This weekend the British and Lions played a near-full strength provincial side and only just had enough gas to take what the Reds threw at them.
This strong test started to show what sort of team the Lions are becoming in order to beat the Wallabies.
Firstly, I’d like to celebrate the performance of the Reds on the weekend. That type of entertainment and guts to have a go in the face of a strong opposition is what tour games are meant to be about.
In 12 years’ time every Reds player involved on the night will rightly be recounting their incredible performance in stories about the time they took it to the Lions. This is exactly what the people supporting the Force wanted from their once-in-a-generation match.
The Reds brought pride to their state and have given a spark to the Lions’ tour. Take a bow.
I don’t, however, want to analyse their performance too much as they aren’t the side building to up to a Test series.
Here are a four lessons learnt about the Lions from their close win over the Reds:
1. Scrummaging should end up being an area of dominance for the Lions
In the entire match against the Reds the scrum was a real weapon for the Lions.
On their own feed the Lions could earn a penalty almost at will against the outgunned Reds pack.
And they were able to effectively end any hope the Reds had of setting up attacking first phase ball but ensuring the number 8 had a torrid time removing the ball from the base of the scrum, let alone the halfback getting clean ball to the fly-half.
While the Reds weren’t able to offer their full first choice pack or front row, only James Slipper was missing from their regular options. It wasn’t like the Reds threw the academy kids out at scrum time.
On top of the dominance shown this weekend, it is worth noting the Lions haven’t been training together for too long yet. They’ll still be organising themselves into a tighter unit, and that counts for the scrum too.
One great thing to take away in that regard was the way the Lions scrum stuck together. Even when sudden forward movements came as the Reds scrum splintered, it was common to see the Lions scrum stick together as an eight-man unit and not get broken up.
That’s a sign to bring a smile to the faces of the home union supporters and coaching staff. Only three games into the tour, one of their anticipated weapons is taking shape as a unit. Look for this to keep improving.
2. Jonny Sexton is the best fly-half if the Lions hope to score points
The Reds struggled to contain the likes of Tommy Bowe (while he was on the field), Alex Cuthbert and especially George North out wide in the times they had the ball. There was space and metres gained almost every opportunity these guys had.
Yet Owen Farrell, from the first receiver position, only made six passes all game. He showed he’s good at kicking goals, but not good at getting the ample talent outside him into the game often enough to break open a lesser side.
Taking nothing away from the Reds, who defended admirably and put their best foot forward in a game they weren’t supposed to win, the Lions should have been able to score more than one try, especially in the second half when the Reds pack tired and they weren’t able to get out of their half.
The amount of damage done by the Lions wide players throughout the match was substantial, but not enough of it was instituted by the creative player in their side. It came more as a result of fortuitous positioning or pouncing on turnovers.
I’d argue Jonny Sexton has a greater ability to feed the hungry, ball-running beasts than Farrell does.
That doesn’t mean the Lions have to play an expansive and attacking game, but there are times to move the ball into the space your pack has created. Against the Reds the Lions were too one dimensional in attack.
In his start against the Force, Sexton made 31 passes from the first receiver position. Evidently he is more adept at grabbing the game and moving the ball to where it should go.
The Lions were playing a much weaker side on that occasion, but the deficit of 28 passing touches by the man in control of the side is not related to the opposition.
3. The Lions have the two best fullbacks in the series
When I was watching the Lions play the Barbarians in Hong Kong I was impressed with Stuart Hogg’s involvement and swift footwork. He’s a very hard man to get a strong hit on and has good ability to find a spot to get involved in attack.
Against the Force Leigh Halfpenny gave us all a reminder that he’s the best fullback in the world, especially when you’re able to add 11 from 11 off the boot to your repertoire. His performances for Wales in recent times have been amazing shows of safe bomb defusing, long punts, great link play and strength in contact.
Against the Reds, Hogg submitted another very, very strong performance. He was beaten just the once by a brilliant run and chip try. In the tackle he was very skilful at turning the ball runner over, causing a number of turnovers. He’s got a long boot too.
It’s safe to say Northern Hemisphere fullbacks are deployed differently to ours, in that we expect a lot of the fly-half playmaking traits to be shared, but in terms of getting the job done at fullback Halfpenny and Hogg are in much better form than anyone who dons the gold jersey with 15 on it.
4. The Lions backrow still needs work
There is something not quite right about the Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton and Toby Faletau loose trio as the Lions backrow.
Looking at the stats you see that all of them got heavily involved in tackles, carries and rucks but watching the game you just didn’t feel like they were heavily impacting the game in any meaningful way.
It all seems like empty calories.
The only important moment was probably Warburton doing very well to support a break and almost score a try. He had to be speedy to get in any sort of position to help out there.
I’d argue Beau Robinson was able to affect the game more by snatching a couple of crucial turnovers at the ruck in his own 22 just as the Lions were building phases.
As soon as Paul O’Connell came on the field he levered himself into a ruck and won a penalty that effectively ended the contest. There wasn’t a sense any of the Welsh backrow could emulate that at any big juncture.
I also think Sean O’Brien is hard done by as he runs the ball, pilfers and holds the opposition up in tackles better than Lydiate.
A Lions coach not so closely affiliated to Wales might be more inclined to see if a combination of Warburton, O’Brien and Faletau/Heaslip would be able to offer dominance in contact and at ruck time.
Colin N
Guest
"What really irks me is that he seems to be getting some positive reviews in the UK media when personally I, and a number of Roarers, think he’s been pretty woeful." Agreed, probably because he's been anonymous and because it's Alun-Wyn Jones, they just assume he's been awesome - that's my slightly cynical theory anyway. He's a good player but I see him as a worse version of O'Connell: can't run the lineout as well, no way near as influential and doesn't compete at the breakdown as well. As for Warburton, I sort of accepted it weeks ago that he was going to start, even though the performances have gone as expected (aka Tipuric and O'Brien excelling, but Warburton disappointing). As for the last comment, I completely agree, and the same applies for Jenkins as well. Both Warburton and Jenkins (I predicted the way that was going to end too) have only had one good international game in the last year or so and that was England. Their club form hasn't exactly been anything to write home about either.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
I totally disagree. He's a link man and has an excellent work rate. There is no generic type of number 8 out there, and he helps keep movements going. It just depends what style of rugby you want to play.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Yeah, I agree re: top level of experience. With Gray coming off the pitch so early on Tuesday I am surmising that either he will start with O'Connell on Saturday, or that Gatland wanted to give AWJ another half of rugby under his belt before he starts on the weekend with O'Connell. What really irks me is that he seems to be getting some positive reviews in the UK media when personally I, and a number of Roarers, think he's been pretty woeful. Another thing that is irking me is that Warburton is clearly going to start in the Tests even if he has another underwhelming game on Saturday. People have referenced his lack of match fitness, but McCaw has done exactly the same thing and produced MOM performances, and look at George Smith coming back from Japan. If you are good enough you will perform, and he is the Lions captain! The win over England was far and away the worst thing that could have happened for the Lions.
Colin N
Guest
Oh yes, I forgot about the first couple of games of the Six Nations, but the point is that he doesn't have much experience of doing it at the top level..,.and it showed!! I just hope Gatland doesn't put Wyn Jones and O'Connell together.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
He does, but he was injured for the first few games, with Evans and Coombs starting. I don't know who called the lineout then, but I'm presuming (perhaps wrongly) that it was Evans.
Colin N
Guest
I always thought Wyn Jones called lineouts for Wales Ben? Excuse my ignorance if I'm wrong.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Seconding Colin: Newcastle was/is an unfashionable club; he was always considered too slight. In many ways his career mirrors Ben Kay - with neither being the greatest natural athlete, but actually having a surprisingly good carrying game (entering the line late, running clever angles, good ball retention etc). Martin Johnson brought him on the Australian tour in 2010 but I think he was injured on it? Then Courtney Lawes and Tom Palmer rose to prominence, and then Johnson changed his tactical approach and looked for a pure tighthead 4 lock, and so it was then Louis Deacon A.N. Other, which basically put Parling at the back of the queue. Lawes has been injury prone, and Palmer's form dropped off (in 2010 he would have been a certainty to tour with the Lions) and then Deacon suffered injury problems and Lancaster took over, so there were spots available - hence the inclusion of Mouritz Botha too.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
I still don't get this Beale love. Apart from a few games at Test level he has basically been a non-entity, and his last good game at international level was 2010.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Wouldn't Evans have called the lineout during the first few games of the 6N, Colin?
Colin N
Guest
Parling? Number of reasons. A few were probably concerned that he was a bit too lightweight for international level, he also played a lot of his early career at Newcastle which isn't the greatest team to fulfill your international ambitions and when he joined Leicester, he got an injury which took him out of the game for a while. It just shows that understanding of the game, a decent engine and rugby intelligence can take you a long way in the sport.
Colin N
Guest
Well, the reason why the lineout has varied is because of the combinations. Look at who was playing on Tuesday - there was no regular caller in the pack. However, against the Reds and the Baabaas, the lineout was fine becaue O'Connell and Parling were running the show, the two best technicians in the squad.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Honestly don't know why you bother responding, mate.
ScotandProud
Guest
1. it can be done. the Lions were meant to be lambs to the slaughter against the Bokke scrum in 97 but they did their homework and trained and trained so hard a front 5 that included two unfancied props and jim Davison held their ground. Also worth considering that after the RWC03 the B&I fans alot of them thought that NZ scrum would be weak against the Lions. Turned out the other way round due to AB graft and preparation in advance. Consider also the very real possibility that either Evans or AWJ may start or come on at some stage, them allied with Parling, that could be a lightweight 2nd row. 2. Target Sexton a la Serge Betsen on Wilkinson in 2002. made easier by the fact that he will be receiving a slow telegraphed service from Phillips. 3.We'll see on this one. Neither of these guys have pulled on a Lions shirt before or played this kind of test. Folau could very well be a secret weapon. 4. Wallabies can win not only the breakdown battle but the whole forward contest. Even with Tipuric, Obrien/Croft and Heaslip they could but.. if messrs Warburton Lydiate and Faletau are anywhere near then yes, win the lions share of the possession a la the reds. The rest becomes a whole lot easier.
Malo
Guest
I agree with all of it Red Kevin but think our back row and backs will outweigh the set pieces and we will run them off the park. We will win well
jeznez
Roar Guru
They have been coming in from the side a bit. Wasn't sure if Jones was entering from the Qld side of the ruck deliberately or not in the breakdown that saw Lucas injured. Given what has been happening in other rucks so far this tour I assume it was intended. Up to the refs to sort that out.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I'd say another lesson is that the Lions clear out from the side and take away space on ruck defence. Make the ref aware of this, and what the obvious pointers are. It's usually easy to see the jackal being cleared out sideways.
David
Guest
Agree with most of your observations without sharing your pessimism. I also agree BOD is the smartest outside back in the past decade BUT counter that the NZ centre pairing from last year had much more penetration and equally as much skill. I believe SBW's ability to get over the advantage line and offload was the most destructive in world rugby last year as evidenced in Auckland and he would have, can still go on to be the best inside centre in a long time...this was obviously combined with the Carter / Cruden / Smith axis...so if the Wallabies want any evidence of what not to do against big backs..they can easily rewatch the game from last year. I also don't share your pessimism about gaining parity in the forwards..yes man for man there aren't many you would pick..but that's probably been the case for the past decade but realistically not a lot split the forwards. It will all be about if we front up on the night...if we do we will win..Genia is the difference, if our forwards don't turn up it will be ugly...France 2012 / Ireland 2011 ugly. Also a fit Digby and a way to get Folau involved will go a long way to providing some penetration and x factor.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
I'm in that boat too. The English have two very good locks right now and I don't think there is a lock in the SH who can match his lineout work. Ben.S if you read this why did it take the RFU so long to bring him on?
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Not sure on the Faletau hate, he gets through a lot of good work and Healsip hasn't exactly been excellent apart from the first half against the welsh this year. I'd love to have an Australian 8 like Faletau.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I've seen Smith scrum well and play well round the field, though not in the same game. Palmer is a loss but those two are good cover. White is a loss but Prior is pretty good cover. Aueleua is a big loss.