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The stats hinting Aki is a timely addition to blunt Lions midfield
An indication about the worrying bluntness of the Lions attack in their Test series versus the Springboks is evident in the revolving door regarding their midfield partnerships as Robbie Henshaw heads into Saturday’s third Test decider lining out in a third different centre combination, this time with Bundee Aki.
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The Lions have managed just a single try in 160 minutes of Test rugby against the South Africans, that score coming from Luke Cowan-Dickie off a lineout drive near the line, and attack coach Gregor Townsend has just one final chance to make his supposed creative blueprint click.
The Scotland boss came in for criticism in the wake of last weekend’s depressing second-half fade-out, the Lions surrendering a three-point interval lead to lose by 18 points after they were held scoreless in the second half. Warren Gatland reacted by making six changes to his starting line-up, with midfield again an area that has been tinkered with.
Henshaw was paired with Elliot Daly in the first Test, Chris Harris in the second and he will now take the field in the third alongside Aki, an inclusion that has resulted in Henshaw switching out one channel to outside centre to accommodate his fellow Irish international. Harris had no luck in his 62-minute appearance, statistics on the Lions website stating he made zero metres off three carries and made just two passes. This followed Daly’s similarly abortive run in the No13 jersey the previous week, his six carries registering zero metres while he also managed just a single pass.
This bluntness had now left the Lions placing their faith in Aki taking over the No12 role and allowing Henshaw to have a go in the 13 channel after making a total of 56 metres off 13 carries in his two Test appearances at inside centre where he also threw nine passes. When Aki last played for the Lions, Harris was at outside centre against South Africa A and the Scot enjoyed a 26-metre gain off eight carries, making seven passes and beating three defenders.
The Lions are fielding their 3rd different midfield combo in this Saturday's 3rd Test… and it has also emerged how close Adam Beard was to starting the 1st Test#CastleLionsSeries #LionsTour2021 #LionsRugby
https://t.co/tkpyS35BhR— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 4, 2021
Also, the only time the Aki-Henshaw partnership was previously used on the tour, Henshaw was a try-scorer versus Japan, making 16 metres off eight carries at No13 as well as putting in five passes and offloading twice. It suggests that Aki at No12 might just be the necessary foil to enable Henshaw to thrive at outside centre in a manner that was beyond Daly and Harris when they started versus the Springboks at No13. “It featured a lot in our selection discussions in the first and second Tests that Bundee had been playing well, had played well in the Japan and South Africa A games,” admitted Townsend.
“He has that connection with Robbie who hadn’t played that much following his injury on tour. We looked at how we felt the game would go, what we wanted to do in our game and that was the reason for the selections in the first and second Test, but now Bundee and Robbie get that chance to play together and you can already tell their communication on and off the field, they have got a really good understanding. Bundee has been waiting for the opportunity. He brings his own strengths but he connects really well with Robbie so they will enjoy the fact they are getting this chance to play for the Lions together.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
It’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
28 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
14 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
24 Go to comments