Tourists found wanting in final stages against Highlanders; Warburton needs to prove he is up to speed; discipline disintegrates and Ben Te’o the man for No12If a second midweek defeat of the tour has brought the Lions down to earth, there is equally no need for Warren Gatland to panic. There were positives in the 23-22 defeat in Dunedin – they outscored the Highlanders three tries to two after all – but many of their failings against the Blues returned. It was a breathless match, the best so far, but the Lions were found wanting in the final stages. Should Owen Farrell rather than Greig Laidlaw have kicked at goal considering it was his first involvement? Should Elliot Daly have...
Forwards leave coach spoilt for choice and set tourists up well for the tests that lie ahead as they prepare for their match against the Highlanders on TuesdayIt is impossible to overstate the fresh sense of purpose that has accompanied the entire British & Irish Lions squad south from Christchurch to Otago. Not many sides conquer a strong Crusaders team with something to spare and the result on Saturday had two significant consequences. Not only do these Lions have more belief in themselves but New Zealand’s worst nightmare is in danger of materialising.From a New Zealand point of view all was relatively normal before the weekend. The touring team had been struggling to make an impression, the local media were...
Defeat against the Blues means the Lions need to ditch ‘rugby chaos’ and develop a clearer plan with tougher challenges aheadDrawing conclusions this early in a British & Irish Lions tour can be dangerous but there is one that can already be made with certainty: the phrase “rugby chaos” must be banished from the tourists’ vocabulary, never to return.It always had the whiff of a soundbite, dreamt up by an anxious PR team eager to deflect attention from negative “Warrenball” headlines, but with a laborious opening victory now followed by defeat against the weakest of Super Rugby sides the Lions will face, it has backfired with an irony not lost on the caustic New Zealand press. Related: Lions slip to disappointing defeat...
The notion that Gatland is armed only with a rigid and ancient gameplan not only ignores his coaching record but the way Wales played in New Zealand last yearThe British & Irish Lions had a farewell dinner on Sunday, a rallying cry before they flew to New Zealand the following day, although not everyone believes they will fare well.“I am not sure Warren Gatland has the playbook and flexibility for this challenge,” the 2005 Lions wing Shane Horgan wrote in his newspaper column. “I would be more confident if any of the other three home nation coaches were in charge. So I ask myself: is Gatland the weakest link on the tour?” Related: Warren Gatland out to make Lions players...
Vunipola’s injury has left a big hole in Gatland’s plans but, as bruised squad members assemble in Ireland, an opportunity beckons for those still standingThe mood at the British and Irish Lions stately training base in Maynooth, County Kildare was neatly reflected by the two dozen swans on the lake beside the endless winding drive leading up to Carton House. Serene on the surface but paddling frantically underneath to keep up will be the Lions default setting for the next few weeks, particularly in the wake of the gloomy news about Billy Vunipola’s tour-ending shoulder injury.No man, as we all know, is bigger than his team, particularly when he has not yet worn the jersey. But Billy V? Not the...