Lucky Sithole
Imagine the outcry if Warren Gatland didn’t choose Alun Wyn Jones for the run-on team for the B&I Lions against the Springboks! The faithful would have demanded to see Gatland’s privates slowly rotating in a microwave oven.
If you think about it, (privates aside), Gatland had no choice – but it may be one of the mistakes that could cost the visitors the first test.
Rugby at this level tolerates nothing but superb conditioning.
Jones’ recovery from his shoulder injury has been described as sensational and it is indeed a superhuman effort. But being strong enough to carry your laptop off the plane is somewhat different to the effort needed to tackle Eben Etzebeth breaking away from a ruck with the ball tucked under his arm.
The other gamble that Gatland is taking is playing players who play the so-called expansive game, because they have initiative and they are good runners with the ball in hand.
Gatland as a coach, and the B&I Lions themselves, are best when they play a tight game close to the scrum. If either Dan Biggar or Owen Farrell are going to go for the kick pass to the back three, they’re going to be in trouble. Duhan van der Merwe, Anthony Watson and Stuart Hogg are all mercurial, talented players, but they can’t be left out to dry.
And in selecting those players, Gatland has let the cat out the bag. It’s a clear indication of how he plans to play the game (ie, getting as far away from the scrum as quickly as possible). If that is obvious to anybody who cares to think about it, imagine how easy it is for Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus to see that – and we all know how good they are at skinning cats!
Having said all that, do not expect a runaway victory for either side. It’s going to be close, and it’s going to be brutal! A contest to savour.
Photo: Twitter (@adamdriver85)
