THE NEXT two matches will define the selection of the Lions team from the abstract to concrete for the upcoming Test series against South Africa. What has gone before in the opening three games of the tour is not irrelevant but Lions coach Ian McGeechan knows he can no longer shuffle his playing resources after Saturday’s clash with Western Province in Cape Town.
The tampering and tweaking will cease after what constitutes two final trials this week. The Scot’s decision not to split his resources into “frontline” and “dirt-trackers” affords a final opportunity for players to jostle for those coveted Test places.
There is no more latitude for players to underachieve. Tonight in Durban against the Sharks there are a handful of individuals who have been given a chance to nudge closer to a tussle with the Springboks. Ronan O’Gara is one of them. He’s had to endure the frustration of not playing since the opening game in Rustenburg, an unused replacement last weekend.
He didn’t miss a place-kick against the Royal XV and chipped in with the final try of the match in registering 22 points. His misfortune was to be a member of a team that underperformed; guilt by association.
Tonight he’ll play outside the likely Test scrumhalf Mike Phillips and inside the first-choice centre combination of Jamie Roberts and Brian O’Driscoll. He must make the backline dance but to do so he’ll be hugely reliant on the platform the pack provides. Back at sea level the kicking game will take on a more familiar hue.
He admitted: “I just hope the team gets shape. Game one and game three didn’t have much shape and that’s essential for me as a 10. I’ve my own game to concentrate on but I’ve team responsibilities in terms of creating shape and strategy.
“So hopefully I can bring that. The Wasps boys and the Welsh boys know the way we’re trying to play, they’re very familiar with it, so they need to be critical to fellow players because you learn best from your peers.”
Lee Byrne shares a similar predicament. McGeechan will monitor how the Welsh fullback interacts with the midfield partnership in an attacking capacity while for the wings Shane Williams and Luke Fitzgerald a standout performance would have wider implications. Especially for the 21-year-old Irishman who, if not making the Test team, could be a candidate for the bench.
English hooker Lee Mears is a certainty while Gethin Jenkins can take a considerable stride forward if he can survive his duel with the Sharks and former Springbok tighthead Jannie du Plessis. Andy Sheridan casts a long shadow so the Welsh prop knows he can’t afford to idle.
In pairing Paul O’Connell and Alun Wyn-Jones McGeechan can draw a direct correlation between their respective performances on the night.
It will be instructive to note which player fulfils what role. They both can’t go roaming and leave the grunt to others. Excellent athletes, tonight’s game will offer an indication of whether they can play together.
The loss of Stephen Ferris for the rest of the tour suggests that another high-profile display from tonight’s backrow could see all three pencilled into the Test team. Tom Croft needs to unleash a more abrasive persona, prove that he can make the thumping tackles on the gainline to supplement his athleticism and skill set.
David Wallace will be a key figure in the battle of the breakdown, duties that may see him less conspicuous as a ball-carrier. Jamie Heaslip just needs to retain his brilliant form from Ellis Park. Then there is the small matter of winning tonight’s game to maintain the impetus of the tour.
The Sharks may be missing nine front-line players – seven with the national side, two out injured – but they can still muster a very impressive pack.
Deon Carstens has been released from Springbok duty for this match and he takes his place in a frontrow that includes Skipper Badenhorst and du Plessis, one of the most outstanding scrum technicians in South African rugby.
The back five contains former ’Bok and captain Johann Muller and three players who will face the Lions again later in the tour for the Emerging Springboks, secondrow Steven Sykes and flankers Jacques Botes and Jean Deysel. Keegan Daniel completes a hard core backrow.
There is less depth in terms of experience behind the scrum with the exception of fullback Stefan Terblanche who would like to make a point to South African coach Peter de Villiers. Terblanche, on the strength of his form in Super 14, was surprisingly omitted from the Test squad for the Lions series. Pride will be a galvanising factor at Kings Park.
Sharks captain Muller explained: “If we can be a part of history and beat a side like the Lions in Durban, it will be a wonderful achievement, especially with the ’Boks away. That would make it even more special. If you can show you have that much depth in your union it is an absolutely outstanding achievement.
“We have had a great scrum for the last couple of years and even without several guys we can still put a great pack on to the park.”
The Lions will need to iron out the breakdown issues, play at a high pace, not clutter the backline with forwards and be accurate in their patterns: provided they manage this then individually players might be able to cast their thoughts to Saturday week when they return to the city.
