RUGBY LIONS TOUR: Western Prov 23 The Lions 26:TOMMY BOWE was the catalyst for the fifth straight victory of the tour, a win eked out in miserable conditions that weren't conducive to enterprise. The Ireland wing provided two moments of genuine quality on an afternoon when the Lions barely got past page one of the playbook.
Table Mountain usually provides a stunning backdrop to Newlands, but it was not visible, shrouded in thick, black clouds that periodically emptied over the stadium. The presence of a strong, swirling wind, a sodden surface underfoot and a genuinely gutsy Western Province side that lasted the course of the match rendered the contest a more searching examination than the Lions might have anticipated.
The weather was a factor, but once again the Lions adopted a conservative, patterned approach that focused almost exclusively on a kick-chase game supplemented by trundling forwards around the fringes and in midfield. Ian McGeechan has spoken about holding gambits to be sprung in the Test series; on the evidence of the last few matches, he must have plenty in store.
Two of the tourists’ three tries were directly attributable to Bowe’s skill and physique. They weren’t crafted and polished beforehand, and didn’t come from training-ground moves to open the opposing defence.
When the Monaghan man received Rob Kearney’s flat pass on 29 minutes, he had about two metres of space in from the touchline and the Western Province defence had plenty of numbers on hand. As soon as he received the ball, Bowe pirouetted out of one tackle, forced his way between two more tacklers and then through a final defender, demonstrating his strength to roll from his back and touch the ball down.
His second intervention came six minutes later when he arrived from the blindside wing and careered through a tackle. On finding his path blocked on the 22, his deft hands put Ugo Monye away and the England wing touched down in the corner.
These fleeting glimpses of class were in marked contrast to the general huffing and puffing of the Lions display, a performance pockmarked by basic errors and an at times a poorly directed and executed kicking game.
Bowe would have been in most observers’ Test team before Saturday; this game merely confirmed his excellent form that extends so far beyond scoring four tries in three matches. He has been the architect-in-chief for as many more again.
Afterwards, sitting on a table in the bowels of the stadium, he studiously avoided any suggestion he’ll make his Test debut against South Africa in Durban on Saturday. He’ll be oversubscribed for advocates, though, and that will include the management team.
“I can’t take anything for granted and it would be silly if I did,” Bowe admitted. “I am really enjoying my rugby, have got myself into a bit of form and a position to be in contention for a place in the first Test. I like having the ball in hand, like taking on defenders and am just trying to be hungry for work.
“That means coming off the wing and taking ball where I can find it. The ball didn’t come my way very often, so I decided to go looking for it.”
He won’t be unduly concerned when Saturday comes. “This is the pinnacle of your rugby career. If you don’t relish it then you shouldn’t be here.”
Before the match, several players described it as a final trial in the jostling for Test places and one player who certainly advanced his case was Donncha O’Callaghan. The Lions threw almost exclusively to number two in the lineout where the Cork man won seven throws, and managed to pinch one of the opposition’s.
He carried ball and hit rucks, discharging the mundane duties with his customary diligence. In direct comparison with Nathan Hines, O’Callaghan was the more effective performer.
At number eight, Andy Powell had his best game of the tour, Martyn Williams linked play well, and, when introduced from the bench, Euan Murray contributed some key moments.
Behind the scrum, Kearney was enjoying a decent afternoon at fullback before suffering a dead leg, while for the three-quarter line possession was strictly rationed and therefore it was difficult for anyone to excel.
Stephen Jones endured a mixed afternoon at outhalf in most facets of the game. Place-kicking was horrendously difficult but there were a few game-management flaws that weren’t apparent in the victory over the Golden Lions.
Scrumhalf Harry Ellis was another to produce a fine performance under pressure.
Western Province will reflect on what might have been, but can be proud of the way they competed to the bitter end. The cultured boot of outhalf Willem de Waal caused the visitors consistent problems – and not just in terms of place-kicking.
His early penalty and a neat drop goal cancelled out a brace of penalties from Jones, and the crowd of 34,176 roared their approval when the home side had the temerity to take the lead with fullback Joe Pietersen’s drop goal.
When Bowe and Moyne scored tries – Jones kicked a brilliant touchline conversion for the latter – it looked like the Lions would kick on. Instead, de Waal’s injury-time penalty saw the home side trail by just 18-12 at the interval. The outhalf posted another two either side of Williams’ try as Western Province simply refused to buckle.
When Pietersen scampered over for a try on 63 minutes history beckoned, but the decisive moment was provided by Wales’ James Hook. Having missed a penalty minutes earlier, he thumped one home from 50 metres, a wonderful kick in the circumstances and conditions, and ultimately the difference between the teams.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 5 mins: de Waal penalty, 3-0; 6: Jones penalty, 3-3; 10: Jones penalty, 3-6; 19: de Waal drop goal, 6-6; 27: Pietersen drop goal, 9-6; 29: Bowe try, 9-11; 35: Monye try, Jones conversion, 9-18; 40(+4): de Waal penalty, 12-18. Half-time: 12-18. 47: de Waal; penalty, 15-18; 55: M Williams try, 15-23; 60: de Waal penalty, 18-23; 63: Pietersen try, 23-23; 76: Hook penalty, 23-26.
WESTERN PROVINCE: J Pietersen; T Chavhanga, M Newman, P Grant, G Bobo; W de Waal, D Duvenhage; W Blaauw, T Liebenberg, B Harris; M Muller, A van Zyl; P Louw, D Vermeulen, L Watson (capt). Replacements: G Aplon for Chavanga (39 mins); D Steenkamp for Muller (64 mins); Z Jordaan for Louw (73 mins); JD Moeller for Blaauw (75 mins).
LIONS: R Kearney (Ireland); T Bowe (Ireland), K Earls (Ireland), R Flutey (England), U Monye (England); S Jones (Wales), H Ellis (England); A Sheridan (England), M Rees (Wales), P Vickery (England, capt); D O'Callaghan (Ireland), N Hines (Scotland); J Worsley (England), M Williams (Wales), A Powell (Wales). Replacements: R Ford (Scotland) for Rees; E Murray (Scotland) for Vickery; S Shaw (England) for Hines (all 56 mins); J Hook (Wales) for Kearney (64 mins); T Croft (England) for Worsley (69 mins).
Referee: M Lawrence (South Africa).
