England’s success in the Six Nations and their long winning run are a blessing and a curse for Warren Gatland. As the British & Irish Lions’ head coach starts turning names for the tour to New Zealand from pencil to ink and erasing others, the champions’ players are high on confidence but have an attacking style markedly different to Gatland’s Wales.
England’s first three tries against Scotland last weekend came directly from lineouts, with speed of hand and foot rather than power undoing the defence. In 2013, when the Lions toured Australia, Wales were the Six Nations champions and their favoured lineout ploy also relied on ball delivered quickly from the top, but there was no attempt at deception as Jamie Roberts galloped hard to bowl over tacklers and get over the gainline.
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