The Lions have stacked the backline with height for an aerial showdown
There really isn’t much between the Springboks and the Lions based on the first test, tactically or otherwise.
They both had similar plans, there wasn’t any noticeable dominance by anyone at scrum time, with the Springboks conceding two penalties to the Lions’ one. The Lions won 80 per cent of their 16 lineouts, the Springboks only had four throws of their own.
With parity at set-piece, the Springboks’ loss came down to execution, with a failure to manage the aerial assault in the second half allowing the Lions to gain ascension and territorial control.
Had they not lost so many high balls, it is unlikely the Lions even get back in the game and the questionable offside call on Willie le Roux isn’t a talking point, or Hamish Watson’s tip tackle.
Kwagga Smith was pressured into many mistakes in the second half in the backfield. Makazole Mapimpi and Elton Jantjies chipped in with a couple more.
Cheslin Kolbe, normally a reliable pair of hands, wasn’t able to diffuse many of the Lions high balls in the second half under pressure from the likes of the taller Van der Merwe, Robbie Henshaw and Watson.
It wasn’t for lack of trying, as the smaller Kolbe routinely made incredible leaps to make up for the height disadvantage. The Lions themselves didn’t bring down the ball, but they did interfere with the catch, with hands in the way leading to a 50-50 spill.
Sometimes it was a knock-on, sometimes the Lions got it back. Either way the Springboks weren’t able to secure the ball and when the bounce went against them, it lead to huge momentum swings to enable the Lions to get back into the game after being down 12-3.
The Springboks have made changes as a result of their aerial malfunction, going with Jasper Wiese at 8 instead of Smith and they have gone back to a 6-2 split on the bench, just relying on Damian Willemse for coverage across the outside backs with Elton Jantjies missing out.
The Lions have gone for more height in the backs for the second test, leaving Josh Adams out for the second time in favour of the 6’3 Van der Merwe while replacing Elliot Daly with the 6’2 Chris Harris.
With Dan Biggar and Anthony Watson at 6’2 and Henshaw at 6’1, the Lions appear to be doubling down on height through the backs in order to keep pressuring the Springboks in the air.
The smallest height wise, Stuart Hogg, is well established as an aerial specialist and possesses an incredibly valuable long punt from the back.
It must have been a 50-50 call to keep Daly on the bench over Liam Williams, with Daly’s long-range goal kicking perhaps giving him the edge. Although he missed his only chance in the first test, if the Lions need a late penalty goal from distance he could be on the field.
Gatland admitted they are expecting a bombardment when he spoke at his mid-week press conference of what would be a ‘ferocious kicking battle’ in the second test. This is how both teams want to play and so this is how the series will be decided. It will be who breaks first and concedes more.
Although, the Lions themselves will need a better showing in the air on defence as they struggled to diffuse many of the Springboks kicks.
It was a failure to take a Willie le Roux bomb in the first place that created the opportunity for his no try. The De Allende no try brought back from a Kolbe knock-on came from a spilled Faf de Klerk box kick.
These opportunities were coming from the Lions’ own inability to secure possession in the air, and only luck prevented them from paying the price that the Boks did.
The Springboks generated slightly more contestable kicks than the visitors, 18 to 17, but the Lions got the better results when it came to regaining possession and then turning those swings into points.
A key man from the first test, Ali Price, will also make way for Conor Murray in the run-on side, a change made in order to get control of the first half an hour that was missing for the Lions in the first test.
“They try and build the scoreboard, they try and get the front and hold on. That first twenty to thirty minutes is pretty important to us,” Gatland said of the decision to elevate Murray.
Price was instrumental in the second half with his box kicking, but also brings energy and tempo that might be better utilised when the game opens up. However, Murray’s box kicking will need to be on target with little room for error to match what Price was able to do.
The second test will bring more intensity and an emotional charge from a Springbok side fighting to stay alive in the series, but again, it will be decided in the air as both sides know this is the way to open each other up.
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments