With Brisneyland Local’s clapped out laptop finally giving up the ghost I’m afraid you’ve got this clapped out Soap Dodging Taswegian to take you through Monday’s news. Rather than go over the ground in Hoss’s excellent match review I thought I’d give my take on the events of the past five weeks or so. So settle down, have a good slurp of nature’s elixir of life and feel free to add your own comments at the end, if you make it that far.
Andy Farrell and his mob arrived on these shores with a squad comprising 15 Irishmen, 13 Englishmen, 8 Scotsmen and 2 Welshmen. There was much debate at the time that the squad had been picked on past reputation and not current form with a couple of players selected without playing much rugby at all. Not a great start. The pre-tour game against Argentina seemed to re-enforce this with the Lions going down 24-28 in a close game.
The Wallabies named their squad and Joe Schmidt made it pretty clear that he wanted to keep the squad together for the duration of the tour and that players would not be released to play for their respective franchises. This raised a few eyebrows with the Lions management, but happily peace was restored and a few players were able to return to their clubs for a once in a lifetime chance to have a crack at the Lions and put forward their own case for inclusion in the match day test squad.
Game 1: Western Force 7 – Lions 54.
The Lions started slowly and looked good with some nice running plays. The scoreline eventually blew out when the replacements came on, all seasoned internationals that the Force replacements just could not cope with. The Lions did suffer a big blow losing Tomas Williams with a hamstring injury sustained in scoring a try. He was looking very sharp and would have pushed Gibson-Park for the #9 slot. Scotland scrumhalf Ben White was eventually called in as a replacement. Nick Champion de Crepsigny (aka The Norman) looked good for the Force and Dylan Pietsch also impressed.
Game 2: Queensland Reds 12 – Lions 52.
Rinse and repeat. Another slow start from the Lions before they finally broke clear when the replacements came on. Hunter Paisami put his hand up for the Green & Gold #12 jersey with another strong performance and Lukhan Salakaia Loto also impressed for the Reds. The game was marred by an injury to Elliot Daly who broke his forearm and was replaced by Venus de Farrell. That was always on the cards but caused a bit of a stink in the UK press. A real shame because Daly had looked very good in the games that he’d played in and was being touted as the Lions #15 for the first test.
Game 3: NSW Waratahs 10 – Lions 21.
With all the players the Tahs acquired following the demise of the Rebels there was an expectation they’d go well in the Super Rugby season. However, they flattered to deceive and failed to qualify for the finals. On the back of that and with a number of players in the Aussie squad this was expected to be a stroll for the Lions. It proved to be anything but with the Tahs taking it to the favoured team from the starting whistle. Charlie Gamble had a great game making, I think, four turnovers. A stronger bench saw the Lions home, again.
Game 4: ACT Brumbies 24 – Lions 36
A good crowd of 23,000 turned up at Canberra Stadium to see Aussie’s top team take on the Lions. It was a good game with the lead changing hands a couple of times. With Finn Russell pulling the strings, the Lions pulled away at the death for the win.
Game 5: AUNZ 0 – Lions 48.
On paper the AUNZ teamed looked very good, but that’s as far as it got. The Lions put on a masterclass to set them up for the first test. LSL was the only player in the AUNZ team that played like he meant it.
First Test: Wallabies 19 – Lions 27.
And so too the first test at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. With Bobby V and Will Skelton injured, the G&G looked a bit lightweight up front and the centre pairing of Ikitau and JAS relatively untested . With no Noah and JOC3.0 ignored young Tom Lynagh got the gig. As expected the Lions had a large number of Farrell’s successful Irish team but there were still some doubts that a couple of players were past their use by date. However, he also went with the tried and tested Scottish midfield of Tuipolotu and Jones. With Russell on song the Lions had a relatively comfortable lead at half time 17-5 up. Highlight of the first half was Jorgensen’s try, one to savour. The second half was a different story. After an early score from the Lions to take a 23-5 lead, the Wallabies bench made a greater impact on the game and they fought their way back. Russell controlled things very well and Beirne and Curry had big games. I can’t help but feel that the final score flattered the Lions a little.
Game 7: First Nations & Pasifika 19 – Lions 24.
It was again a strong team from the First Nations team on paper and this time they lived up to their billing. From being 14-0 down they finished the first half even at 14-14 with all to play for. The second half was a ding dong battle with both teams giving and taking big hits. The Lions eventually broke the deadlock to go 21-14 ahead. They added a further penalty before the FNs came back again with their own score. If only KB had added the conversion to make it a 3 pt game life would’ve been interesting. I know his name has been mentioned in despatches twice already but LSL put in another massive shift and was my MotM.
Second Test: Wallabies 26 – Lions 29
The Wallabies team that turned up at the MCG was a totally different animal, strengthened by the return of Bobby V and Skelton and what followed was high drama to say the least. The Wallabies came out of the blocks all guns blazing and when they went 23-5 ahead, looking well in control, I thought it was game over. Tom Wright’s try off a good run from JAS was my try of the series. However, the Lions pulled back with two tries in the final 10 mins of the half and brought them back into contention. This time out though it was the Lions bench that made the difference. The timing of Joe Schmidt’s changes were a bit of a mystery to me. Bobby V who had had a great first half was subbed off and Skelton joined him soon after. The Wallabies bench was not as effective as it had been in the first test and the Lions took advantage. They somehow turned the game round and with a bit of a rub of the green managed to sneak the win. Nothwithstanding that, the atmosphere at the MCG was electric and the two teams went at it hammer and tongs for the full 80. They both deserve a massive round of👏👏.
Third Test: Wallabies 22- Lions 12.
It never rains bit it pours, with a bit of lightning thrown in. Not a dead rubber nor the walk in the park that some arrogant rugby commentators up north were predicting. Forwards win matches and never was a truer word spoken. The Lions front row were ineffective with TT handing Porter is arse on a plate. The lineouts were equally embarrassing and they were overpowered at the breakdown. In the tour wash up, if there is one, questions must be asked about Farrell’s team selection and his over reliance of players whose best days were past. I don’t think we can cry complacency after the series was won but the cause wasn’t helped by losing both locks and having to reshuffle his back line when Freeman went off. Farrell and Aki must be the slowest centre pairing to have played international rugby, ever, and never looked like working. Overall it was a decidedly average (some have said poor) performance and I can’t argue against that. Towards the end of the game when Kelleher was carded and Sheehan came back on it was all Curry could do but to manage to limp off. He was one of my Lions players of the series.
Massive credit though to the Wallabies. They came to Sydney with a point to prove and did so in spades. No doubt in my mind they handled the conditions better with a dominant pack that gave front foot ball for the backs to work with dominating possession and territory. The weather break may have helped as it gave TT and Big W time to recover and play for that vital 15 mins after the break. Nic White was his lippy, chippy best and Lynagh had a solid game until Sheehan’s hit (which should’ve been a yellow card) resulted in a failed HIA. Donaldson came on but the Wallabies didn’t break stride. Ikitau had one of his best games, punching holes and with Nick Frost, and towards the end Jeremy Williams, dominating the lineout, this was a throughly deserved win. Difficult to pick a best player but Nic White was outstanding as was Icky and Frosty. Every player from 1 to 23 got a 7/10 from me.
On a personal note the highlight of the tour for me was spending the week in Melbourne. After watching a great game of rugby on the Tuesday, when the First Nations & Pasifika took it to the Lions, I caught up with some of my old rugby teammates from Blackheath, some of whom I hadn’t seen for nearly 40 years. We downed a few pints of Theakston Old Peculier in the Elephant & Wheelbarrow on Bourke Street when they regaled me how I got the nickname Slug.
I don’t like to do lowlights but just have to mention two things. The way the UK media, media pundits and fans alike went after Carlo Tizzano after the clean out was a disgrace. I defy anyone who has been hit hard not to put their hands on or near to the place where the injury occurred. OK it may have drawn the referee’s attention but when the likes of James Haskell call that a red card offence it’s time to give him the 🖕. Total tossers.
The Lions management didn’t help matters by carrying on like pork chops and not agreeing to Samu playing for the First Nations team. It just smacked of hypocrisy of the highest order when they called on a raft of FIFOs to stack the team for the First Nations game so that the players likely to be in the second test squad were fully rested. As far as I’m concerned you should only be able to bring in replacements for injured players.
My final take. Ultimately it was a series that should dispel any notion of Australia being taken off the Lions schedule. They may have lost the series but arguably the Wallabies played the better rugby. They are on an upward trajectory and can go into the Rugby Championship with confidence restored although stronger challenges await. One final call to Joe: if Will Skelton is on the plane to DDF land and LSL is not on that same plane as back up, I want to know why.
