Gatland opts for brawn to take on New Zealand
So we can finally finish discussing, speculating and debating about what our preferred Lions squads will be and start turning our attention to what this exciting squad can achieve. As tour manager John Spencer read out the names of the chosen players, there were no huge surprises. Over a week has now passed and the players have had the chance to let it sink in; it's very much been back to business, turning out for their clubs as they chase European and domestic honours. What they will now have to cope with is the Lions tag every time they are announced on a team sheet, a certain aura will now surround them every time they take the field and their form is now under even further scrutiny. This is all part and parcel of being a British & Irish Lion, acknowledging the great privilege of being selected, but also living up to the expectation and performing.
Both England and Ireland dominated the squad numbers - a reward for being the top two sides in the 6 nations, but also sides who have recorded wins against the All Blacks in recent years. Wales contributed with 12 players despite finishing 5th in the table, yet Scotland were rewarded with only 2 players after beating both Ireland and Wales in the championship. But can we say we were surprised? We are all now well accustomed to Warren's way, and he has shown faith in the players who delivered in Australia in 2013, despite not all of them being in their very best form. Leigh Halfpenny, a full back who isn't exactly setting the world on fire at present and not reaching the heights he did back in 2013. Jonathan Davies certainly hasn't stood out when compared to say Jonathan Joseph or Gary Ringrose. Alun Wyn-Jones isn't in the form of his life and has been out with a shoulder injury. So why have these guys been selected? The key ingredient here is trust. Gatland trusts these players to perform when the heat is on, he knows them inside out and knows what makes them tick. It's also apparent that experience was top of his agenda and Alun Wyn has clearly been picked for his Lions experience and his leadership. Because let's face if he didn't have that in the bank, could you justify his selection over the likes of Courtney Lawes, Maro Itoje, Joe Launchbury and Jonny Gray? All players vying for spots in one of the most competitive positions in the squad.
If we have had any insight as to how Gatland is going to play, then just look at the size of the forwards and most tellingly the backs he has selected. Ben Te'o is a big ball carrying 12 who has a good off loading game, not too dissimilar to Sonny Bill Williams. The bulky Davies has been preferred to the fleet footed Ringrose. George North, has shown small flashes of his best form but his consistency of performance is still not there. But again, what does North have ...... Lions experience in 2013 and he is as big and as powerful a winger as you'll ever come across, meeting Gatland's apparent size criteria. Forwards coach Graham Rowntree has said this week that he wants a 'combative forward pack', to keep with the physical theme, and if the Lions are going to stand any chance of beating the All Blacks, they are going to have to win that forward battle.
Yes rugby is a physical contact sport and yes the Lions will try to physically dominate the ABs. However Steve Hansen's men are more than capable of soaking up big physical sides, they make their tackles, compete at the breakdown and when they get an attacking opportunity they often take it. They are a clever team who adapt quickly to the side they're up against and work out a way to beat them. Andy Farrell recently made reference to how quickly they turned things around following their loss to Ireland in Chicago by beating them in Dublin two weeks later. If the Lions lose the first test then they are going to have to do the same as New Zealand did in Dublin and respond just a week later, having carried out thorough analysis and executing a game plan to potentially level the series.
Keeping with the theme of size, since the game turned professional in 1995, the average weight of a professional rugby player has increased from 85.7 kg to 112.9 kg. This was almost inevitable with players being able to train full time, improved diets and weight programmes. But has Gatland placed too much emphasis on these modern 'gym monkeys', will the Lions just be able to smash New Zealand to pieces?
If you watch the All Blacks play they combine power with finesse and skill. They don't look to dominate the set piece, they just ensure it's an efficient machine, a means to restart the game and a platform from which to attack from. The same can be said for the breakdown, they don't commit more players to the ruck than they have to, but the players that do commit to the ruck are incredibly efficient in clearing players out, taking them out of the game and off they go and attack again. It's relentless stuff and incredibly difficult to defend and contain.
When they do attack it's certainly a sight to behold. Passes are on the money, ensuring that players don't have to check their runs. Supporting players pick great running lines and can off load easily out of the tackle. And it's not just the backs that can float a perfect miss pass, make a side step and then off load out the back door, it's the forwards too. Just watch their World Cup quarter final against France in 2015. It was a masterclass of great support play and off loading out of the tackle. But players from 1 to 23 are all so comfortable with the ball in hand in the wide open spaces.
Let's not get carried away with too much All Black worshiping here! Of course we are talking about the world's best current side, but this is the strongest Lions squad for some time and we have players capable of matching that level of play. A performance that springs to mind is Saracen's first half in Toulon in the opening round of this year's Champions Cup. Mako Vunipola stepped and offloaded out the back door to Owen Farrell, before George Kruis and Maro Itoje floated perfectly weighted passes out for Chris Wyles to score. Jamie George then picked a beautiful angle off Farrell before offloading out of the tackle for Richard Wigglesworth to score under the posts. At the time of watching I remember thinking this is getting up there with the All Black's style and standard of play. It's no mistake that the players mentioned have all been selected for The Lions. However all players in this squad are capable of performing at these standards, but those standards are the minimum that must be met to have any chance of winning the series.
Yes there's no doubt that the Lions will have to be physical, dominate the scrum, win the breakdown battle and challenge the All Blacks with a driving lineout. But what happens after that, is Warren just going to adopt a game plan of sending battering rams such as Te'o, North and Davies at the All Black backline? The rumour surrounding Jamie Robert's surprise selection in the run up to the squad announcement suggested that may be the game plan, but I sincerely hope it isn't. New Zealand will just lap it all up, make their tackles and eventually starve The Lions of space to attack.
I also ask myself, is this what we as fans of the sport want to see, is this what we pay our good money to watch? I may be speaking from a biased backs point of view here, but I'd much rather see a well worked team try, with pace, skill, off loading and sprinkles of power added in here and there. The professional game has done many great things for the sport, with increased media coverage and bigger crowds. These are all positives, but I still find myself watching that great try from Phil Bennett against Scotland in 1977. Over and over again I enjoy watching Steve Fenwick ship that superb quick pass back to Bennett, as the Welsh number 10 side stepped the last defender to score. Or the famous Gareth Edwards Barbarians try from 1973. I was barely a twinkle in my mother's eye back then, but there's a reason why these tries are regarded as some of the best ever scored and it's not because the coaches taught their players to play 'Warrenball.'
The All Blacks are setting the modern standard, today's equivalent of the great Welsh attacking sides of the 70's. In order to beat the All Blacks they will have to match their level of performance, and I do believe The Lions can reach it. If they do it'll be an extremely tight and hugely exciting series. However if they try and smash their way to victory then I fear it could be a repeat of 2005 and a series to forget!
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| Sam Warburton was announced as captain for a 2nd successive tour |
Both England and Ireland dominated the squad numbers - a reward for being the top two sides in the 6 nations, but also sides who have recorded wins against the All Blacks in recent years. Wales contributed with 12 players despite finishing 5th in the table, yet Scotland were rewarded with only 2 players after beating both Ireland and Wales in the championship. But can we say we were surprised? We are all now well accustomed to Warren's way, and he has shown faith in the players who delivered in Australia in 2013, despite not all of them being in their very best form. Leigh Halfpenny, a full back who isn't exactly setting the world on fire at present and not reaching the heights he did back in 2013. Jonathan Davies certainly hasn't stood out when compared to say Jonathan Joseph or Gary Ringrose. Alun Wyn-Jones isn't in the form of his life and has been out with a shoulder injury. So why have these guys been selected? The key ingredient here is trust. Gatland trusts these players to perform when the heat is on, he knows them inside out and knows what makes them tick. It's also apparent that experience was top of his agenda and Alun Wyn has clearly been picked for his Lions experience and his leadership. Because let's face if he didn't have that in the bank, could you justify his selection over the likes of Courtney Lawes, Maro Itoje, Joe Launchbury and Jonny Gray? All players vying for spots in one of the most competitive positions in the squad.
If we have had any insight as to how Gatland is going to play, then just look at the size of the forwards and most tellingly the backs he has selected. Ben Te'o is a big ball carrying 12 who has a good off loading game, not too dissimilar to Sonny Bill Williams. The bulky Davies has been preferred to the fleet footed Ringrose. George North, has shown small flashes of his best form but his consistency of performance is still not there. But again, what does North have ...... Lions experience in 2013 and he is as big and as powerful a winger as you'll ever come across, meeting Gatland's apparent size criteria. Forwards coach Graham Rowntree has said this week that he wants a 'combative forward pack', to keep with the physical theme, and if the Lions are going to stand any chance of beating the All Blacks, they are going to have to win that forward battle.
Yes rugby is a physical contact sport and yes the Lions will try to physically dominate the ABs. However Steve Hansen's men are more than capable of soaking up big physical sides, they make their tackles, compete at the breakdown and when they get an attacking opportunity they often take it. They are a clever team who adapt quickly to the side they're up against and work out a way to beat them. Andy Farrell recently made reference to how quickly they turned things around following their loss to Ireland in Chicago by beating them in Dublin two weeks later. If the Lions lose the first test then they are going to have to do the same as New Zealand did in Dublin and respond just a week later, having carried out thorough analysis and executing a game plan to potentially level the series.
Keeping with the theme of size, since the game turned professional in 1995, the average weight of a professional rugby player has increased from 85.7 kg to 112.9 kg. This was almost inevitable with players being able to train full time, improved diets and weight programmes. But has Gatland placed too much emphasis on these modern 'gym monkeys', will the Lions just be able to smash New Zealand to pieces?
If you watch the All Blacks play they combine power with finesse and skill. They don't look to dominate the set piece, they just ensure it's an efficient machine, a means to restart the game and a platform from which to attack from. The same can be said for the breakdown, they don't commit more players to the ruck than they have to, but the players that do commit to the ruck are incredibly efficient in clearing players out, taking them out of the game and off they go and attack again. It's relentless stuff and incredibly difficult to defend and contain.
When they do attack it's certainly a sight to behold. Passes are on the money, ensuring that players don't have to check their runs. Supporting players pick great running lines and can off load easily out of the tackle. And it's not just the backs that can float a perfect miss pass, make a side step and then off load out the back door, it's the forwards too. Just watch their World Cup quarter final against France in 2015. It was a masterclass of great support play and off loading out of the tackle. But players from 1 to 23 are all so comfortable with the ball in hand in the wide open spaces.
 |
| Hooker Dane Coles epitomises the modern All Black forward |
Yes there's no doubt that the Lions will have to be physical, dominate the scrum, win the breakdown battle and challenge the All Blacks with a driving lineout. But what happens after that, is Warren just going to adopt a game plan of sending battering rams such as Te'o, North and Davies at the All Black backline? The rumour surrounding Jamie Robert's surprise selection in the run up to the squad announcement suggested that may be the game plan, but I sincerely hope it isn't. New Zealand will just lap it all up, make their tackles and eventually starve The Lions of space to attack.
I also ask myself, is this what we as fans of the sport want to see, is this what we pay our good money to watch? I may be speaking from a biased backs point of view here, but I'd much rather see a well worked team try, with pace, skill, off loading and sprinkles of power added in here and there. The professional game has done many great things for the sport, with increased media coverage and bigger crowds. These are all positives, but I still find myself watching that great try from Phil Bennett against Scotland in 1977. Over and over again I enjoy watching Steve Fenwick ship that superb quick pass back to Bennett, as the Welsh number 10 side stepped the last defender to score. Or the famous Gareth Edwards Barbarians try from 1973. I was barely a twinkle in my mother's eye back then, but there's a reason why these tries are regarded as some of the best ever scored and it's not because the coaches taught their players to play 'Warrenball.'
The All Blacks are setting the modern standard, today's equivalent of the great Welsh attacking sides of the 70's. In order to beat the All Blacks they will have to match their level of performance, and I do believe The Lions can reach it. If they do it'll be an extremely tight and hugely exciting series. However if they try and smash their way to victory then I fear it could be a repeat of 2005 and a series to forget!
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