British and Irish Lions chances still unclear

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By James Mortimer, 5 Jun 2009 James Mortimer is a Roar Pro

Tagged:: Brian O’Driscoll, british and irish lions, Eugene Eloff, Golden Lions, International Rugby, Rugby Union

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A record 74-10 romp over the Golden Lions gave the fabled tourists their second win of their tour, eclipsing the score line over the same team on the 1955 Lions visit.

While Robin Thompson’s British and Irish Lions played Transvaal (as the Golden Lions used to be named), the Irish born captain’s team would eventually draw the Test series 2-2 against a very strong Springbok team in what was considered one of the better Lions units.

While the 64 point winning score line was impressive against the Golden Lions, and the Brian O’Driscoll led side looked many notches above the average performance put in against a Royal XV, it is hard to draw too much from it.

The Royal XV were said to be the weakest side that the British and Irish Lions would face on tour. In theory, this was somewhat untrue. Largely made up of the Vodacom Cup winning Griquas, they put in a fabulous performance.

Good enough to record a historic upset, but the tourists finished hard and fast to save themselves any embarrassment in a display that would have had most rugby purists putting their mortgages on a Springbok Test series whitewash.

They then turn it around and tear apart their South African Super 14 namesakes in a performance that had both coach Ian McGeechan and O’Driscoll gushing superlatives. But it is necessary for the visitors to put this in perspective.

Getting excited about a result like this will do them no favours against what will be a very good Springbok Test team.

The SA Lions, before and during the match, were a rabble.

Head coach Eugene Eloff was dumped as head coach just days before the match, in a display of horrific timing by Golden Lions CEO Manie Reyneke.

This was done after Jake White’s company Winning Ways did an audit on the team and found the Eloff was, in a sense, the root of all the issues.

The Golden Lions released a statement saying “It immediately became apparent that in order for the GLRU to move forward, they would have to make immediate changes to allow for a proper build up for the British & Irish Lions versus Lions game and the Currie Cup.”

A proper build up?

Surely an analyst of White’s capabilities would have known of the disruptive effect it would have on the team.

We were then treated to a woeful display of rugby and inept tactical nous from a team bereft of its most attacking players, and even with former test player Andre Pretorius at the helm, were overrun by a British and Irish Lions team with a point to prove.

The review and fate of the former Transvaal side, a rugby province with so much great rugby history, will hopefully occur with more efficiency for their long suffering supporters.

Meanwhile, for the illustrious visitors, while not many more questions were answered, at least we have seen what the team can do when combining well.

We have now seen enough from key players to know that if the right team is selected, this side could cause issues for the World Champions.

Lee Byrne and Rob Kearney both appear to be of Test class; while Ugo Monye and Tommy Bowe looked the goods, and on that form looked to be good enough to be the starting wing three quarters.

O’Driscoll will be starting centre, and it appears Jamie Roberts’ early tour form may kill off any challenge at second five eighth from Riki Flutey.

Stephen Jones and Ronan O’Gara seem to be evenly poised, with perhaps the Welsh standoff having the edge due to a greater combination with the men inside and outside of him.

Mike Phillips should be starting scrum half, if for anything, the increased physicality he brings to the table.

In the backrow, Tom Croft put his hand up and showed the insanity with his early non selection. But who his partners will be to combat a terrifying Springbok loose forward trio is still a difficult question to answer.

Paul O’Connell will be one lock, but should take note from the efficiency of how Nathan Hines and Alun-Wyn Jones went about their work, especially in the loose.

And in the frontrow, there seems to be numerous options, with the quality of the British and Lions scrum work looking of genuine world class stock. The question will be how much they will rely on their tight forwards to get through a high level of work around open play.

Will McGeechan look for just scrummaging qualities from his frontrow or some skill with the ball in hand?

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The Crowd Says (19) | Page 1 of Comments

Knives Out said | June 5th 2009 @ 1:15am | Report comment

“Hopefully, this is the start of things to come. We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves”
Brian O’Driscoll

“It has given us a good sighter of what is possible. But we know we have to lift ourselves further.”
Ian McGeechan

Hardly gushing superlatives. Probably best to rethink that statement.

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Ian Noble said | June 5th 2009 @ 1:33am | Report comment

I like the general approach that the game against the Golden Lions is a marker and the rest of the squad have to raise the bar to get into contention for the Test Matches. It will raise the standard and hopefully to be part of the eventual Test side any player will have to be at his peak of form and performance. Difficult for the coaching staff to achieve on such a short tour but just about possible.

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Spencer said | June 5th 2009 @ 1:35am | Report comment

Knives Out – how about “really impressive” or “very impressive” or “immensly satifying” or “we played really well” – this part you removed from the front of “(We played really well, and ) Hopefully it is the start of big things to come,” said O’Driscoll.

One last superlative for you to digest “We can take a HUGE amount of positivity from the game”. Gush, gush..

You may now pull your pants up.

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Knives Out said | June 5th 2009 @ 1:45am | Report comment

Firstly, I did not edit a thing. These quotes are directly taken, in order, from PlanetRugby and The Lions website.

‘They then turn it around and tear apart their South African Super 14 namesakes in a performance that had both coach Ian McGeechan and O’Driscoll gushing superlatives. But it is necessary for the visitors to put this in perspective.’

Secondly, I suggest you look up a dictionary definition of superlative and then read re-read the comments of O’Driscoll and McGeechan and attempt to reconcile that with the above quote. Once you’re done perhaps you should try pulling your pants off your head, they’re obviously obscuring your critical faculties.

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pothale said | June 5th 2009 @ 1:51am | Report comment

Spencer, I think KO’s point is that they tempered their comments with caveats about future games, whatever about any gushing about how much they enjoyed the game. No one’s losing the run of themselves about a 70 point victory over what was clearly a sub-standard team who probably shouldn’t be in the Super 14 when you see what the Bulls can do. They played a bit like Connacht in the Magners League – who are effectively a development provincial side for Ireland.

The Lions have a lot of work to do still before even thinking about a victory against the overwhelming favourites in the Boks test team.

Saturday’s game against the Cheetahs is up next. Let’s see how that goes.

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pothale said | June 5th 2009 @ 1:53am | Report comment

Oh – he beat me to it. KO had a different point to make.

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Spencer said | June 5th 2009 @ 2:05am | Report comment

Actually it would be highly unlikely that the dead-pan McGeechan would ever gush, or get too excited at all. Boks 3-0 in the main matches. At least the BIL won’t lose a forth match like they did in 2005 (sorry I forgot, “don’t mention the war”)

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Knives Out said | June 5th 2009 @ 2:07am | Report comment

You make some good points, Spencer. I’m glad I’ve come across you.

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van der Merwe said | June 5th 2009 @ 10:41am | Report comment

What a fine display, it must surely make up for those britches that had to be discarded after the opening game. O’Driscoll looked very slick and has a much stronger aura than big ginger. Though, I’m probably not being completely fair to Paul here, since the Royal 15 actually played with passion, tackled and had a coach and coherent game plan and Brian’s team had more time to acclimatize. The [insert whatever brand name wishes to sponsor this slush] Lions were so worthless they couldn’t even play dirty and take a couple of Test hopefuls out, oh no, their betters even excelled them in that. Botha must be hoping Hines makes the starting 15.

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pothale said | June 5th 2009 @ 10:57am | Report comment

Watched the game again this evening and had a harsher look at particular players.

Hines had a good game, but had one moment of madness that he was lucky didn’t get a yellow card instead of the soft warning from the ref. He won’t get away with that in a test match. That has always been his weak point.

Phillips played better than I thought, but he still seems suited to a game where his pack were totally in control and so able to take his time in his passing. He mightn’t get the same opportunities against the Boks and du Preez will be a much tougher customer. Jamie Roberts was excellent and I don’t think will be shifted from the Test spot at 12 unless through injury. O’Driscoll will certainly partner him at 13 – they gellled very well.

Jones had a good game at 10 and kicked 18 points. The majority seem to be coming down in favour of him for the Test spot instead of O’Gara, with his familiarity with Phillips part of the reason. I wouldn’t give up on O’Gara yet though. Jones didn’t get examined half as much as the Royals did against O’Gara. The Cheetahs will tell us a bit more – though Hook may get the starting position for the weekend game to give him a further run-out and O’Gara to relieve him at some point.

Was less impressed with Monye on the second viewing – yes, he got a couple of tries, but they were practically made for him with Bowe providing the killer pass on both occasions. Monye missed a couple of crucial tackles – one of which led to the Golden’s only try; he dropped a couple of balls, and was out of position a number of times. Not sure he’s nailed down a spot as some seem to think. He’s also carrying a leg injury but that won’t last hopefully.

Bowe was another who was excellent value for money and should take the 11 jersey in the Test team. On the opposite wing, Shane Williams when he came on was absolutely invisible. He will get a couple more local games but just can’t see his current form getting anywhere near the Boks.

Alun Wyn Jones looks likeliest to partner O’Connell in the second row. In the back row, Heaslip did more than Powell at 8 but there’s a few games left to see how they both do.

Wallace has had the better of the outings at 7, and it’s up to Martyn Williams on Saturday to make a mark. Croft is in the front for the 6 shirt, and will probably hold on to it, no matter how well Ferris does – he might get a bench spot as consolation.

Front row? I’ll leave that to KO. It would seem that Mears has his dibs on the 2 jersey.

A lot of that might change after Saturday. Roll on the next game.

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