The social media spat between the two camps head honchos: Warren Gatland and Rassie Erasmus was decisively won by Gats, which gives the Lions first blood in this unusual Lions Test series.
Willie le Roux’s disallowed try and Hamish Watson’s unpunished yellow card tip-tackle engineered a 7+ point swing that ended up a bridge too far for the brave but decidedly undercooked Springboks.
The pressure Warren placed on the match officials by throwing his toys out the cot in a tantrum about the match officials worked a charm and was cleverly leveraged by the streetwise Wyn-Jones on the field which gave the Lions first blood in this enthralling chess-like series.
Round one to Gatland’s troops but kudos to Rassie and his men to take it on the chin without any excuses to congratulate the victors and slink off to lick their wounded egos and plot their revenge, which is very much in the pipeline.
After getting the rub of the green during most of the ’19 WC campaign; it seems the tide has started turning against Rassie’s charm offences and that his “Kool-Aid” has passed it sell by date. It is important however to remember that this is but the first act in a three-part drama unfolding on our screens.
What a fascinating match to watch as it ebb and flowed. The Lions’ unexpectedly disjointed opening stanza against a well oiled Bok machine circa ’19, just for the momentum to slowly swing as the undercooked Handré Pollard tried and missed two kicks to leave five additional points on the table, on top of the officials’ blunders.
As the game went on, his and Faf de Klerk’s pinpoint kicking game started fraying; causing a ripple of butter fingers and brain fades from the Boks that proved their ultimate undoing a rugby drama for the purists.
The Lions game plan finally started bearing fruit as the vaunted Bok “bomb squad” turned into a damp fizzle with their introduction suddenly giving the Lions pack the upper hand on the gain line to transfer the pressure onto the Boks.
This was typified by the highly active but totally unproductive Quagga Smith’s outing. How the Boks missed the steadying, assured ironman presence of Duane Vermeulen.
For the bomb squad concept to work, it has to fire on all cylinders. I personally think that the two years from the big stage have pushed Frans Malherbe way past his sell by date; from being ever present in the broken phases and on defence; he was nowhere to be seen on Saturday.
The back line bench was introduced into a losing cause but didn’t cover themselves in any glory; both the Jantjie’s folded under the pressure.
On the Lions side, I was impressed with the leadership and assured presence of Wyn-Jones and the effervescence of Ali Price at nine while Duhan Van der Merwe gave an assured display and Anthony Watson always threatened with ball in hand.
Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes made hay because of the absence of Duane Vermeulen in the broken phases. Sadly the Elliot Daly experiment was an abject failure outside a rusty Robbie Henshaw, with changes surely coming for the second Test.
Elliot Daly is a surprise Lions selection for some. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
I’d bring back the assured Liam Williams at 15 and team Josh Adams with van der Merwe. I’d replace Dan Biggar, who was battered a bit, with Owen Farrell and bring Harris in for Daly.
Henshaw will be better after his first real outing in a while and Harris could provide the missing link to unleash Adams and van der Merwe.
In the forwards I’d start Owens and bring a bit more bulk in with Faletau for Conan; the Bok pack has been wounded so they will have to weather the coming storm…
On the Bok side; I’d drop Malherbe and Quagga Smith from the squad completely and start with Kitshoff. Francois Louw’s influence in securing late turnover ball is sorely missed and I’ll bring Marco van Staden onto the bench and lastly promote Jasper Wiese to start at eight for more go forward and solid defence.
At the back; I’ll introduce Reinach as a wild card game breaker from the bench and Frans Steyn’s assured presence to back up Pollard with Jessie Kriel to cover the outside back positions.
One thing is for sure; whichever way the two head Mandarins choose to spin act two of this three part drama; the physicality and intensity will be a ratcheted up from last week and it promises to be a titanic clash.
Fascinating stuff, this game of Test-playing chess, isn’t it?
Mybloodisgreener
Roar Rookie
Just a stark reminder to all that says Rassie went too far... Gatland started this. As Stick reiterated. Rassie did NOT do what Gatland did: Gatland first of all questioned and asked explanations about Fafs tackle. That was fine, he can. That was what Rassie did showing all the clips. And remember in that A Game there were 2 lion infringements with no arms head tackles by the lions that was pointed out that went un punished. Where Gatland took it (that Rassie did not do) was saying before the match that the TMO is likely to be partial.... Gatland therefor placed a question mark on the integrity of the game before it even started... but that was OK???? And Rassie cannot rightfully point out officiating blunders that created marginal calls that affect the outcome of such a high stakes game.... The criticism against Rassie is more hypocritical and absolutely synical... Gatland has rights as he represents the British and Rassie is out of line just because.... no, other reason... I frown on all who disparage such a Rugby genius and legend. He will have the whole SA's backing... but he will be frowned upon because he touches a nerve and he is the man who last won the RWC by emphatically beating England ... oh yes and winning the championship in 2019. So he has the Brits, the kiwis and the Aussies (because they feel the ref is an Auz... so how can he be slated) against him. He has more guts and balls than any other coach has. And yes, I agree he will feel a bit of a twat if the boys loose today against BIL. But I feel that the wounded Boks are the most dangerous and will make us supporters proud today. It will be close though. Again fine margins. I just hope it is fair for both teams and that officiating is fair and without blunders. And please, give Kolisi the respect he deserves. May the best team win ...convincingly...
Homer Gain
Guest
In the interests of unreconstructed pedantry, can I just point out (for the umpteenth time), that the Lions Captain's Christian names are Alun Wyn. Jones (not Wyn-Jones) is his surname. You make him sound like an Old Boy of that minor English public school at which Nic Bishop and Harry Jones were seemingly subject to some form of horrendous molestation (that being the only possible explanation for their unrelenting Anglophobia)
Greysy
Roar Rookie
I think Rassie is looking odds on as the biggest loser. Particularly if the Books lose round 2. The big ol Sook you're having about "pathetic match officiating" is a bit much though ay. Just like the wallabies in the cheika era, your boys should be looking at what they can improve. That's what matters. Crying about refs is a bit lame. It's not like Berry pulled an egon seconds anyway..
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
I enjoyed this article - there's always going to be a few ways of seeing most issues. The discussion of selection options has aged pretty well, given the vagaries of selection. I was disappointed by Rassie's video. It never looks good after you lose to go into chapter and verse on the ref. The run of calls did tend to favour the Lions, but as I have said elsewhere, it wasn't the only reason they lost and the calls weren't in the dreadful stakes. Refs should be accountable but we should also always pay genuine respect to how difficult this game is to referee. The better side still usually wins in rugby and I think decisions often favour the side going forward/showing some dominance. This is the case in other sports, too. It is just part of the game. The Lions are not innocents in terms of pushing the envelope on public pressure on refs and to a point I think it is part of the game. I happen to think Rassie went way too far. He's better than that. I am looking forward to the game in the sandpit this weekend. I am sure everyone will be on their best behaviour.
Double Agent
Guest
" Only loser is Rugby as a sport representing values and integrity." Oh. And Rassie.
jcr
Roar Rookie
Assaulted? Read your article with interest, viewed your comments as Trumpian.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Yeah, that RWC award was sports politics at its lowest. But Rassie's rant was coaching gamesmanship at its lowest.
The masked soup-bone
Roar Rookie
My apologies that this article hasn't aged well; I penned this before Rassie finally also threw his toys out the cot and I dialed back my narrative substantially on the pathetic match officiating. Rugby as a spectator sport and a gladiatorial contest for the purist has now become the biggest loser in this game I love during this much anticipated series.
The masked soup-bone
Roar Rookie
Rugby is a spectator sport and their presence normally act as a counter balance to officials getting manipulated in a pressure cooker situation like this. Their absence has now shown up how biased rugby officials in general can be; particularly against Springboks.
The masked soup-bone
Roar Rookie
Rugby; as a world class spectacle; is the loser here.
The masked soup-bone
Roar Rookie
You're so right Harry; pity there are no crowds at this series; their reaction has always been the counter balance to this sort of situation getting out of hand. I predicted that the ref will steal the the game for the Lions on my WhatsApp group when Curry illegally assaulted and injured right Ox Nche right in front of Berry and it went unpunished....
The masked soup-bone
Roar Rookie
You're so right; world rugby always shoot the messenger; especially when he's from SA. Just like nothing was said or done when France in plain view bought and stole the next world cup tournament from South Africa.
The masked soup-bone
Roar Rookie
Kudo's to Rassie to finally boil over and raise this "holy-cow" on social media.
The masked soup-bone
Roar Rookie
Quite correct; this article was penned on Tuesday morning and submitted but the editors only posted it post the Erasmus video; just shows how us; the SA rugby public; has become use to getting the short end of the stick from officials because I dialed back my narrative of how world rugby and he Lions can't beat the undercooked Boks at home on a level playing field and have to steal the series with dubious decisions and officiating. The crowds absence has now enforced the match officials ability to pre-determine the outcome.
Harry Jones
Expert
Sorry that Jaco-Johan went mad in the meantime
PeterK
Roar Guru
it is so funny though, painting the boks as taking the high road
PeterK
Roar Guru
so so ironic, also the author only mentioned ref blunders that went against the boks, he is certainly drinking the kool aid still.
Highlander
Roar Guru
Sometimes the timing of ones article just doesnt go in your favour This one rather usurped by wider events
dsat24
If the second game is more entrenched than the first it is about the outcome only as rugby is not a winner. Only the baked on will want to watch the second game after watching the first game. Will Faf surpass 39 kicks in the first half is just one of many uninteresting subplots..? If a casual observer was asked to compare this first test to SR Aotearoa in 21 they may well mutter "I see that the goal posts look the same in both games".
There seems to be a lot of hatred around these days JD. This rant by Rassie is just beyond belief.