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What did the Lions’ display against the Waratahs tell us about the future?
This appears to be the last full bore hit-out the Lions will use before going into the first Test against the Wallabies next week. It’s likely the team that faces the Brumbies won’t be populated by many people destined for that match.
While that gives the Brumbies a nice chance to pluck the Lions’ unbeaten record away before the battle for the Tom Richards trophy begins, the match this weekend will probably tell us more about what’s coming.
At the breakdown the Lions are only attacking the ball sparingly and that is feeding their defence
The Lions’ breakdown tactics are similar to those employed by New Zealand, Ireland and, sometimes, South Africa, in that they attempt to hold up runners and not commit many to the breakdown to pilfer.
The idea is to stop the opposition forward progress and overpower the ruck after turning them or concede that ball and focus on getting people in the defensive line.
The extra men in the defensive line means the Lions continue to employ a very fast line speed on defence, which has been effective so far.
They obviously hope to choke the Wallabies’ ball around the midfield and prevent the full backline from getting much chance to operate.
Having many people in the line as opposed to competing at the breakdown means there isn’t much space for a sneaky step to break the containment and plenty of extra cover defenders are available if the pass gets to the fringes.
In the Waratahs game only Sam Warburton and Paul O’Connell – who may be the best over the ball in the Lions squad and snaffled the first ruck steal on this occasion – seemed to focus much on pilfering more than the most obvious chances.
It was Quade Cooper’s long passing and Bernard Foley who eventually got that going towards the end of the first half that did the most damage to the Lions’ defensive line.
They are hoping to contain the ball around the James O’Connor-Pat McCabe channels and prevent the fast outside backs getting the ball often.
Will Genia is going to have to throw some very, very long passes to help O’Connor get outside the bulkier sections of that on-rushing defensive line. He is capable of it, but they are inherently riskier balls to throw often.
Simon Zebo is a brilliant addition to the Lions’ back three corps
George North is a strong and combative runner who has shown just enough speed this tour to be a real threat. He is now struggling with a bit of an injury and isn’t 100% guaranteed to be ready for the first Test.
The other Welsh wing, Alex Cuthbert, is slightly elusive but doesn’t get up and down the field as well as North or even Zebo by the look of it.
I believe North is the best wing in the Lions squad, but Zebo is just as handy as Cuthbert, who hasn’t looked quite up to speed all tour so far.
Zebo shows a knack for getting involved when the middle of the pitch shows a few cracks. He’s got nice hands and draws the man before giving a pass.
The main drawback is he is felled by an arm tackle on occasion. The wing’s slighter build would be the drawback in a close encounters-focused series.
However he might be a player to select to try and snipe tries with his extra yard of pace if a coach is brave.
On a Wallabies note, it’s a bit strange watching Zebo perform all those weaving runs near the ruck, offloading and general sniping and involvement.
He is performing the role I believe James O’Connor should do for the Wallabies; only about five times better than Zebo could dream.
We need to hope those similar skills translate just as well to the fly-half position.
When Jonny Sexton is on the field the Lions look completely different to when Owen Farrell is pulling the strings
I touched on this point in a column last week but I focused on this area during the match this weekend and have some more specific detail to illustrate just how important the difference between the two ball players is.
First and foremost: Sexton takes the ball to the line.
On a few occasions he got clobbered for it early (hello Will Skelton’s shoulder), but that is exactly what the Lions need from their fly-half on this tour.
With all that big, fast meat in the backline, someone has to put all of those bodies into gaps. Straightening the attack and giving the ball to men on the front foot is crucial to getting these guys moving.
The Lions backline isn’t full of Israel Folaus, Willie Le Rouxs or Julian Saveas, who all use different strengths to make something from nothing. There are fast, powerful backs to be used but they need to be moving forward to get the job done well.
Ask the England fans out there how effectively the talent in their wide men has been used in the last couple of years – I think the answer would be ‘sparingly’. There’s a reason for it.
Farrell’s cross-kick to Zebo late on signifies the different way he sees the field to that of Sexton.
All night Sexton had been finding the people in space outside him by passing and trusting the ball through the hands. Yet when Farrell took the field, the first time he saw space he kicked into it. It’s a high-risk play which didn’t come nor let the guys outside him use their skills.
The second time Farrell had lots of space and runners outside him he did pass, but it wasn’t meant for anyone in particular and as a consequence it bounced aimlessly to the wing.
Another time the Lions were going through the phases in midfield and Farrell didn’t have the next phase organised yet. He just turned infield instead and put up a bomb only he could chase. It was defused easily by Drew Mitchell.
The difference between what the two fly-halves do for their team is noticeable and the Lions must have Sexton on the field for the Tests to guide the team more effectively so they score points when the opportunity is there
Speaking of points…
The Wallabies must not give away penalties inside their half (of even 5m outside it) because Leigh Halfpenny is going to make them pay
The quickest way the Wallabies will lose this series is by the Lions earning a few quick penalties between 40 and 50 metres out from goal – Halfpenny will put the Wallabies in a bag, tie the top and throw it into a river.
What this means is the ruck contest has to be fiercely battled, and won, while staying on the right side of the referee.
It’s likely the Wallabies will give away a penalty or two in the scrums. So they need to be absolutely squeaky clean in every other area of the game to level that penalty count.
(The Lions scrum, again, looked like a tight eight man unit for much of the Waratahs match, even though the pack was probably half-and-half first Test starters only.)
That means no ruck shenanigans from Saia Fainga’a, no eagerly rushing offside from Michael Hooper, or generally bending the rules to breaking point from Ben Mowen.
All of those mistakes will be brutally exposed.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.