Lions over run by Springbok forward pack

 
James Mortimer Roar Pro

By James Mortimer, 22 Jun 2009 James Mortimer is a Roar Pro

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The British and Irish Lions were given a harsh lesson in what is required to defeat a full strength South Africa, and the 26-21 score line didn’t reflect how dominant the World Champions were up front.

Any thoughts of the home team being under prepared were quickly dispelled, as South Africa impressively exerted their authority on a Lions pack that has been exposed at times against provincial opposition.

The one area of their game which had been found wanting in the build up to the first test had been at the tackle area, but the Lions won nearly three times more rucks as the Springboks (32 to 82) and competed manfully against the more aggressive South African forwards.

The Springbok loose forwards put in an honest display, but it was not them, but their tight five that effectively won the match for the World Champions.

Ironically, the one area of their forward play where it was thought might provide headaches for the World Champions – in the scrum, was reduced to a shambles as Tendai Mtawarira executed a stunning demolition job on the World Cup winning prop, a man who has worn the captaincy armband for both England and the Lions, Phil Vickery.

This was coupled with the expected lineout dominance of the Springboks, where Victor Matfield was untouchable in the air, but the Lions woes were compounded by a mixed performance by their hooker Lee Mears.

But the Springboks looked every bit a World Champion team.

Lack of recent match time did not affect them, and the Lions were sucker punched by the South African opening onslaught. Even with three of their backline playing their first games after being out with injury, they all hit the ground running.

Their set piece command allowed them to choke the Lions, especially in the first half. No doubt the morale of the tourists would have suffered watching their first phase foundations get so easily picked apart by some of the best forwards in world rugby.

However, as it was at times last year, there were occasions where the Springboks strategic creativity was lacking, especially against the creative genius of the outstanding Lions midfield of Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Roberts.

Here, the Lions will draw their inspiration.

On this display, they have a superior backline than the World Champions, or certainly one with more purpose and guile.

They made four clean line breaks while the Springboks made none. Every member of the Lions backline beat defenders and offloaded at least once, while no South African back could manage this.

But rugby is a game of possession, and if the collective might of the home unions forwards cannot stand up to the South African forwards, the remaining two test matches on the Highveld will lead to losses and a second consecutive series whitewash.

The Lions will draw inspiration out of the way they came back into the match, but this encouragement could be a mirage, as the Springboks will not switch off in Loftus Versfeld or Ellis Park in the coming weeks.

While the South Africans continuity suffered with the raft of changes, made by Coach Peter De Villiers, both the enigmatic coach and the players themselves have harshly acknowledged the fault.

Have the Lions lost their only opportunity to strike while the Springboks were down?

They will now have to overcome history, as only the 1989 British and Irish Lions team that toured Australia has recovered from a 0-1 deficit to take a series.

At least the Lions will know though that behind the Springboks imposing starting forward pack they are human. And while the South African replacements appeared to be a notch below their starters, again the tourists will know that they have the collective resources of the home unions.

Certainly it will likely be an all Welsh front row wheeled out by the Lions in Pretoria, with the bulk of Andrew Sheridan likely giving added scrum power on the bench.

But in the loose, overall the Lions will need to lift their performance several notches if they are going to have any chance of now recording an improbable series success.

Quite simply, man for man the Lions forward pack was outmatched.

Whereas the South African eight will, on form, win this series for the World Champions.

In the backs, the Lions will sweat on the fitness of Lee Byrne, but Rob Kearney is an equally brilliant custodian. While some might feel that Ugo Monye may not be a preferred option, the trinity of Tommy Bowe, O’Driscoll and Roberts looks far beyond any combination that the Springboks will be able to field.

Their next match is against the Emerging Springboks in Cape Town on Tuesday, before they march on Pretoria for the second test.

It is a happy hunting ground for the Lions, having won there in 1955, 1974 and 1980.

And Ian McGeechan has never lost a second Lions test, either as a player or a coach.

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