Hats off to the Lions, they lifted in the best possible fashion, through scrum and forward dominance, to beat the Wallabies handily on the weekend.
Lots has been said about what went wrong – I’ll add to it as well, no doubt – for the Wallabies but it’s worth considering fully the job the Lions did for themselves and their brilliant supporters as well.
Going into the third Test last weekend the Lions were still without a series victory since 1997, against South Africa.
Brian O’Driscoll, the only Lion representative durable enough to tour here in 2001 and be available for this series also, certainly wasn’t around for that victory in Africa.
That is a considerable weight of tradition to carry into a single match.
In the British press the lack of success was prompting calls for whether the series might be losing its lustre and even, perhaps, purpose.
I don’t believe a series loss would have been the end of this great tradition, but there is a certain expectation of success that would no doubt have weighed heavily upon the Lions team going into the match.
The brilliant addition to rugby that is the traditional Lions tour is enough to keep it on the calendar, and their loud, entertaining, supportive fans only add weight to that argument. But winning certainly helps.
Miss-communication between Will Genia and Kane Douglas right from the kick-off gave the Lions an early opening. They kicked the door in and destroyed the furniture before the Wallabies were able to regroup. They deserve credit for being ruthless.
The initiative was taken by Mike Phillips from the free kick at the first scrum, the Wallabies had to scramble to cover the blind side raid. A number of phases later the Lions were rewarded next to the posts.
This was the kind of positive rugby needed from the Lions to truly tear the game apart, which they certainly did.
When the Wallabies clawed back to only three points behind in the second half the Lions could have gone into their shells. They didn’t and barely flinched. Once the Wallabies got close their game suddenly found an extra gear, whenever they had the ball, especially on the counter attack, the middle exchanges drew in extra defenders and the men out wide duly ripped some poor tackling to shreds.
Playing a ‘straight and direct game’ as has been the description of their fare was crucially much more positive than their offering in Melbourne. They were brutal in contact around the ruck – probably sensing their physical superiority as a pack found during the scrum – and were not afraid to swing it wide when the defence was pulled inward.
‘Straight and direct” might not be considered flowing, champagne, running rugby that some Australian fans crave but the Wallabies would do well to heed the lessons dished out by that effective and combative style.
In fact, whatever style the Wallabies are playing at the moment, they would need to aspire to ‘straight and direct’ rather than lower themselves to it.
The Lions forwards were hitting the ball up at a better speed when they caught it than the Wallabies often do. That made a difference. And the sight of James O’Connor or Kurtley Beale trying to run around Jonny Sexton or James Phillips was in stark contrast to Sexton or Leight Halfpenny taking the ball on the quickest route to the opposition line and trusting supporting runners will get into the right position. That’s where ‘straight and direct’ wins you big Test matches.
Rugby’s simple objective is to score more points than your opposition. The best way to do that is to find the points where your strengths overlap with the opposition weakness and exploit those areas.
The Lions knew the Wallabies scrum would be shaky against their strongest pack and drove that point home – almost far enough home to place a Wallabies prop’s long Test career in jeopardy from here.
In the rucks they conceded the Wallabies might have a better fetcher in Smith, but knew their combined speed and bulk meant, through numbers, they could take away the Wallabies clean ball. This was especially true with referee Romain Poite, who is known to leave the rucks to be decided by the players. Another resounding success on the night for the Lions there.
The Wallabies backline was full of potent players, but weren’t used to playing with one another and were never going to be organised like a clinical Test side with those new combinations and a make-shift first five and flyhalf.
So the Lions ran at the outside shoulder and asked a second defender to commit over and over. The resulting draw-and-pass, or offload, saw the bigger Lions backs pour through the arm tackles of recovering Wallabies backs.
The final piece of the puzzle was the Lions’ possession of the best player in the series.
Yes, Leigh Halfpenny. Will Genia is the only Australian player who can claim to influence a match as much as Halfpenny was able to do in this series but even he was hot and cold, especially over the last two contests.
Halfpenny obviously brings a laser-guided kick for goal to the table. But his skills are far more than that.
He adds an uncanny ability to get to opposition kicks on the full almost every time. Only Jesse Mogg was able to beat him on a single occasion, and I’d respectfully rate that kick into the corner up there with the best Dan Carter might produce, it was perfection. His own kicking is very good too, especially the contestable length of his bombs.
Halfpenny is also deceptively quick, and has speedy footwork. He beat the first man on the counter often in this match and was instrumental linking with other runners in the tackle when the line beckoned.
Checkmate. That’s how you end up with a 41-16 score line in Test rugby.
Warren Gatland had a plan going into this series. He wasn’t able to fully put it on the pitch until the final Test because of injuries and some form issues.
By the time all the right men were available they needed to execute over 80 minutes to make all the planning worthwhile, to prevail under expectation.
So, you’ve got to give credit where it’s due.
The players knew their jobs and carried them out with the requisite level of intensity to perform under the pressure of 16 years without a series victory hanging over their heads. Well done Lions.
[roar_cat_gal]
moaman
Guest
" Do you believe Moa? " Mate! Having been disappointed so long...I'm a beaten hulk nowadays....but somewhere deep down a part of me is striving to acknowledge that there may be,just may be,some crumbs of joy strewn around some distant corner....but then,sanity prevails and I look up the ICC Rankings and return to my shell!
Ben.S
Roar Guru
'Errr no, that doesn’t cut it. Most of these players had played together before, often many times.' How many games had Genia-O'Connor played together, Genia-O'Connor-Lealiifano, Lealiifano-AAC, and the entire back three?
sheek
Roar Guru
Elisha, Excellent article. "Checkmate. That's how you end up with a 41-16 score line in Test rugby." Yep, that's nailed it! So perceptively well said, I don't need to add anymore to it.....
riccardo
Guest
"As a lifelong NZ cricket supporter" Stop right there brother! Same. Snap. From Hadlee, Howarth and my favourite NZ Cricketer Mr Glenn Turner through Flem's halcion days in charge under Rixon through to the interesting conundrum with McCullum deposing Taylor under the guidance of our new Coach Harry Potter. Oops, I mean Mike Hesson. The most fickle team in world cricket. I have to say mate that the core of the current team and the fact they have players vying for places, the new coaching group with particualr reference to Shane Bond, and the cleaning out of the Board have me filled with hope for the future. My one concern is the almost easy manner in which we lost the services of John Wright due to his dislike of Buchanan. The one international NZ Coach with gravitas on his CV. Then he goes out and immediately wins the IPL! Do you believe Moa?
formeropenside
Guest
He's one of about another 10 who round out a tour squad - Sio, the Faingaa twins, Godwin, one of Cummins or Morahan or even Davies, a fit McCabe as a 13 backup for AAC, Neville/Pyle, Palu, maybe Paddy Ryan. Toomua. (I can even see Deans naming Toomua at 10 and QC at 15, and interchanging like Cooper does at the Reds.) Injuries could change all that - for instance, with Mowen calling lineouts, if he lost form or got injured it would push MMM to 6 and bring in probably Simmons as lineout expert.
Mike
Guest
"‘Straight and direct” might not be considered flowing, champagne, running rugby that some Australian fans crave but the Wallabies would do well to heed the lessons dished out by that effective and combative style." Good point. And any sort of 'running rugby' always depends on what the pigs do first. Its a concept that we Australians seem to have trouble grasping at times - our analysis of any game usually starts with the backs (and often ends there too) which is the reverse of what it should be. "The Wallabies backline was full of potent players, but weren’t used to playing with one another..." Errr no, that doesn't cut it. Most of these players had played together before, often many times. in any case, our biggest failings were in defence where this has limited application as an excuse. Moreover the three Lions tries that went through our backline came in the last 20 minutes - if lack of familiarity or organisation of our backs was the problem, we would have seen the Lions going through our backline before then. Rugby is not just a skills game but also a grinding battle of attrition. In that respect I was very impressed with the way the Lions as a team lifted in that last 20 minutes. That was the period in which they lost the 2nd test, and could have lost the 1st test even with our goal kicker going down. But not this time. Their lift in intensity was palpable. There couldn't have been much gas in the tank at that stage but they just lifted a notch and blew the Wallabies away. Awesome stuff.
Elisha Pearce
Expert
I'd be getting Godwin on the bench if I were McKenzie, FOS.
formeropenside
Guest
I'd have QC at 10, and JOC at 11 - and on a behavoural one-chance warning. No Beale - too flaky and too soon. Probably Robbo Moore Slipper, Horwill and MMM, Higgy , Pocock, Mowen. Genia, QC, JOC. Lilo, AAC. Folau, Mogg. Holmes, TPN, Kepu. Simmons, Gill. Ben Lucas, Taps, Speight. Assuming all were fit, which they are not.
formeropenside
Guest
Another vote for a proper tour with proper tour matches.
John
Guest
Nice article, Elisha. I wonder, if Ewen is appointed national coach, who makes his first squad and side? Why does everyone assume he goes with QC? With Mogg, Godwin, Morahan etc, why would any of the three amigos be in the team? Are they really worth it?
moaman
Guest
Riccardo; It got me thinking actually. As a lifelong NZ cricket supporter I have found precious little glory to be discovered.Being an AB fan does help redress he ledger somewhat! But when it comes to Franchise rugby-I pick and choose the teams that I watch.If they happen to play a brand I am comfortable wtih and enjoy,I watch them. Guess I am comfortable in my 'Glory Supporter' jersey! ps Maybe I'l call myself a Perth fan from now on to legitimise it ;-)
Elisha Pearce
Expert
I'd say the biggest impediment to that would be the jam-packed NH club schedule. Although the SH sched is very full these days too, so maybe the difference isn't so bad. One thing I'll say about that idea - I'd be in the UK to see it. For sure.
Elisha Pearce
Expert
Thank you Sharon and peterlala above. Appreciate your support.
Elisha Pearce
Expert
Agreed about the best players being available for their Super Rugby teams. I'd try to structure the tour games so the Reds, Brumbies and Tahs get their tour games done first. That's where the bulk of the Wallabies still come from still. So they can play earlier in the Tour, get a taste or the intensity and step up then go to camp and prepare in that manner. It also means the Lions first few tour games - the most important ones for shaking out selection issues - are against better teams as well. That's not to belittle the Rebels or Force - they should still get their Wallabies back too and would also get a crack at a slightly weaker Lions tour team like the Brumbies did this year.
Allanthus
Guest
That's a good point about the bench Elisha. I bought it up in discussion when the sides for the 1st test were announced, feeling that the Wallaby bench was mostly an old style "reserves"bench, ie the next best available, whereas the Lions bench was more an opportunity for Gatland to make strategic replacements based on how the game was unfolding. In short, another reflection in the difference in depth/quality, which is kind of how it panned out.
Jason Cave
Guest
Why can't we have the Wallabies play against the Lions on their own grounds (ie Twickenham, Cardiff, Dublin, Murrayfield) on a 4 game series, instead of having to wait 12 years to play them again? A British & Irish Lions v Wallabies series in Britain & Ireland would be like this: Game 1: Lions v Wallabies (Murrayfield) Game 2: Lions v Wallabies (Dublin) Game 3: Lions v Wallabies (Cardiff) Game 4: Lions v Wallabies (Twickenham)
Sharon Grey
Guest
Thanks as ever for another excellent article, Elisha. Please keep them coming!
riccardo
Guest
I thought he had mistaken you as a soccer supporter from Perth.
moaman
Guest
Roarer---I just went off and consulted my Urban Dictionary about your comment.Yes--If enjoying a game because I like the way they play is somehow making me smaller in your eyes then so be it. I am neither British nor Irish nor have I any wish to be so....and yet I applauded their victory on Saturday night because I enjoyed their final 20 odd minutes' contribution to the tour and I thoroughly appreciated their supporters and the atmosphere they engineered. In fact,I enjoyed the atmosphere,crowd etc far more than I enjoyed the rugby served up.Pretty bland overall.
peterlala
Guest
Elisha, good story and analysis.