2 months ago
48
In my coaching career, I used to remind my teams of what I saw as the three rugby basics. By that, I meant the non-negotiables, the parts of the game we have to get right - our safety net to success.
They can vary from match to match but for the first British & Irish Lions Test they are, in my opinion, scrum, line-outs and restarts. As the countdown to Saturday’s Lions opener with Australia begins this week, Andy Farrell needs to remind his players of their importance. If we’re honest, the Lions haven’t been great in these areas so far Down Under. To beat the Wallabies, they will have to be immaculate.
The phoney war is now over. Saturday's victory over a combined Australian and New Zealand Invitational side was the final chance for the Lions to get prepared.
It was a tough challenge for Farrell’s men on paper given some of the quality in their opposition. But the Lions were excellent on the whole and the combined team were just miles off the pace. They did well to score zero! There is no way the Lions should play against scratch teams as despite how well the Lions played, the opposition was just not up for the occasion in any shape or form.
It might seem rather simple to say, but if the Lions nail their scrum, line-out and restarts, they will beat Australia. That’s because they have better players. But any team can lose to an inferior side if they aren’t on the money with their basics. That’s the risk the Lions face.
Ahead of big games, I used to put the pressure on my players. My message, again, would be quite straight forward: ‘If everyone does their job, we win the game.’
Victory over a combined Australian and New Zealand side was the final chance for preparation
Duhan van der Merwe scored a hat-trick as the Lions scored eight tries to beat AUNZ XV 48-0
The Lions should have too much strength for Australia with the likes of Itoje, Genge and Russell
As a player, you don’t want to be the one to mess up and put a potential victory at risk. This applies to the head coach as well in terms of substitutions.
With the likes of Maro Itoje, Ellis Genge and Finn Russell on the park, the Lions should have too much for Australia. But this is the beauty of the upcoming Tests. We simply don’t know whether they will. On the flip side, we’re also not totally sure what Australia will bring.
I think the heart of the Lions side which faced the Brumbies will also form the team for the first Test. That said, I thought there were a number of players against the Australia-New Zealand side who impressed. I liked the tempo with which the Lions played, summed up by the quick line-out which led to Duhan van der Merwe’s score and Ben White’s snipe.
The Lions defence was good and the way they moved the ball in attack was very positive too. You could make a good argument to say the first 20 was the best rugby of the tour so far. I hope Luke Cowan-Dickie is OK. His injury looked very concerning.
As I mentioned in my previous column, I have concerns at full-back but Hugo Keenan's display on Saturday has reduced that as he played very well.
The Lions will hope Blair Kinghorn is fit to train this week and play in Brisbane. If he isn’t, Keenan will step in. Keenan looked much more like himself in Adelaide and that’s a real positive.
The big area of selection debate for me is at No 7. I’d go for a back-row trio of Ollie Chessum, Jac Morgan and Jack Conan, the latter of whom is a specialist No 8. It’s not the loose forward trio I thought I’d say at the start of the tour, but going with a bigger, line-out jumper at No 6 clearly seems to be the direction of travel for Farrell.
It’s an incredibly tight call between Morgan, Josh van der Flier and Tom Curry. Any of them could start. What’s interesting is that the two who don’t start may well miss out altogether with Henry Pollock primed to bring big impact from the bench.
England star Henry Pollock is primed to make a great impact from the bench against Australia
Saturday's win was a challenge for Farrell’s men on paper with some of the opposition's quality
Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, 32, was taken off the pitch in a neck brace during Saturday's win
I like Morgan. He had a big game against Queensland Reds and a great start on Saturday. Outside centre is a big decision. Garry Ringrose's concussion means he is out of the first Test. That's a shame, but Huw Jones is a great partner for Sione Tuipulotu with Bundi Aki missing out which is very tough on him.
It’s another 50:50 call and Jones was good again on Saturday. But I think Farrell will go with Ringrose. The below side is undoubtedly good enough to beat Australia. If the Lions win the first Test, I think they’ll win the series 3-0. Australia's big chance is the first Test.
That’s how big Brisbane is. To come out on top there, it’s all about the basics. Nail them and aggressively attack the Australian basics and it should be all smiles for the Lions .
My British & Irish Lions team for first Test with Australia: Blair Kinghorn; Tommy Freeman; Garry Ringrose, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje (capt), Joe McCarthy, Ollie Chessum, Jac Morgan, Jack Conan
