This was an enthralling encounter not for the quality of the rugby but the high stakes pressure game with large momentum shifts throughout.
Winners
Gatland’s mind games
Warren Gatland spent the better part of the end of the week complaining about having South African TMO Marius Jonker officiate the game and it worked. Jonker was under immense pressure before the game even started and sounded like a deer in the headlights when asked to make the tough decisions. Gatland is no fool and the shadow of doubt he cast into the mind of the TMO was enough for the 50/50 calls to go his way. I expect the mind game to continue and it will be interesting to see how this unfolds as the tour goes on.
Lion’s selections
Gatland took some risks with his selections of players who one might have thought were on the outside looking in but his heavier forwards made the difference. Ali Price was crucial for the Lions with his accurate kicks that out Boked the Boks with the box kicking. It was always going to be a risk going away from the tried and tested tempo game but after the SA A game Gatland saw the problems and fixed them with his team on the day.
Lion’s half time adjustments
The Lions came out in the second half looking like a different team but they were able to make the small adjustments in the game plan to throw the Boks off their game. By keeping the ball closer to the forwards and kicking on our wingers and Kwagga Smith they were able to get the type of scrappy unstructured ball that the Boks normally thrive on. The Boks rush defense with Lukhanyo Am at the helm was outstanding and the Lions knew they couldn’t t get any dividends going wide so they changed it up and it worked like a charm.
Ox and Trevor show
Much was made of the decision to start with the second choice props out the gate but boy did we get it wrong. They more than held their own in the scrums and Ox was very influential getting over the advantage line early on. On paper the duo of Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff should have gained the ascendency against the tiring starting Lions props at least but they couldn’t move them at all. Hindsight is a beautiful thing and no one at the time would have said a new front row at half time with the quality coming off the bench wouldn’t work but it didn’t. I expect Ox and Trevor to get a larger share of the workload next Saturday due to this very impressive performance.
Losers
Springbok’s fitness
This was to be expected with so many of the Boks not playing enough games to warrant the sort of match conditioning needed against a supremely fit Lions team. In the second half when the momentum had very much swung in the Lions favour the Boks needed some renewed vigour to change it up but they looked out on their feet. This lack of fitness will get better and this match will help some of the players no end in getting to where they need to be next week. The reality is no one from outside of this 23 will be able to come riding in on a noble steed go save the day so they will need to box clever with the personnel they have available.
Kwagga Smith
My heart hurts for the guy because he is a fantastic player who is much underrated in what he does around the field but he couldn’t fulfill the role needed by the Boks. The Boks use the eight man in the backfield to catch the high balls and he dropped some crucial ones and whiffed on one early in the second half leading to the Lions mauling try. It was always going to be a tough ask on a young player to come in and perform under the most intense pressure against the best in the world. He came unstuck today but he was expected to play in a role that was not his strength and the fault lies with the management expecting too much.
Springbok’s one dimensional game plan
The Springboks game plan is a beautiful thing, it is simple and brutal when it works but it requires precision in its execution. The Boks don’t have a plan B at this stage and have all the eggs in one basket, the power game. It worked for a while but when the tired legs couldn’t execute as accurately it fell apart but it appeared as though they had no other planned options. The Boks have players like Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole Mapimpi and Damian Willemse who can crack open a game with a moment of brilliance but the Boks playmakers never even looked in their direction which tells me they don’t have a plan B. No game plan in the world will work 100% every time in every game so you need to be able to play what is in front of sometimes and let the chips fall where they may. The Boks will need to add some new tricks next weekend or they will be dead in the water with the Lions smelling a famous test series victory.
It is easy to look back at the roller coaster of a ride this tour has been from not happening to happening with no fans and criticize the end product. This was a great game of tactical rugby that pitted the best in the world against each other and we should be grateful to have watched it. Things we have taken for granted in the past are no longer and the privilege of a Lions tour in South Africa should not be lost on us regardless of the results.
Leave a Reply