Ben Kay: Gatland so much more than Warrenball
The biggest statement around the Lions and their gameplan came 7,000 miles away from Johannesburg at Twickenham when Marcus Smith was informed he was to fly out and join the squad.
That selection has been made because it’s a like-for-like replacement for Finn Russell, who is struggling with an Achilles injury. Some sages may have wagered Gatland was taking Russell because he was playing so well you couldn’t leave him out, but that he did not necessarily fit the gameplan the Lions were looking to employ, but Smith’s selection proves that theory totally wrong.
Warren Gatland could have gone with a game-management 10 like George Ford or Johnny Sexton, a tried and tested Test 10, but he’s gone with the most influential player in the Premiership last year. Smith is a guy who’s game this year has been all about attacking teams and scoring more points than the opposition, rather than playing in the right areas and worrying about how you defend.
Gatland wants a 10 who can play and Dan Biggar is doing that with his varied passing game and cross-field kicks. Would we have seen Owen Farrell playing 10 if Finn Russell wasn’t struggling with injury? I’m not so sure. We know he can cover 10 and if you have him on the field in a Test Series, you don’t need a 10 on the
bench but with the selection of Smith, it makes you think Gatland was going into the Test Series looking at Biggar and Russell as fly-halves and Owen as a 12.
The type of rugby the Lions have been playing out in South Africa so far is certainly not the ‘Warrenball’ Gats used to get flogged with in the press. Warrenball is why he got the first nod back in 2009, because it had been successful with Wasps and then Wales, but this tour is changing the perception many have of him as a coach. It proves smart coaches use the tools and skillsets that they have within the squad to best meet the challenges the opposition will throw at you. Historically some Lions teams have taken on the opposition physically and relied on individual moments of brilliance from their superstars.
Even in 2017, where we saw some fantastic tries, like Sean O’Brien’s try started by a side-stepping Liam Williams, but they were pretty attritional encounters. That was the right way to play against New Zealand, but it’s not going to work against the Springboks.
For the second Sharks game, the Lions were taken on physically and they started to creak. Their No 8, Phepsi Buthelezi, carried a few times, and while Hamish Watson played well again, it was the first time where he got carried in contact. It reinforced why the Lions don’t want to go head-to-head physically.
As a player on a Lions tour, you have two choices; to try not make any mistakes or just gamble a little bit and try to create moments that will stick in the coach’s mind. Selection, both starting in the team and on the bench, is based around how the Lions are looking to play. What I’ve liked about their approach is how they’ve seemed to say, ‘who are the most successful team against South Africa and how do they play?’ I’m not comparing the Lions to the All Blacks, but whole crux of it is not allowing the opposition to know what’s coming next.
Right now, they’re constantly trying to play in different areas of the field. The amount they’re playing off 9, 10 and 12 is about as even as you’re ever likely to see. Look at the stats; 30 per cent of plays off the scrum-half, 15 per cent off 10, 8 per cent with the pick and go, 9 per cent maul, wide-plays 10 per cent and two passes off the fly-half 9 per cent. It’s a really open, balanced style. They are hitting the opposition all over the field, not over-indexing one area. Obviously physical dominance and a defence that is not as sharp is going to help you with that, but the cast is set.
What the Lions are doing is trying to create defensive hesitation taking away the Springboks’ strengths which is line-speed and physicality but when there are opportunities reverting to their traditional set-piece strengths and attacking the fringes like Tadhg Beirne’s pick and go try. You wouldn’t traditionally think that would be an area to attack with all the Springbok muscle around the breakdown but if you’re spreading things out and they’re worried about you going wide, their ruck defence could be a little thinner due to a lack of numbers committing.
There are some interesting selection decisions to make in the next few days because everyone has had a turn, apart from Marcus Smith who should get a run on Saturday. Now it’s about getting those combinations right. The No 13 shirt is pivotal. On form, I didn’t think Elliot Daly should have been selected before the tour, but he’s really put his hand up. He has looked better as a 13 than at full-back with England. Saturday was a battle between the two strongest candidates because Chris Harris and Daly are playing well on both sides of the ball. Daly’s DNA is slightly more attacking while Harris is more the defensive glue.
Does that mean Daly’s stock is starting to rise because of what he can do in wider channels? Maybe. If he’s picked you don’t need as much versatility in your back three, you can pick specialists, which means you could start with Van der Merwe who is an out and out wing. He could use his power-game to dent some holes, cause
some trouble and get the Lions on the front foot. He’d have a physical advantage over whomever he faces. Some will say you have to pick someone who could best defend Cheslin Kolbe, but there’s a mismatch with Duhan and the Lions mindset is just to score more than the opposition.
If Van der Merwe and Adams start, it’s one of Hogg, Watson and Williams to choose from. I wouldn’t want to be in Gatland’s shoes right now. I thought Williams and Watson were brilliant at the weekend. They have a bond from 2017 and clearly respect and like each other.
If you pick Daly, Williams, Watson and Farrell, you don’t have to worry about utility backs on the bench, you can pick specialists because you’ve got everything covered. If he feels he’s covered in the backline, Gatland could go with a 6-2 split on the bench, as he’s done against South Africa A, in a similar way to the Springboks during the 2019 World Cup.
The red card had a massive effect as the Lions ran away with it, but of course they were too loose at times and there were individual errors. Gareth Davies was charged down and picked off for an interception, and Conor Murray was charged down, too. The errors in the game are indicative of individuals trying to make things happen. You don’t get noticed making the caterpillar ruck longer or blocking at the side of the ruck but you do if you put in a really good chase, make a dominant tackle or show your workrate. Everyone is probably thinking, ‘shit, I need to get my GPS numbers up’.
Up front the forwards are making really good decisions around the breakdown. Whether they play tight, out the back or around the opposition, there are no egos there thinking, ‘I’m going to run through this bloke and make myself look good’. They are showing an appreciation of space on the field, rather than going with pre-disposed ideas of how to approach the breakdown. It is heads-up, smart rugby, which is pleasing.
I think Jamie George advanced his cause with his lineout accuracy. The worry for Ken Owens is that the lineout dipped a bit when he came on. There was an overthrow and one where it came down on the Lions side but only just, for scrappy ball. The set-piece is a major strength for the Springboks.
Rory Sutherland was another to stand out with his carrying game and he was solid scrummaging-wise. Furlong and Sinckler like to use their dancing feet allied with their ball handling ability and having someone like the Scotland prop who is going to go route one and get through the tackle is useful when options are limited. If it comes to him, it’s less likely to be an attacking move, more a momentum phase but that’s not a criticism.
Summing up, their gameplan seems to be trying to make the South African’s worry about every play and create uncertainty. So far, the coaching team have been shrewd by mixing things up, but you wonder if the players and management will stick to it in the Test Series if a couple of mistakes leads to tries against them.
Will they revert to a more conservative ethos which plays into Springbok hands or stick with high-risk, high reward? There is less than a fortnight to the first Test. Can they hold their nerve?
Comments on RugbyPass
You doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
43 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
5 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
5 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
5 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
5 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
5 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to comments