Murray Kinsella reports from New Zealand
THERE HAS BEEN plenty of talk about “rugby chaos” in the past week on this Lions tour, but it wasn’t a great surprise that their best performance yet was based on structured attack, superb kicking, smothering defence and a muscular set-piece.
Those were the foundations that it had seemed obvious the Lions would build their efforts in New Zealand on and while there were moments of counter-attacking class – Anthony Watson’s pace was useful – in the 12-3 win over the Crusaders, those solid core elements were the real difference.
The Kiwi franchise didn’t seem happy with how the game had unfolded, expressing some regret that the ball had been kicked in play more than 60 times over the course of the 80 minutes, but Warren Gatland won’t care for a second.
The Crusaders were also deeply frustrated with Mathieu Raynal’s refereeing of the scrum, but again Gatland will be satisfied to see what the Lions viewed as a degree of dominance at the set-piece.
The kicking control from Conor Murray and Owen Farrell was particularly excellent for the Lions as they kicked 32 times in play, turning the Crusaders at important times to gain territory and sending up hanging contestables at other points.
“We got into a kicking battle and we practiced it all week,” said Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson.
“We have an aerial skillset that we just didn’t nail. Conor Murray is absolutely world-class, he just hangs it up there perfectly and we didn’t deal with that.
“It wasn’t a spectacle we’re used to, no tries. They got the job done, it was a desperate Lions side and well done to them, they did what they had to.”
Despite the excellent kicks, Gatland pointed to the need for the Lions’ wings to “get up in the air and compete a bit more,” suggesting that Liam Williams’ yellow card for a tackle in the air against the Blues brought some hesitance.
But the Lions boss was delighted with his playmakers’ game management, which left the Crusaders frustrated as they got drawn into a fight for territory that they were always going to struggle to win.
“Not really,” said Robertson when asked if the Lions’ tactics had surprised the Crusaders. “We trained to make sure that… we call it the washing machine – we go back, go forward, go back, go forward and they put the ball in behind you.
“We just didn’t deal with it the way we wanted to. We had opportunities, chances and the crowd’s frustration with the ref was a reflection on the game. We had to be better at dealing with them on the field.”
Gatland was similarly pleased with the defensive performance from his team as the Lions utterly suffocated an attack that has torn teams apart in Super Rugby all year.
Out-half Richie Mo’unga saw his influence limited, while the Crusaders’ wings were often starved of quality possession by the Lions’ linespeed, decision-making and tackle technique.
It was a great night for defence coach Andy Farrell, particularly given how the Lions limited the Crusaders to just five offloads – the Lions had six – as they clearly learned from the Blues defeat.
“It was one of the more frenetic linespeeds that we’ve come under,” said Robertson.
“They put us under a lot of pressure and we just couldn’t get quick enough ball to get outside them. There were some big bodies flying at you and with those conditions our skillset was really pressured and we couldn’t quite convert.”
The Lions had the better of the forward exchanges too, with George Kruis leading the lineout with typical intelligence, Peter O’Mahony competing ferociously on the Crusaders’ throw and the maul once again showing promising signs.
With four scrum penalties on top off all of that, and a better standard of ball-carrying featuring stronger footwork, it was an outstanding game from the Lions pack.
“We relish the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with a pack like that,” said Kruis. “We talk about how we want to be a brutal pack, a set-piece dominant pack. I think today we showed good signs of that.”
The Lions did have the negatives of two failed HIAs for Stuart Hogg and Jonathan Davies, with both of those men now certain to miss Tuesday’s game against the Highlanders as they face “a minimum of six days” out, according to Gatland.
The back three will be an area of concern for the Lions head coach, with few players really putting their hand up in that area so far. Leigh Halfpenny showed his solidity against the Blues at times, while Watson’s attacking class was clear against the Crusaders, but Gatland needs his wings to step up.
Better performances in that area might help the Lions get over the tryline too, with just two tries scored in the opening three games.
But there were nine clean linebreaks from Gatland’s men in Christchurch and he is hopeful that the finishing touch will come swiftly.
“I would have liked to have seen Anthony [Watson] take Israel Dagg on one-on-one there because we know what footwork and how quick he is, but he’s given the pass to Johnny Sexton and then CJ [Stander]‘s lost that one,” said Gatland after the Crusaders game.
“I think there’s a pass by Ben Te’o that’s gone over the top and then the knock-on from Liam Williams where Anthony’s potentially created something. And another couple of opportunities, so we’re creating them and we need to get better at them.
“But we’re up against the most creative team in Super Rugby at the moment and I thought they didn’t create a lot of chances. The ball was slippery out there, it was tough holding on to it in the conditions and we saw a few players slip over.
“But we are creating some chances and, yes, we need to get better. The more time that we are together, the more the players get used to and familiar with the voices and the time in training together and hopefully out on the field we do finish those chances.”
All in all, a fine evening’s work for the Lions, even if what they won’t have surprised the watching Steve Hansen.
The issue for the Lions is that the All Blacks are going to be a lot better at dealing with some of these core elements.
“We thought they were going to play that way, exactly the way they did and we couldn’t negate it,” said Robertson.
“Steve knows that, he’ll have done a lot of homework and the All Blacks’ kick-chase work and ability to turn them around is probably a bit better than our ability to do it tonight.”
Whatever about surprises, the Test series looks a whole lot more interesting now.
Updated at 10.00
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Kevin Mc should feel very very hard done by.
Kevin McManamon that is.
@Aideen Thornton: Yeah, he had a great year.
John Small was another player who deserves a mention, half back line was very competitive area.
overall decent selection. always one or two debatable picks. Really puts Clarke’s non selection on replay into question. Unlucky were cian o Sullivan, Peter acheson, Kevin mc, Gary Brennan. Then again hard to get everyone in.
@clumley: Cluxton conceded 6, Clarke conceded 6. Cluxton was never dropped and had superior kickouts and Dublin played tougher opposition. Worth noting which teams the goals were conceded against. Comerford conceded 6 in Munster alone and a further 5 in the 4th round, quarters and semi which ruled him out. Kerry goalie only conceded 2 and kept a clean sheet against Dublin. If kickouts were the deciding factor, anyone have the stats?
Tougher opposition!? Have you SEEN Leinster football in the last 10 years???
@Jack Strong: the all-stars are decided on the last couple of games, sad but true. Dublin played Donegal, Kerry and Mayo twice and thats were most goals were conceded out of the six for Cluxton. Mayo did well to pass the mighty Londoners! Leinster is not a great standard at the moment but neither is Munster or Connacht. A semi final against Kerry tends to be a little tougher than meeting Tipp.
So the All Stars are decided in the last 3 games but you just had to throw in your remark about having to play London against London? Good man. Cluxton conceded 3 against Laois who aren’t exactly world beaters.
A Quarter final (where we went in as underdogs) against Tyrone is every bit as tough as Kerry.
By your own logic Cluxton’s meltdown in the semi final is the reason he didn’t win one as that’s far more important than any other game in the season.
Laois scored 2
Reading dubs comments on a lot of these threads makes me cringe. Be a bit more gracious there lads , don’t give them any more reason to dislike us. Congrats to all all star winners
@Cormac O’Gara: It’s not being ungracious, debate about commissions is fairly routine and any fan will focus on their own. Six is a great haul but its not about the number, individual players had a good case for selection and whats being said is just people trying to recognise their input.
@Frainc Ó Broin: *Omissions not commissions
No cluxton what the f¥ck is going on. Clarke wouldn’t lace his boots
@The metropolitans: Ah Cluxton has plenty and 3 Celtic Crosses so far on his mantel piece with Sam tucked up safely in the captial for the winter will help soften the blow for us Dubs too :)
Mantle*
4 Celtic crosses
@The metropolitans: All Stars are for the best players this year, not the best players in general. Going by your logic, should Bernard Brogan, Colm Cooper and Sean Cavanagh win All Stars every year?
@The metropolitans: Clarke is a top goalkeeper, both conceded the same number of goals, I think he was unlucky.
Kev mc deserved an all star , cluxton had 8 mins of a meltdown and they give it to Clarke who his own manager didn’t even have faith in him haha . Just shows how high cluxton has set his standards that a few mins cost him over a keeper who was dropped .
Cluxton is running out of room on the mantle piece so they gave it to a lad dropped for the replay and made no difference when brought on. When you think about it long and hard it makes perfect sense.
Harsh Ned. Clarke should never have been dropped for the replay, that’s a known fact at this stage.
What about Cluxton in the semi final against Kerry? His misplaced kick outs and indecisiveness simply invited Kerry back into that game.
As mentioned above Gavin it was short spell in the first half of a match. He didnt miss one kick out after. In the replay he had a fantastic game. He was the only keeper to have a good game that day.
Thought Evan Comerford was very unlucky
Future looks bright for Mayo. 2 of the young additions to Mayo this year, one got an All Star and one will feel hard done by who didn’t get one in Durcan. Add that’s with DOC who will likely get young player of the year and the general age profile of the team Mayo are well placed to put in a big championship next season. Former all star Caff coming back from injury also for next season. Rochford needs get the most of a talented forward line who were generally average this year and it could be a strong year next year. Just to add re Durcan- it was an excellent season of performances from him especially taking his Mitchels performances into consideration. He was unbelievable against Crossmaglen in club semi final. A definite all star in my book.
Yeah all that is true, but you seem to be forgetting about the curse……
Cluxton has had two spells now of ten minutes each where he lost his way a little, that’s 20 minutes in 15 years. One player, 15 years, 20 minutes. It’s cringeworthy that he’s not in the team.
This is not some sort of life time achievement Award. It’s based on this year and this year alone. Cluxton has been below his own high standards and made som big mistakes in crucial games
Because of ten minutes ? And your point that he was below his own high standards is vacuous, the only standard that matters is that set by his peers.
@gary sheehan: He is not rated on his own high standards, is rated against the others in contention. Fair play to Clarke, he is a top goalie, which be interesting to find out why one player was selected over another.
You clearly didn’t see him play early in his career if you think that
@Stíofán Mac Piarais: are you referring to Clarke or Cluxton?
Clarke ahead of Cluxton. Holy god where do they get this stuff from.
A complete and utter sympathy selection. If Clarke hadn’t been dropped for the replay, he wouldn’t be getting an All Star. Crazy.
It’s funny that the player who most pundits say has changed the game most in the past decade and most others keepers try copy but can’t match,not forgetting he has four all Ireland winners medals. Two are back to back. Doesn’t get an all star in the last two years. He is the one players dublin have not been able to replace. Take a bow me cluxton
On the Button ! Every team that takes on Dublin looks at Cluxtons kick outs to try and stop his delivery’s ! The reason Fenton is so good is his mobility and Cluxtons ability to hit him with balls 50 yards from Goal ! The reason why Clarke was dropped in the 1st place was to get a better delivery ala Cluxton like to Mayos midfield etc ! I think it’s fair to say that if anyone was picking a team to win a game Cluxton would be No 1 ! He had a fantastic season and although kerry picked his pockets for a few minutes he had the balls to regroup and deliver pin point delivery’s thereafter !
So with the exception of a few tokens to pretend its not all a farce they really just wanted the rest of the Dublin and mayo teams….. Its the reason 90% of the country could give a rats a$$ about Allstars. Usually you can tell by and large who they will be once squads are announced at the beginning of the campaign…..