MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH THEM
Gatland’s men need to regain foothold
THE fourth Test? It’s news to Owen Farrell that tomorrow’s showdown in Christchurch has been awarded a hype just one short step removed from the three-match series versus the All Blacks.
But that is the heady momentum behind the high-flying Crusaders, 14 Super Rugby wins from 14 and surrounded by an Everest of expectation that they will repeat what the Blues did to the Lions, only with a degree of more comfort despite facing the tourist’s strongest-looking XV yet.
The prospect of sucking up potential back-to-back defeats had a mellowing effect on Warren Gatland’s early-week grumpiness. On Monday, he had steamed out of a media session by twice using the F-word, bristling that the style of play his coaching encourages had again been derogatorily described as one-dimensional.
Yesterday, he was all polite, even mischievously getting up to leave at the end of his sermon by swearing himself off swearing, saying, ‘I promise not to swear this time.’
It’s a deal that might not last long given how the Lions are under pressure to finally bare their claws and sink their teeth into the best of the New Zealand professional rugby franchises.
Only last week they dramatically held their nerve to win a South Island derby coming from behind, the sort of confidence-creating success that eluded the Lions when they unsuccessfully sought to remedy falling 16-22 in arrears with the clock nearly up.
It’s hard to get a handle on these Lions, such is the game-to-game selection upheaval and the lack of on-pitch width. Gatland himself admit- ted he handed an assistant a piece of paper yesterday and asked him to write out his Test team. The assistant couldn’t do it. It was a Gatland yarn told to create the impression that he isn’t very far down the road yet in terms of team sheet names for the June 25 series opener against the All Blacks. If so, tomorrow could be very telling. Conor Murray and Owen Farrell can provisionally ink their names if they strike up efficient rapport despite their lack of time together, Murray only linking up with the squad before they flew out from London.
‘We’ve not had too long but obviously Conor’s a brilliant player and someone who I’ve admired for a long time,’ enthused Farrell, hoping it could be the start of a pairing capable of making the All Blacks worry.
Gatland, for his part, likes Farrell, heaping on the praise, words he wouldn’t be using if talking about the inconsistent Johnny Sexton, who makes the bench due to Dan Biggar following concussion return to play protocols. Jared Payne’s calf, Ross Moriarty’s back spasms and Sam Warburton’s ankle strain — said not to be serious and nearly mended — were their other injury concerns.
‘I have seen a massive development in him as a player in the last few years… he has been one of the top players in northern hemisphere rugby the last two years, whether playing at 10 for Saracens or 12 for England,’ said Gatland of Farrell.
‘That leadership and competitiveness he brings out of games, it has often been the point of difference between some victories and results. I am looking forward to seeing him start. He is a good age, he has matured and he is calm and confident.’
Front row and back row are also star-studded combinations that could steal a march if they gel, while it is interesting to note that Alun Wyn Jones, just as last weekend when combined with Iain Henderson in Whangarei, has again left a partner, on this occasion George Kruis, do the lineout calling. Jones is in an elite club of four, the quartet of himself, Stuart Hogg, Ben Te’o and Toby Faletau set to become the only players to start a second match.
Nine of the starting XV were on the 2013 tour, so there will hopefully be improved discipline in taking on a skirmish that has a must-win feel to it even though Gatland insisted the only thing that matters is June 24 and match one versus the All Blacks.
‘We haven’t eased into it with easy games which have happened in the past. That is why the challenge for us is to come together as quickly as we possibly can.
‘These Super Rugby sides have been together for seven months so you would expect that they would have a certain amount of cohesion, teams that have got All Blacks in them.
‘It’s a great test for us. We have learned a lot from the first two games. We are conscious that behind closed doors we are trying to keep a few things back and make sure we are right for that first Test.’
First, though, this unofficial ‘fourth Test’.
@heagneyl