Tour gets tougher for Lions

June 10, 2005

It hardly seems worth mentioning that Wales are playing Canada tomorrow (Saturday June 11th) or that they hammered the United States 77-3 last weekend. Not when the best Welsh players are currently on tour in New Zealand with the British & Irish Lions.

A Lions tour is the next best thing in world rugby after the World Cup, and come around with a similar frequency, which is to say about once every four years. And since the last Lions tour to New Zealand – the nation where the rugby pulse beats fastest – was twelve years ago, it’s a very big deal indeed.

The Lions commenced their preparations with a very lucky escape two weeks against Argentina at Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. The Lions were expected to roll over Argentina, but the Argies did not back down. Jonny Wilkinson saved the day with a late penalty to salvage a 25-25 draw. Not exactly the sort of preparation coach Clive Woodward would have liked.

The Lions then kicked-off their New Zealand tour last Saturday with a pulsating opener against provincial side Bay of Plenty at Rotorua.

The home-side gave away 17 points in the games’ first ten minutes for a dream start for the Lions. The tourists’ backline was on fire for three brilliantly executed set-piece play into the wings.

The Lions vaunted forward pack however, looked rusty. And then -- disaster! At the 20th minute of the tour, hardman and veteran leader Lawrence Dallaglio turned into a tackle and smashed his ankle. His tour is over. (As for his career, who knows?)

Bay forwards had a poor start with the lineout, but soon corrected, and began hitting the rucks with ferocity and winning turnover ball. They wrestled back into the game and managed to draw level at the half 17-17, and there were signs of an upset on the cards. For much of the first half the home pack appeared to take control, but in the 2nd half, the superior fitness, skills and experience of the visitors prevailed -- the Lions ran out convincing 34-20 winners.

Highlight performers of the game for the Lions were Josh Lewsey, Brian O’Driscoll and Richard Hill. The same can’t be said for Irish standoff Rohan O’Gara, who didn’t do his chances of Test selection much good with poorly missed field goals and weak tackling.

The game featured a lot of niggle, which spilled over during the following midweek game against Taranaki at New Plymouth, the worst of it being Danny Grewcock’s thuggish assault raining punches onto Taranaki lock Paul Tito’s eye.

And again, the home side played above themselves and gave the Lions a good scare. The provincial home side led 7-3 at the half on the back of an opportunistic try by flanker Chris Masoe under the sticks. In the 46th minute the Taranaki pack dismantled the Lions scrummage and won a tighthead. An upset looked possible.

But a horrible Taranaki turnover led to a fast Martin Corry try in the corner. Taranaki hooker Andrew Hore was yellow-carded in the 54th minute, the Lions ran up thirty unanswered points to lead 36-7 until the games’ last minute, when Taranaki strung together a beautiful try for a more respectable scoreline of 36-14.

On Saturday the Lions face the New Zealand Maori at Waikato Stadium in what many are calling the unofficial “Fourth Test.” The Maori will feature many current and former All Blacks and are sure to be the Lions stiffest competition prior to next week’s first Test against the All Blacks, who last night opened up their international campaign demolishing Fiji 91-0 in Albany.

Check back throughout the week as we review those games in detail, break down the form of players who merit Test selections, and preview the upcoming Lions series and All Blacks Test Matches…