RUGBY ANALYST:THE CLOCK stands at two minutes and 20 seconds when Jamie Heaslip of Ireland, way out on the left touchline, runs infield and passes to Stephen Jones of Wales who quickly offloads to Phil Vickery of England who passes to Paul O'Connell of Ireland and back to Heaslip who finally offloads to Martyn Williams of Wales. Was this a replica of the Barbarians rugby that graced the 1973 All Blacks fixture in Cardiff? If not, then it was damn close.
Clearly the stakes for this third Test had changed, but the intensity, focus and skills displayed by the Northern Hemisphere players will stand in my memory for a long time. As Maria Callas, the New York-born Greek soprano, put it, “an opera begins long before the curtain goes up and ends long after it has come down”.
This seemingly never-ending season will be remembered as the one when Brian O’Driscoll gained saintly status, Paul O’Connell dug deepest and Rob Kearney grew into a world-class megastar.
There were other players, such as Heaslip, who stepped up to another level that should force Irish rugby to go for the jugular over the coming seasons.
The omens on Saturday were strong from the off. The Lions’ intensity was voracious. Tellingly, the Springbok scrumhalf Fourie du Preez reacted with both a giggle and loose banter to his captain John Smit when Heaslip conceded a penalty on the 10th minute. The score stood 3-0 to the Lions. Was his mind on the job? The Springboks were confident but couldn’t match the Lions’ focus.
Ironically, it appeared to be the South Africans’ most adventurous performance. They certainly blended more balance between their kicking and back play.
The Lions odyssey has taught us much over the weeks. Simon Shaw, at 36, displayed a level of play that is inspiring. Is he the complete secondrow? His game is built on physicality which throughout his career has had him sidelined, none more so than Saturday’s silly knee drive on du Preez. But it’s his overall contribution to each fixture that keeps him involved in every minute. That’s where Irish rugby must go in the challenges that await in the November series and the subsequent World Cups.
The settling of the laws through this series has allowed rugby return to its old values, especially in relation to the lineout maul. But a notable change to the breakdown law propelled Springbok Heinrich Brussow and all the stumpy opensides into a new reign of terror. I think of the Australian pair of Phil Waugh and George Smith who, in light of their size, are ideally placed to slow opposition ball and, as in Brussow’s case, steal it. There’s certainly food for thought for all compact centres who don’t make the breakthrough to utilise their running skills and physique in the number seven shirt.
Furthermore, the counter-ruck contributed to Shane Williams’ second try, created by a Riki Flutey chip, chase and wonderful offload to the awaiting poacher.
The Springboks took possession into the breakdown when the Lions, through ferocious rucking led by Heaslip and Shaw drove over the ball. Critically, the Lions moved the ball away from the breakdown to allow Flutey the space to attack. When the Lions found parity at the breakdown their superior skills and less restrictive game plan allowed them to flourish. Hence the counter-ruck is a major building block for future success.
There’s no doubt that this tour has been a success. It has provided the players a wonderful world platform to prove themselves. The group has gelled, worked hard and played hard. They have also gained experience that will prove crucial to their rugby development in the months to come.
But the winner takes it all and the series was lost by the tightest of margins.
Looking back, there were two big decisions in the second Test that had a major influence over the series. The Lions lost a significant advantage when Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins had limped off, as the scrum became uncontested. The arrival of Alun Wyn Jones to replace Jenkins surprised me. At that crucial stage, with the Lions in front, Martyn Williams’ pace and football skills would have had much more influence.
And the circumstances that saw both Lions centres exit early exposed the questionable decision to have specialist winger Williams on the bench, ignoring James Hook, Gordon D’Arcy and Keith Earls, all of whom have the versatility to cover more bases.
These, of course, are minor points from a management team that succeeded enormously. But then the inches that separated the sides come down to minor points.
Clearly, Ian McGeechan and his management have brought the Lions back to the future.
It has been an amazing season that has given us so much. I cast my mind back to the night in Thomond Park when the All Blacks just about pulled through. Then there was the Grand Slam.
And of course there was the Lions squad announcement with an Irish captain and so many of his team-mates included.
But for me the moment of the season was standing in Edinburgh airport on May 23rd to witness the jubilation of the Leinster faithful as they greeted the European Cup in the hands of Leo Cullen. In O’Driscoll, Cullen and O’Connell, Irish rugby is in very safe hands.
Well done to you all, enjoy your break, and then let the games begin once more!
