the bench against the Chiefs on Tuesday.
Certain other players with more noteworthy CVs wouldn’t have been able to do that.
And, for Gatland, the primary concern is being able to field a group against the Chiefs which doesn’t have to feature any of his Test 23.
The overwhelming focus is the three-match series against the All Blacks and he wants the men charged with taking on that massive challenge to be able to concentrate solely on it. Bringing in a batch of immediately available players allows that to happen.
So everything is geared towards the Test team and you have to say on that front things are shaping up pretty well.
The Saturday side followed up last weekend’s victory over the Crusaders with an even more compelling display here in the Bay of Plenty.
Stats can sometimes be misleading, but on this occasion they accurately reflect a hugely one-sided encounter.
The Lions’ dominance was such they had 75 per cent territory and 68 per cent possession, while they made 361 metres to just 178 by the Maori.
There was the tackle count too, with the home side having to attempt 154 compared to just 67 from their hosts.
All of that pressure told on the penalty count, with the Maori conceding 15, while the Lions gave away just four, evidence of a remarkably disciplined display following some midweek issues.
The seeds of the victory were sown up front, with the set piece working like clockwork.
On Tuesday in Dunedin, the scrum proved the tourists undoing, with the Highlanders’ winning penalty coming after an enormous shove.
But it was a very different story on this occasion.
Gatland’s grunters did a big num- ber at the scrum, with Tadgh Furlong having an immense game on the tighthead, shredding his opposite number.
The man from farming stock in county Wexford ploughed a mighty furrow and is emerging as one of the most fundamental figures in this tour party.
With him as the crushing corner- stone and the ever excellent Mako Vunipola doing his job on the other side, the Lions scrum is a real weapon and it earned the ultimate reward in the shape of a pivotal penalty try on 50
minutes, with a second score coming from that area soon after as Maro Itoje followed up a surge off the base from Taulupe Faletau.
The lineout was a well oiled machine too, with a 100 oer cent return from 11 throws, while the accompanying drive grew in potency.
It so nearly produced a try for Jamie George and the Maori were marched backwards on a number of occasions by a co-ordinated and controlled mass movement.
On top of the set-piece superiority, the Lions also applied a physical stranglehold at the breakdown and in the contact area, while their rush defence negated any attacking ambitions the hosts may have had.
They swarmed all over the Maori and squeezed the life out of them, simply smothering them into submission, while the half-backs demonstrated outstanding game management.
If anything, Conor Murray’s kicking game was even better than against the Crusaders and he tormented the opposition, who just couldn’t deal with his pinpoint accuracy.
He was complimented in that department by his countryman Johnny Sexton and together they gave the Maori back three a torrid time, with a series of balls being spilled under the combined pressure of perfect placement and a really determined chase, with a big improvement in the aerial contesting.
Sexton also posed real questions with ball in hand, confirming he does
indeed have his mojo back, playing flat and taking the ball to the line to challenge the defence.
Even if Owen Farrell is available next weekend following his quad strain – which seems likely – it’s now no longer guaranteed he will start at Eden Park.
Sexton’s fluid distribution helped bring the best out of Ben Te’o and Jonathan Davies, who have surely nailed down the Test centre pairing.
With these two in midfield, you have a real line-breaking threat, one running 70 metres and the other just behind on 69.
Te’o built on what he has done so far on tour, while Davies really grabbed his chance having had to bide his time so far.
When he broke through with a little show in the first half, twice cutting inside and almost making the line, you just knew he was going to be the man to wear 13 against the All Blacks.
He also put in a couple of intelligent grubber kicks to mount the pressure, while he brought real defensive organisation as the outside instigator of the rush.
Leigh Halfpenny was another Welshman to book his Test berth.
He is yet to miss a kick at goal on tour and his immaculate work off the tee kept nudging the Lions ahead, rewarding their graft, while his allround game was virtually error free.
When he leapt high to claim his own up and under, it showed just what the tourists have been lacking in the air up to now and he also joined the line to good effect a number of times.
Moreover, he’s made of tough stuff, as he proved by shaking off the shoulder charge to the cheek that saw Tawera Kerr-Barlow yellow carded – a key turning point in the game.
The Lions scored 14 points while the scrum-half was in the bin, showing the kind of clinical cutting edge that has been lacking at times on tour.
There is still some room for improvement in the attacking game, with support runners maybe needing to get on the shoulder of the carrier a bit quicker when there is a line break.
But, all in all, it was hugely encouraging and there’s every reason to believe this forthcoming Test series can be competitive.
The team to face the All Blacks in Auckland is now pretty much in place, but there are a couple of key calls for Gatland to make.
Firstly, who partners George Kruis in the second row. Alun Wyn Jones is an absolute warrior and the kind of man you would always want alongside you in the trenches with his leadership and talismanic influence.
But Itoje couldn’t have done any more to put his hand up. The man was simply everywhere, carrying up 13 times – joint top with Faletau – pulling off crucial turnovers and driving over low for a try. Over to you Gats on that one.
The coach also has a big decision to make on the flanks. Does he bring his tour captain Sam Warburton into the starting line up or not? Based on the last two Saturday games, you would have to say it’s unlikely.
I just don’t see how Gatland can leave out Sean O’Brien, with the Tullow Tank having produced another huge carrying display to repeatedly get his team on the front foot.
One option would be to start Warburton on the blindside, but Peter O’Mahony has made a compelling case for the No 6 jersey through the Munster mongrel he has brought to the pack. So the likeliest option would appear to be Sam continuing on the bench and he’s not a bad man to have to bring on.
There’s a debate to be had over the left wing, with Elliot Daly having looked lively when coming on for George North, who was nullified in attack and gave away a try with a fumble on the deck.
And, as I say, there’s a big call to make at 10 between Sexton and Farrell, with that being a real toss of the coin, given both men have so much to offer.
Choices, choices and you wouldn’t want it any other way. This tour is getting more and more interesting by the day.