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'I was disappointed with Dan Biggar... I think Farrell sees the space better'

By Ian Cameron
Dan Biggar /Inpho

Former British & Irish Lions flyhalf Ronan O’Gara appears to be backing England stand-off Owen Farrell for the hotly contested 10 jersey after criticising Dan Biggar’s performance against the Sharks.

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The La Rochelle coach – who toured with the Lions in 2003, 2005 and 2009 – had raised questions about Finn Russell’s mercurial temperament in recent weeks, suggesting the Scot is a better option to spring from the bench. ‘Can he [Russell] weave his magic in the first 30 minutes of a Test match? I wouldn’t be so sure.”

With Russell now unlikely to play any further part in the tour with an Achille’s injury, Gatland is effectively left with a straight shootout between Farrell and Biggar for the starting 10, with late call-up Marcus Smith likely to feature as a midweek option.

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O’Gara was critical of Biggar’s performance in the Lions’ Cell C Sharks replay on Saturday, suggesting his decision making isn’t on par with his English counterpart.

“I would base my Test team around Conor Murray and Owen Farrell. I was disappointed with Dan Biggar,” Ronan O’Gara said on Sky Sport’s after match analysis. “I thought he kicked the ball away unnecessarily twice, and it’s his capacity to see space. I think Farrell sees the space better.

“To back up that argument, when Biggar passes inside to Anthony Watson late on, there’s 50 or 60 metres of space with no defenders on the left-hand side. But that’s being very harsh.”

O’Gara is also unconvinced as to who the Lions will play in the midfield, seeing it as a problem selection for Gatland.

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“It’s a real position of strength is the No 10, and there’s debate around No 12 and No 13 with probably a big meeting needed there.

“I think the big challenge at the minute is who to pick at 13. I don’t see a striking candidate.

“Robbie Henshaw probably would have been favoured until he got a hamstring injury, which creates a cloud over him.

“And in the back of my mind, when he plays in the centre with Garry Ringrose for Ireland, Ringrose plays at 13.

“I like the combination of Bundee Aki at 12 and Henshaw at 13, but there are so many options with the quality of players they have on this tour.”

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O’Gara also hailed the decision to call Smith in the touring team as a replacement for Russell. Smith was only told of his call-up to the series after coming off during England’s hammering of Canada in Twickenham.

“I think it’s unbelievably exciting for a 22-year-old. Imagine his feeling coming off at Twickenham, he’s delighted, and all of a sudden he’s getting on a plane to go down to South Africa,” O’Gara said.

“I agree with [Sir Ian McGeechan] in that it is like for like. I think it would probably be a different decision if Owen Farrell or Dan Biggar got injured.

“I think that’s when you have a goal-kicking 10 coming out, like Johnny Sexton, someone like that who can manage the game.

“This is a very smart move in that it is like for like and it is a bit of a Mulligan in that you try and introduce him with very little pressure – and he’s someone who can potentially alter a game after 50 minutes.”

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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