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The Springboks tactic that resulted in Aki's Lions Test selection
The Lions have revealed that a particular attacking Springboks tactic coloured their thinking when it came to the selection of their third Test team which includes Bundee Aki at inside centre for his first appearance in the Test series. Robbie Henshaw started the opening two clashes with the Springboks wearing the No12 shirt, with Elliot Daly and then Chris Harris positioned outside him in the No13 Lions channel.
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Beaten in last Saturday’s second Test, Warren Gatland has now had another rethink about his Lions midfield, moving Henshaw out to occupy the outside centre berth and bringing in Aki from the cold at inside centre with a view to shutting down one aspect of the threat posed by South Africa.
“Bringing Bundee in, they use (Damian) de Allende a lot in terms of off nine as a hit-up merchant,” suggested the Lions coach about his Aki logic. “Bundee has been brought in there to try and negate that, but he is also a good rugby player in terms of getting some go forward. He is not just a hit-up person, he has got some really good footwork and offloading ability and the other thing was to give Robbie an opportunity at Test match level in that 13 channel too.”
Gatland also explained some of his other calls, revealing how the unheralded Adam Beard came close to forcing his way in to start the first Test of the series. The Lions eventually went with Maro Itoje and skipper Alun Wyn Jones at lock, a partnership that has stayed intact and will be there again for this Saturday’s decider. However, rather than have blindside-cum-lock Tadhg Beirne providing cover on the bench, as was the case in games one and two, Gatland had opted for an out-and-out lock in Beard.
“One of the strengths of Adam Beard is his maul defence is outstanding,” outlined the Lions coach. “In the South African A game he did a great job and he was quite unlucky not to start the first Test in the second row. We felt we needed something like that to negate one of their strengths if they go to that in the game. Tadhg has been unlucky.
Battle lines have hardened in the explosive Rassie Erasmus versus World Rugby standoff following a tweet from a vested interest in America#CastleLionsSeries #LionsTour2021 #LionsRugbyhttps://t.co/7S1OcfNxJU
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 4, 2021
“Sam Simmonds, we talked about some of the guys we have on the bench and as the game breaks up he hasn’t had a huge amount of opportunity but he has been training well, he has got that speed and power and hopefully he gets the chance of the game does loosen up a little bit.”
Reverting to the backs where Gatland has changed two of his back three starters and also preferred Finn Russell to Owen Farrell on the bench, the coach added: “There have been some really tough calls in terms of that and Stuart (Hogg) has had the first two games.
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“One of the definite strengths of Liam Williams is his aerial game and unfortunately with our whole back three last week, we weren’t great in that area. We put a lot of balls down so we felt we needed to make a few changes there. Then Finn comes in as someone who is just back to full fitness. It has taken the whole tour but he adds something a little bit different and hopefully that second half, when things do loosen up a little bit and we do get some more ball in play time and we do get some tempo, that he can come on and add to that. He definitely offers something a little bit different from an attacking perspective.
“We have been pleased with Ali (Price) on this tour in terms of the tempo he has brought and that is we have moved him back in (for Conor Murray), we thought he played well in the first Test. We even spoke about the likes of someone like Marcus Smith as well. He brings something a little bit different and asks and poses different questions of the defence – and that is something that Finn is able to do.”
The injury to the Springboks No9 could have far-reaching consequences in this weekend's Lions finale #CastleLionsSeries #LionsTour2021 #LionsRugby
https://t.co/FmtlSBGVNh— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 4, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Don’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
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