The massive experience gap young Wallabies face against All Blacks as Auckland plans wild welcome

The Wallabies will be out to change 35 years of history at Eden Park on Saturday night in their Bledisloe Cup opener with the All Blacks. New Zealand, in contrast, will be celebrating it.

Aaron Smith will become just the tenth All Blacks player to notch 100 Tests when he runs out in Auckland.

Right alongside Smith will be captain Sam Whitelock, the only other current Kiwi centurion, just as he was 19 years ago.

The pair first met on the way to their first day of high school in Feilding, a town of 17,000 people set in the beautiful rolling hills of the Manawatu.

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“I remember it really clearly,” Whitelock said.

“Walking across the school grounds and little short Maori boy with a big afro yelling out at me going, ‘Oh bro, are you coming here?’

“I was like, ‘I’m dressed in school uniform walking to the first day of school so it’s pretty obvious’.”

Halfback Smith, 35 centimetres shorter than the imposing Whitelock, would take two years longer than his school mate to represent the All Blacks.

(Photo by Renee McKay/Getty Images)

“It’s pretty cool that we’ve both gone down different pathways, but we’re both here together,” Whitelock said.

“It’s pretty humbling for ourselves, but also the school and the community.

“People don’t see his hard work that goes on behind the scenes.

“He is the guy that’s always writing things down, putting a plan together and making sure that everything he’s doing is for the betterment of the team.”

Smith has played more than twice the number of Test matches than the entire Wallabies’ back line selected by Dave Rennie: just one of the reasons Australia will start as underdogs against the New Zealanders.

More Rugby

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• 'Don't tell us how to play': Boks bristle at 'boring' taunts ahead of Lions decider
• 'Tortured souls': Why everybody loves to hate the All Blacks
• Is it time to boot the box kick?
• Foster vows All Blacks fans will see a 'significant shift forward' as they defend incredible Eden Park record

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The other chief reason would be 35 years of hurt. Not since 1986 have the Wallabies beaten New Zealand at Eden Park, a run that has helped keep the coveted Bledisloe Cup in New Zealand since 2003.

One factor that could help Rennie’s side snap the streak is the weather. Australia secured a heart-stopping 16-16 draw with New Zealand on their first-up Test in New Zealand last year, achieved in ferocious winds and rain at Wellington’s Sky Stadium.

A gale force wind warning issued for Auckland on Saturday was not lost on All Blacks coach Ian Foster.

“(Australia are) a very committed physical ruck-and-run type team,” he said.

“They’ve spoken about dominating us up front and playing a fast physical game.

“The Wellington Test last year, my recollection was there was a lot of rain and wind and it was a very different game. The ball was swirling around.

“Hopefully we get a slightly different day here.”

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/08/07/history-calls-for-wallabies-and-all-blacks/

https://blog.therugbystore.com.au/the-massive-experience-gap-young-wallabies-face-against-all-blacks-as-auckland-plans-wild-welcome/

Australia trio dropped from New Zealand opener after curfew breach

Australia drop Marika Koroibete, Isi Naisarani and prop Pone Fa'amausili for Saturday's match against New after breaking a team curfew with a drinking session.

Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58086862

https://therugbystore.com.au/australia-trio-dropped-from-new-zealand-opener-after-curfew-breach/

Bledisloe dawn: The questions for the Wallabies ahead of Game 1

Well, the Wallabies are in New Zealand ahead of the first Bledisloe Cup Test, and I must say, it’s a bit surprising we still don’t know where the second match will be played yet.

Of course, there’s good reason for that, and one of very many would be that the Nine Network in Australia is working feverishly with the NRL and several state governments around plans and possibilities and numerous contingencies around how to keep rugby league being played in a rapidly-changing COVID situation in Sydney and Brisbane.

Games being played in other sports, even games little more than a week away, would be down the priority list at the moment, and that would make things difficult for Rugby Australia to gain the clarity they would most certainly need for the rest of the series and The Rugby Championship beyond.

Hopefully, the next week questions are answered soon enough.

This week, on the other hand, raises different kinds of questions that can only be answered on the field with the first match of the series now just days away.

What is the back row strategy?
The team being named later in the week will partly answer this one, but it will be interesting to see which approach Dave Rennie takes into the first Bledisloe on Saturday.

(Andrew Phan/supplied by Rugby Australia)

The Rob Valetini-Michael Hooper-Harry Wilson unit were generally effective in the first two Tests against France, even if by the second game Les Bleus finished well on top of the breakdown ledger. But the unit didn’t survive intact for the third game.

For the third game, Rennie promoted Isi Naisarani from the bench into number eight, left Wilson out completely and then pushed Valetini back to the bench to bring Lachie Swinton in.

It was a clear shift in approach. Valetini’s heavy physicality and Wilson’s wide channel speed was swapped out for Naisarani’s centre corridor presence and Swinton’s work rate, and though it felt a bit curious at the time, the two combined surprisingly effectively with Michael Hooper’s typically productive game.

(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

A surprising combination in the same way Hooper ‘just worked’ when buddied up with Scott Fardy and David Pocock back in the day.

My strong suspicion is that that third France Test trio will be favoured again, if for no other reason than to lay a physical benchmark for the rest of the series. The Wallabies learned the hard way in Melbourne the folly of playing wide before going forward, and repeating that mistake against New Zealand at Eden Park is a recipe for disaster.

When to bring Taniela Tupou on?
The third match against France seemed to confirm – for now at least – that Taniela Tupou is best suited to coming off the bench for maximum impact, and that Allan Ala’alatoa is very much your starting benchmark setter.

Certainly, Ala’alatoa doesn’t offer anything of the bench impact that Tupou does; he just isn’t wired that way.

But Tupou is, though curiously his numbers from the last two Tests against France are surprisingly comparable from an output point of view. Starting the Second Test and coming off the bench in the Third, Tupou’s minutes-per-carry are remarkably similar. He didn’t make a tackle in the decider, but you’ll recall the Wallabies enjoyed pretty much exclusive possession in the last half an hour.

Getty Images

The difference, of course, is the quality of his involvements and the physicality he imparts on a game. Against tiring forwards nearing the hour mark of a game, the force of a 140kg monster is huge. Ala’alatoa just can’t do that.

So if it’s clear that Ala’alatoa starts, the question then becomes the timeframe in introducing Tupou to the contest.

There’s a train of thought that bringing him on before halftime allows Dave Rennie the chance to double-dip – five or ten minutes of impact before the break, reload and go again for another forty.

I’m not sure that works against New Zealand, though. The All Blacks will know Tupou’s first-contact tackle isn’t always great, and they’ll work him over to blunt his energy level and dampen his impact.

Again, we’ll find this out soon enough, but I suspect the final half-hour will remain the plan for now.

The scrumhalf conundrum
It’s one thing to bring Nic White back into camp because you expect him to be right for the back half of The Rugby Championship, and state lockdowns would prevent a timely late arrival, but is there a chance he could actually be right for this weekend?

He was hopeful rather than confident at a Canberra Stadium announcement back during the France series, but there’s genuine confidence to his tone now: “I’m back training now so fingers crossed I’m able to contribute in some capacity over the next couple of weeks,” he said before the Wallabies left Australia last week.

Certainly, he’s one of those guys who you pick if fit. The underlying question, however, is how fit is fit enough?

(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

To kick for line or not at all?
Is there enough confidence in the lineout set-piece to remove the threat of backfield All Black counter by simply putting the ball into row B at every opportunity?

Obviously, it held up pretty well against France, but French experience levels may have been a bigger factor in that, given the abundant French talent on show.

But this might yet be the biggest sign of Dan McKellar’s input into the Wallabies coaching set-up. And suddenly, if the Wallabies are more confident about taking on the likes of Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick than giving the broken field ball to the All Blacks’ back three, then that really will be a significant step forward.

More Rugby

• Bledisloe dawn: The questions for the Wallabies ahead of Game 1
• Rassie Erasmus to face World Rugby misconduct hearing over 62-minute ref rant
• Get your questions in for Issue 22 of Coach's Corner
• The Wrap: Springboks victory surge vindicates Erasmus, but at what cost?
• 'Sport will not survive this sort of escalating behaviour': Why World Rugby needs to nip Rassie's rant in the bud

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Are the outsiders about a bigger plan?
This is more around Duncan Paia’aua than Quade Cooper, I’ll admit, but both are certainly curious inclusions in this current Wallabies squad; Paia’aua as a selected squad member, Cooper as an intriguing consultant-type mentor who can still drill blokes 30 metres away while on the run.

What is Dave Rennie really playing at here? Is it a very strong enticement campaign, hoping to get Paia’aua back into one of the Super Rugby sides? Is it the first sign of a weakening of the previously firm stance on overseas-based players? Is it somehow COVID-forced to overcome a lack of available options left in Australia?

And is Paia’aua really in the frame to play this weekend or next?

Again, we’ll find this answer and all the others later in the week.

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/08/03/bledisloe-dawn-the-questions-for-the-wallabies-ahead-of-game-1/

https://therugbystore.com.au/bledisloe-dawn-the-questions-for-the-wallabies-ahead-of-game-1/

Wyn Jones returns in Lions’ tour match win over Stormers

Halfback Ali Price has staked a Test claim to help the British and Irish Lions overwhelm the Stormers 49-3 as Alun Wyn Jones made a successful comeback from injury.

Price is set to pressure tour captain Conor Murray for a starting place in the first Test against the world champion Springboks at the same venue next weekend after impressing on Saturday.

Hamish Watson was an aggressive runner with ball in hand as was excellent hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, while lock Jones returned from a dislocated shoulder three weeks ago with seemingly no ill effects.

“It was hugely physical. When you come up against South African teams you know you will be in for a physical challenge,” Lions captain Stuart Hogg said.

“At times things came off for us, at times they didn’t. But we are happy with that performance.

“We have a game plan that tries to get everybody involved, and if we execute well there will always be opportunities for points. But we still feel we left a lot out there.”

The Lions’ tries came via locks Adam Beard and Jonny Hill, Cowan-Dickie, No.8 Jack Conan, prop Zander Fagerson, wing Louis Rees-Zammit and back-rower Sam Simmonds. 

Young five-eighth Marcus Smith kicked seven conversations in an impressive debut.

The opening quarter was scoreless as the Stormers spent much of the time in the Lions’ half without unduly threatening their tryline.

The hosts drew first blood with a penalty midway through the first half but the Lions were on the board shortly after with a sweeping attack finished off by Beard, which allowed Smith to convert for his first points in a Lions jersey.

That was followed almost immediately by a second try as the gaps began to appear in the home defence. 

A maul from an attacking line-out was initially stopped by the Stormers but powerful Cowan-Dickie broke away and was able to score.

The Lions got a third on the stroke of halftime when Hill cantered over in the corner after quick hands from Beard and Hogg put him into space. 

Conan crossed for a fourth try early in the second period after a well-rehearsed midfield move put him clear, and Fagerson burrowed over from close range for the fifth.

Rees-Zammit finished off an excellent break from Smith as the Lions went the length of the field late on to score, capping a hugely promising display from the 22-year-old five-eighth, before Simmonds cantered in unopposed for the final score.

“The competition for places is ridiculous,” Hogg said.

“There will be some very tough decisions.” 

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/18/wyn-jones-returns-in-lions-tour-match-win-over-stormers/

https://therugbystore.com.au/wyn-jones-returns-in-lions-tour-match-win-over-stormers/

British and Irish Lions: Warren Gatland expects 'robust' selection debate for first Test

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland says he expects a lively discussion about selection for the first Test with South Africa.

Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57874720

https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-warren-gatland-expects-robust-selection-debate-for-first-test/

British and Irish Lions 2021: Matt Dawson says team 'have to look at themselves' after defeat

Former British and Irish Lion Matt Dawson says the team "have to look at themselves" after their loss to South Africa A on Wednesday.

Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57865603

https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-2021-matt-dawson-says-team-have-to-look-at-themselves-after-defeat/

Extra game for Boks before Lions Tests

South Africa have organised an extra game for their squad to prepare for the British and Irish Lions Test series, ensuring back-to-back matches at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday in yet another tweak to the tour schedule.

A South Africa A line-up will play domestic team the Bulls before the British and Irish Lions face the Stormers in what’s also their last warm-up for the first Test a week later.

The Springboks are in dire need of match practice after playing just one Test – against Georgia this month – in two years since winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Some players did get a second game in South Africa A’s victory over the Lions in a scheduled tour match on Wednesday night.

But a long lay-off because of the coronavirus pandemic, and a cancelled second Test against Georgia this month because of a COVID-19 outbreak in the Springboks’ squad, has left coaching staff fretting over a lack of match fitness for the world champions.

“We want to be as well prepared as possible when we meet the British and Irish Lions,” said South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus.

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Erasmus will take over coaching duties for the squad this week while head coach Jacques Nienaber undergoes isolation protocols after being one of more than a dozen Springboks players and backroom staff to test positive for the virus.

Nienaber has now joined the squad in Cape Town.

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland this week turned down an offer from Erasmus for South Africa A and the Lions to play each other for a second time this weekend.

South Africa A won the first game 17-13.

More Rugby

• Extra game for Boks before Lions Tests
• 'It's not working. There's a technique I need to change:' Tate's brutally honest self-appraisal
• 'Deserves a crack': Everything Rennie said on Tate, tactics and his Wallabies overhaul
• Wallabies bring in the changes, but is it the right call?
• All Blacks to unleash Mo'unga at 10 for second Fiji Test

Rugby

“I don’t see it as our role to prepare them for the Test series,” Gatland said. “I think he was trying to wind us up saying we’re scared (to play South Africa A again).”

The Lions’ tour to South Africa, which comes around once every 12 years, has been constantly affected by the pandemic.

All the games were moved to the cities of Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town to limit the Lions’ possible exposure to the virus while travelling.

The Lions also had one early tour match against the Bulls cancelled, with different opposition stepping in, because of positive virus tests in the Bulls squad.

Both the South Africa and Lions squads have had players and coaching staff put in isolation, either for positive virus tests or because of possible exposure.

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/17/extra-game-for-boks-before-lions-tests/

https://therugbystore.com.au/extra-game-for-boks-before-lions-tests/

‘Deserves a crack’: Everything Rennie said on Tate, tactics and his Wallabies overhaul

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie made eight changes for the decisive Test against France, including a huge gamble on youth at the base of the scrum, but played down suggestions his team would be affected by the short turn around from Melbourne’s close defeat.

Australia went with a settled 23 in the opening two matches, including just one starting team change, but head to Brisbane with a revamped line up.

Rennie, speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s third Test in Brisbane, said he and Wallabies staff had a plan in place to cope with the challenges of the short turnaround. Saturday’s decider is a third Test in 11 days.

He also seemed to shrug off the relative intensity of Test match rugby to Wallabies training camp in saying: “Some of our trainings are actually tougher than the games we’ve played so far, around the running metrics and physicality.

“We knew we would need to manage certain players and we’ve done that.”

The biggest talking points come around the base of the scrum. Tate McDermott replaces Jake Gordon at No.9 while Noah Lolesio and Hunter Paisami are joined by Len Ikitau in the centres. The four of them have 17 caps between them leaving Paisami as the leader of an inexperienced group.

Former Wallabies scrumhalf Will Genia has been calling for Rennie to give McDermott a start, and was also thrilled with Ikitau’s run on debut.

Len Ikitau celebrates with his Brumbies teammates. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

“He’s a player for the future,” Genia told The Roar. “He’s got the ability to break tackles , and there’s something about him. One on one he’s really good at beating the first up man. He’s physical, young and when you watch certain players, he’ll bring a point of difference.

“I like the idea of him in the centres with Hunter. It’s a very young set up. I love the fact he’s given Noah an opportunity to play out all three games and I’m obviously a huge Tate McDermott fan, so I can not wait to see what he does from the start.”

Rennie spoke about McDermott, Ikitau and plenty more during his press conference. Here are the highlights.

On Tate McDermott and the young backline
“He’s played well, he’s done everything we’ve asked from him off the bench. Playing in Brisbane and his home ground to get his first start, he’s worked really hard, and deserves a crack,” Rennie said.

“Jake’s played a few fair few minutes as well and we are really fortunate with the depth we’ve got there.

“Tate’s been working really hard on his core skills around the quality of his distribution and his kicking game, and he brings a lot of energy.”

Rennie was asked if a reluctance to pick him from the start earlier in the season because of weakness in core skills.

“That’s probably fair,” Rennie said. “We have other guys like Nic White, Ryan Lonergan has very good core skills and Jake obviously.

“But Tate provides a point of difference and we like that about him. He’s worked really hard on his core part of his games to see him developing quickly and we just want him to go out and play with the confidence that he does in Super Rugby.

“Hunter has had an excellent season and so has Lenny. Lenny is a bit different. For the Brumbies he’s got a great skill set and the ability to pass out of his hands under pressure, really good feet and is aggressive in the carry and in defence.

“He’s got a left foot which we like, to complement Hunter who can be dynamic with and without the ball and got a really good kicking game.”

Tate McDermott passes during a Wallabies training session. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

On Paisami being the ‘veteran’ of the four young backs with eight Tests

“If you talk to James O’Connor, with Hunter outside him he talked about how much he’s grown, how specific his communication is so James can concentrate on his part of the field and trust the guys outside him.

“Hunter was put into our leadership group because we want more out of him and because he’s got a strong connection with the young men within the group.

“He talks well, he’s not a noisy character, and we want more out of him. When you look at that inside group he’s experienced one with 8 Tests.

“It’s a great opportunity for him to step up and help the other guys.

“We often talk about being a different creature when you cross the chalk. It’s ok to be a mild-mannered man off the field but we need to see a different side of him when he crosses the chalk and we see that in how he plays. We also want him to lead and be vocal. He’s showing those signs.”
On Taniela Tupou being pushed back to the bench after starting game two

“We are lucky we have a couple of world-class tight heads,” said Rennie. “They are quite different.

“ has a massive work ethic and is very strong around the maul, and Taniela is a beast isn’t he?
“I thought he played really well in Melbourne – he was powerful in the carry, his workrate and his ability to get back on his feet and back in the game.

“What we know is Taniela off the bench is a real weapon and a real point-of-difference in that last 30 or 40 minutes.

“History would probably tell us that he’s probably done better off the bench but I thought he was really good in the second match. He played really well in Wellington last year when he got a start.

“Those guys were always going to share the load and as it turns out they’ve been playing 50 and 30 so they’re both getting reasonable game time to make an impact.”

(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

On the Wallabies needing to improve their kicking game

“We didn’t see a lot of kicking in Melbourne – I think we kicked the ball just nine times and one of those was half-time with Marika catching it and kicking it over the sideline,” said Rennie.

“We’ve talked about getting balance to our game. We want to see opportunities to kick and turn the French around. We’re pretty confident they’ll probably give it back to us.

“We want to have a real optimistic mindset around how we play. We think we are fitter and can play up tempo.
“It comes with a bit of balance. We should have hurt them from one of the kickoffs but we didn’t, we went multiphase and then turned it over.

“We’re talking about times when we need to kick on the front foot and add balance to our game.”

On the discipline of Lachlan Swinton, who has been called up at flanker

“He’s got a bit of reputation – he got a red card at club level for having a punch up. That’s pretty standard for a forward,” Rennie said.

“He got a red card recently that wasn’t deserved and rectified and then he got a red card in his first Test.

“We looked at 35 minutes when he was devastating defensively and he got one wrong. Six months earlier that wouldn’t have been a card, let alone a red card.

“Lachy’s ready to go. There’s very little in some of those selections. We want him to be really physical and that’s his point of difference, why would you tell him not to do that?”

On the French tactic of laying on the ground and getting in the way of the cleanout

“We spoke about it after the first Test. If you get caught you have to roll east or west, they tend to get on their hands and knees.

“They’ve got no right to be there. They need to be strong around that and we felt they were able to slow a lot of our ball down.

“We want quick ball. We’re happy for refs to be tough on us. We’re not talking about this to influence referees but we’ll be sharing our views. Quick ball for us is massive.”

On James O’Connor’s injury setback
“He tweaked his groin again on gameday. Not quite as bad as first thought and hopefully he’ll be back for the All Blacks series.”

On Fraser McReight missing out

“He’s really unlucky. He’s trained superbly. He probably couldn’t have done any more to gain a jersey. But going into a decider we want our best players in the mix. It’s a Test match, we don’t rotate for the sake of giving a blokes a crack, but he’s been impressive.
“He’ll get his chance, just not this series.”

Wallabies team for third Test vs France
1. James Slipper
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa
3. Allan Alaalatoa
4. Darcy Swain
5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
6. Lachlan Swinton
7. Michael Hooper (c)
8. Isi Naisarani
9. Tate McDermott
10. Noah Lolesio
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Hunter Paisami
13. Len Ikitau
14. Filipo Daugunu
15. Tom Banks

Replacements
16. Jordan Uelese
17. Angus Bell
18. Taniela Tupou
19. Matt Philip
20. Rob Valetini
21. Jake Gordon
22. Matt To’omua
23. Reece Hodge

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/16/some-of-our-trainings-are-tougher-than-games-rennie-declares-re-jigged-wallabies-ready/

https://therugbystore.com.au/deserves-a-crack-everything-rennie-said-on-tate-tactics-and-his-wallabies-overhaul/

Lewis Ludlow: England captain handed four-match ban for foul play during win over Canada

Gloucester flanker Lewis Ludlow is given a four-match ban for striking with the knee during England's victory over Canada at Twickenham.

Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57858884

https://therugbystore.com.au/lewis-ludlow-england-captain-handed-four-match-ban-for-foul-play-during-win-over-canada/

British and Irish Lions 2021: Lessons learned from Test dress rehearsal against South Africa A

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland says his players are in "bullish" mood, but is it false confidence?

Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57844708

https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-2021-lessons-learned-from-test-dress-rehearsal-against-south-africa-a/

French breakdown precision must be the Wallabies’ goal in 2021

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a million times. And that might not be as big an exaggeration as it looks.

Even just last week and again in Tuesday’s two-up panel, plenty of us in numerous discussions were highlighting the breakdown speed and accuracy as being an ongoing concern for the Wallabies.

Here’s a quick cut and paste from my offering, which in itself was pointing to the chaotic final moments of the first Test in Brisbane last week.

“The attacking cleanout needs to be the focus for the second Test. I mentioned last week that it was outstanding to see Angus Bell and Lachie Lonergan first on the scene when Tate McDermott went to ground with the fatally loose French ball last week, and with Rob Valetini, Darcy Swain, and Taniela Tupou not far behind.

“And as I mentioned, this was great to see in the 81st minute, because there had been way too many occasions in the preceding eighty minutes where the attacking clean out was either too slow, too ineffective, or too non-existent.”

And from the first post-match question after France squared the series in Melbourne on Tuesday night, Dave Rennie was already confirming where the Wallabies let themselves down. Again.

“We didn’t get off to the fast start we wanted,” he said.

Indeed, it was quite the opposite, with Les Bleus centre Jonathan Danty first on the scene to isolate Hunter Paisami in the first minute of the game. It was 3-0 after two minutes, and 13-3 20 minutes later.

Rennie continued: “We found ourselves behind, but we fought our way back in like we did last week. I thought we’d stolen it late, but not to be.”

“You’ve got to give France credit. They are really good over the ball. I think we got penalised nine times at the breakdown and obviously that had a massive effect on our continuity and our ability to hurt them.”

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

And this is certainly the truth.

In the end, the Wallabies conceded 12 penalties for the game. Rennie’s figure of nine breakdown penalties conceded feels about right without an itemised penalty list to cross reference, and the scoreboard tells us that fullback Melvyn Jaminet kicked seven penalties from as many attempts.

The short of it: when the Wallabies conceded a penalty at the breakdown, it cost them points most of the time.

Rennie acknowledged that the Melbourne performance was better than the first Test in Brisbane, but even then found himself coming back to a familiar theme.

“We created plenty of opportunities, but it’s probably a double-edged sword,” he said.

“We got ourselves into positions where we probably should benefit, but we didn’t, and again, I think it came down to losing the race around some of the breakdown stuff, and a lack of patience.

“We’ve got to be prepared to go through the middle and squeeze them up, to earn the right to go wide.

“But we found a bit of space down the sidelines early in the game, and maybe they lulled us into playing a bit wide too early at times. We’ve learned a lesson from that, and hopefully we see a better effort on Saturday.”

It was a double-edged sword, but for different reasons, I’d argue.

It was a double-edged sword, because the Wallabies were getting towelled up on the floor and pinged in the middle of the field, so decided to go too wide too early, which then in turn led to blokes getting isolated and pinged out there, too.

(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

So this has to be the obvious focus for the third Test in Brisbane – not that they’ll have a lot of training time in between matches – but the Wallabies actually need to use the French as a benchmark for the rest of their season and beyond.

Interestingly, neither Rennie nor Michael Hooper had any refereeing gripes to air on Tuesday night.

“I thought he was pretty clear. From the ARs and the man in the middle, I think they communicated well to us what was going on,” Hooper said.

“Look, the French were good over the ball and they beat us. They were more urgent than us to the breakdown. You’ve got to commend them on that.

“A lot of the turnover came from us actually getting the nose through and getting a little semi-line break, and the French were sharp onto that isolated man there.

“From our side of things, a bit of urgency once we do make that initial half break there, and we would have seen a different story. It’s a mindset thing and an important price that we put on that sort of thing that we need to get right.”

It’s a mindset thing.

(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Both Hooper and Rennie spoke of “urgency to breakdown” being a crucial lesson for Saturday’s decider, with Rennie even suggesting that he “wants to see a reaction” from the inevitable changes he’ll have to make.

“They’ll be fresh and full of beans, and give us some key energy,” he said.

We should see what those changes are later this morning.

The mindset thing is interesting, because as much as fitness drives a player around the field, it’s their mindset and attitude that pushes them into the dark places.

Just yesterday The Roar‘s own Will Genia spoke of the biggest difference and challenge between Super Rugby and Test matches: “You have less time and space, and you have less room for error.”

I’ve referred several times in recent weeks to a chat I had with Laurie Fisher after the Brumbies returned from New Zealand, where they found out the hard way that being even half a metre behind in the race the breakdown can be the difference between holding onto the ball and watching it disappear behind you.

But the adjustments are quite achievable, Fisher told me: “A metre here, two metres there. Tighten up that bit. That’s how you make great gains, and you can be competitive all of a sudden.”

Being a metre or even just half a metre closer to the tackled teammate in possession is the difference between the arriving opposition defender having a clean shot at the ball, or having to clean out and possibly compete.

(Getty Images)

This was the harsh lesson the Wallabies were dealt on Tuesday night, but it was at least heartening to hear Hooper not speaking in terms of training track form, as he often did in years gone by, but in genuine ‘this is how we do it’ terms that you’d expect from a leader.

“Yes, it sucks losing. Our change room is deathly quiet at the moment. But, the only negative will be if we take nothing from this, if we don’t take a lesson learned.

“How we can get that scrum, deliver that scrum at the end, and then backdating all the stuff that happened beforehand to try and put us in a better situation.

“We got a lot of learnings out of that. That will be the negative, if we don’t take them.”

The negative is the use of “learnings”, but the point certainly stands. And it was notable that Rennie sat there, listening intently.

The current international breakdown yardstick is wearing a Bleus jersey, and the Wallabies have to learn from this.

And quickly.

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/15/french-breakdown-precision-must-be-the-wallabies-goal-in-2021/

https://therugbystore.com.au/french-breakdown-precision-must-be-the-wallabies-goal-in-2021/

British and Irish Lions 2021: South Africa A game 'pivotal', says Ugo Monye

The British and Irish Lions' game against a high-quality South Africa A side on Wednesday will be "pivotal" in determining Test selection, says former tourist Ugo Monye.

Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57819677

https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-2021-south-africa-a-game-pivotal-says-ugo-monye/

VOTE: Your chance to rate the Wallabies players vs France

It was almost as exciting as the first Test but, for Wallabies fans, the result was far less enjoyable.

With the Wallabies going down to France 28-26 in a thriller last night, it’s time for you – the readers – to rate each player out of ten.

If you’re not across how we do this thing on The Roar, don’t worry. We’ve got handy instructions just here.

Simply, you rate each player from 1-10 based on your assessment of how well they performed. If you don’t think they were on the field long enough, or you just didn’t catch them enough, you don’t have to rate them – you can leave them blank.

Then, we take everyone’s votes, crunch the numbers together and publish them the next day, so you can see where your opinion falls amongst your fellow Roarers.

For a guide on how scores work, check this box out.

1. Had he not played, the team would have been better off. Negatively affected the performance of the side. May God John Eales have mercy on his soul.
2. Anonymous. Was he even there?
3. Did some things that you expect a player to be able to do, but did a whole bunch of other things that sucked.
4. Was passable in patches, but not up to standard in a match of such importance.
5. Performed his role without anything really noticeable happening.
6. Good.
7. Pretty good, actually.
8. Very good.
9. Excellent.
10. Extraordinary. Calling them man of the match would be an insult.

So, what are you waiting for? Fill the ballot in now!

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Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/14/vote-wallabies-player-ratings-vs-france-2/

https://therugbystore.com.au/vote-your-chance-to-rate-the-wallabies-players-vs-france/

The rugby two-up: ‘It’s not rust, Australia lacks depth in every position’

Well, the Wallabies got it done last week against France, even if they did need a bit of overtime to do it.

And though most rugby fans know that a win is a win, and that you don’t have to draw a picture on the scoreboard, there’s no denying there was a fair bit of rust in the Wallabies performance.

But is that just a by-product of the professional game these days? That players are now so entrenched in domestic/club/provincial programs that national coaches have to spend time ‘un-stating’ them, to put them back on the national program?

Was there perhaps some merit in the South African need for 500 hours after all? Which they might yet get again, the way the Lions Series is looking at the moment…

Question 1: Why do you think some teams look rustier that others in their first Test of the year? And what is the biggest lesson from Brisbane that the Wallabies must get right for the 2nd Test in Melbourne?

Harry
It’s not rust, per se. It’s about depth and style.

Australia lacks depth at almost every position. To make it harder, their provincial unions have large differences in style. So, Dave Rennie has a more difficult challenge than Rassie Erasmus or Ian Foster.

The All Blacks’ challenge is pack depth. When Sam Whitelock retires, or when Cane is absent, the pack is not smart or hard enough, and the loosies are too loose. But their players are honed to a Kiwi style of tactical kicking, swift counterattack, all-court ball, speed of ruck, and precise set pieces. So their rust is simply down to form and depth.

Australia has to fight to get a real squad ready and trained and aligned. The big thing for the Wallabies to get right is to send the cleaners in hard and low and fast, after every single carry. Ball security is their Achilles heel.

Digger
It’s a difficult question to really land on anything but a handful of different reasons; new vs existing combinations, quality of the opposition, player experience.

To be frank I didn’t see a lot from any side that I didn’t really expect, all things considered. I would suggest that in the Wallabies case, they have a relatively fresh coaching team and currently do not have the same level of depth or experience to call upon as other sides, particularly in pivotal playmaking and organisational roles.

When factored in against what currently looks the best opposition thus far on the respective southern tours, it was always going to lead to some difficulties in getting cohesive game plans and combinations functioning.

Matt To’omua of the Wallabies passes the ball. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

The biggest lesson from Brisbane for the Wallabies is that they need to be more patient and effective when in possession. A quick glance of the match stats show the Wallabies had the lion’s share of possession and territory but clearly struggled through their own accuracy and decisions, and of course a committed French side to stamp their mark on the game.

When you consider the Wallabies had eight more penalties awarded, this will be key for them to turn around on Tuesday night, as more of the same and a more disciplined French effort will see the series tied up.

Geoff
It used to be customary for sides like the All Blacks in particular, to play like rusted aerosols in the first half of the first Test of the year, before gradually getting some cohesion. That doesn’t happen so much nowadays, and don’t we all remember the Pumas last year, emerging from a COVID camp and a scratch match against club players, for their greatest ever victory?

As for the Wallabies’ stuttering performance last week, I’m not so sure it was rust as much as it was some unfamiliarity around some of the combinations and a little bit of nervousness. Neither of those things should be in evidence tonight.

The biggest lesson/thing to get right? Jake Gordon to back himself and repay the faith shown in him by the selectors. The French showed him a couple of holes on the fringes that, trying to do the team thing, he ignored. You’ve got pace Jake, back yourself to use it, man!

Brett
I do agree with the depth points being made, and that’s obviously a key factor for the Wallabies, but I think fitness and conditioning plays a role in early season rust.

It was very clear that the first part of the Wallabies camp was essentially a second pre-season, and Dave Rennie even eluded early on to players from some state presenting to the national camp with significantly lower fitness and conditioning levels than others.

They knew this because the Wallabies and states have been using the same programs and software for several years now. So, for the first time in a long time, they could actually compare apples with apples.

So this extra conditioning prior to adding “a lot of detail”, as we heard regularly from the Wallabies coaches, has to have contributed to the rust; it just has to have. Hopefully, the picture will look better in Melbourne.

More Rugby

• The rugby two-up: 'It's not rust, Australia lacks depth in every position'
• How will the Wallabies break down the blue wall?
• Unofficial first Test? Covid-hit Boks go for strengthened 'A' side
• Wallabies ready for beefed up France
• Lions set to face South Africa A in warm up Tests

Rugby

Speaking of which, the attacking cleanout needs to be the focus for the second Test. I mentioned last week that it was outstanding to see Angus Bell and Lachie Lonergan first on the seen when Tate McDermott went to ground with the fatally loose French ball last week, and with Rob Valetini, Darcy Swain, and Taniela Tupou not far behind.

And as I mentioned, this was great to see in the 81st minute, because there had been way too many occasions in the preceding eighty minutes where the attacking clean out was either too slow, too ineffective, or too non-existent.

But they showed when the game was on the line that they could do it. So now they need to do it.

Question 2: The Lions Series in South Africa looks to be in a really delicate position – do you think the Test matches can proceed as per the current schedule?

Harry
No, the tests will need to be in one place (Cape Town), and both camps have to stop half-measures.

The site isn’t that important if a true bio-bubble is used; it’s more about avoiding travel.

One thing not given enough attention is the Lions did not mandate vaccination (the Boks all did), and Warren Gatland has confirmed some Lions (rumoured to be as many as eight) did not get jabbed.

So, before everyone throws stones at SARU, maybe we should force the Lions to explain why they’d arrive in a developing country reeling under a third wave, with almost a dozen unvaccinated players?

Anyway, the tour must go on. The money requires it. If there are no crowds and the players and coaches are bubbled, there is a low risk to life.

Should players be obliged to get the vaccine? (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Digger
Always hard to pick one thing as being more important than anything else, especially for the first game of the year.

I’m split between a solid and cohesive defensive effort and a stable set piece, so I won’t choose. Both of those nominated will be important for the Wallabies to get right this weekend, and the season can flow forward from that solid base.

Geoff
With the important caveat that I’m not there on the ground and don’t know exactly what’s happening, things are looking grim for the series.

We all want it, but we also want a series that is fair and genuine; a proper test of both the Lions and Boks’ true abilities. A little asterisk is ok, we all know it’s a weird time.

But if that asterisk is too big, then it almost becomes like, perhaps we shouldn’t bother.

As Bob Dylan put it so beautifully on his brilliant 1997 album, ’Time Out of Mind’… “It’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there.”

Brett
It’s really hard to see how the schedule remains unchanged now, with more Springboks testing positive to COVID, including skipper Siya Kolisi as this all comes together. The total of impacted players and staff now rising above 20 is a massive concern, as is that the rest of the ‘Boks squad has only just emerged from six days of isolation.

Already, tour games have been switched, and the Sharks had to back up for a second game when the Bulls weren’t able to play just on the weekend.

I certainly agree with Harry that once the series gets to Cape Town this week, that it may not leave. And in a pure logistics sense, staying in one place would seem more logical now, with South Africa consistently recording more than twenty thousand new cases over the last few days.

How will Covid impact the Lions series? (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

But equally, it feels like the whole thing could have the pin pulled if the number keeps growing within the ‘Boks camp, too. There will surely be a number within the squad where training becomes difficult, and hopefully reports in the last day or so about new rounds of negative tests are a good sign.

There is already going to be a question mark or an asterisk or something applied to this series when it enters the realm of rugby history, and it would be a great shame if the last of the true rugby tours was forced to end abruptly.

Yet, it feels a long way from being out of the woods just yet.

Digger

No, I do not see how and nor should it. The priority should be to get the respective squads fit and healthy and ready to play the test matches alone.

It would seem the right way to do so would be to isolate each squad and do so at one venue, cancelling the remaining non test matches so to minimise any further exposure risk and concentrating on getting three quality test matches played.

OVER TO YOU: What’s the biggest lesson for the Wallabies from Brisbane to Melbourne?

And is more change inevitable for the Lions Series?

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/13/the-thursday-rugby-two-up-on-tuesday-be-gone-first-up-rustiness/

https://therugbystore.com.au/the-rugby-two-up-its-not-rust-australia-lacks-depth-in-every-position/

British and Irish Lions 2021: Warren Gatland rejects Springboks call for fixture change

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland rejects calls from the Springboks camp for his side to play South Africa A twice in a row.

Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57810953

https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-2021-warren-gatland-rejects-springboks-call-for-fixture-change/

Five changes for France ahead of second Test

France coach Fabien Galthie has made five charges to his starting team as they seek to level the series against the Wallabies in the second rugby Test in Melbourne.

Three of them, Wilfrid Hounkpatin, Pierre-Henri Azagoh and Ibrahim Diallo, will make their international debuts at AAMI Park on Tuesday night.

A late blunder when they failed to find touch after a lineout cost France a 23-21 defeat in the first Test in Brisbane last week.

Prop Demba Bamba has lost his place in the starting lineup to Castres’ Hounkpatin.

The second row is completely changed, with Killian Geraci, Romain Taofifenua sitting on the bench for Cyril Cazeaux and Stade Francais youngster Azagoh.

Flanker Cameron Woki replaces Dylan Cretin, who was ruled out with an ankle injury.

After a solid display in the Brisbane Test, winger Gabin Villiere, centres Jonathan Danty and Arthur Vincent retained their spots, as did captain and number eight Anthony Jelonch.

France are chasing their first Test win on Australian soil since 1990.

France: Melvyn Jaminet, Damian Penaud, Arthur Vincent, Jonathan Danty, Gabin Villiere, Louis Carbonel, Baptiste Couilloud, Anthony Jelonch (capt), Cameron Woki, Ibrahim Diallo, Cyril Cazeaux, Pierre-Henri Azagoh, Wilfrid Hounkpatin, Gaetan Barlot, Jean-Baptiste Gros. Res: Anthony Etrillard, Enzo Forletta, Demba Bamba, Killian Geraci, Romain Taofifenua, Sekou Macalou, Teddy Iribaren, Anthony Bouthier. 

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/12/five-changes-for-france-ahead-of-second-test/

https://therugbystore.com.au/five-changes-for-france-ahead-of-second-test/

British and Irish Lions: South Africa captain Siya Kolisi tests positive for Covid-19

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi tests positive for coronavirus as his side build up to the series against the British and Irish Lions.

Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57794891

https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-south-africa-captain-siya-kolisi-tests-positive-for-covid-19/

Lachlan Swinton doesn’t deserve his hot-headed reputation

Everything is so serious nowadays.

COVID vaccinations! Death from sugar! Contact sport! The risk of living is suddenly so real and so great, there just isn’t enough cotton wool in the world to go round, and global warming has caused the shortage.

The fact that Lachlan Swinton has been so harshly judged and branded before turning 24 years old says more about society today than about him.

Virtue signalling has become such a trendy pastime that we have lost perspective when it comes to concussion in sport, and we have vilified players like Swinton when the game these days needs more of them.

Let’s be clear. Swinton is not a thug or mindless and uncontrollable perpetrator of violence. He’s a young man trying to forge a reputation who has made a few stupid mistakes.

Swinton hasn’t dropped an elbow into the nose of a defenceless Paul Carozza like Richard Loe did. He didn’t try to eat All Black ears like Johan le Roux either.

Sure, Loe and Le Roux are pretty nasty acts to follow, but brain explosions and dirtiness aren’t just limited to villains of the peace like those two.

Buck Shelford is an all-time great, spoken about in the same reverent tones as Richie McCaw. Known as much for his courage and skill, Shelford’s hardman reputation was secured before the 1987 World Cup triumph, when he had his scrotum stitched during a Test in France a year earlier.

But even Shelford had a few brain explosions. In the 1987 Rugby World Cup semi-final against Wales, for example, he came to the defence of lock Gary Whetton and knocked out Huw Richards with a single blow. When Richards came to, the Welsh lock was the one sent off. Shelford played on and eventually was knighted by the Queen.

Of course Shelford played in a different time, well before the sport became professional and medical protocols were developed. So let’s move on to the professional era.

Trevor Brennan of Ireland was so annoying that he even riled Toutai Kefu while playing against the Wallabies in the 1999 World Cup. Brennan and Kefu traded punches before they were warned, Brennan was penalised and the game got going again.

Admittedly, Brennan didn’t escape so lightly in 2007 when he received a life ban, later reduced to five years, for leaping into the crowd and punching an Ulster fan who had allegedly verbally abused Brennan’s mother.

Now that’s certainly hot-headed.

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Brian Lima, another legend of the game, a man whose nickname ‘The Chiropractor’ is still celebrated, absolutely hammered Jonny Wilkinson high in the 2007 World Cup. It was a very similar hit to Swinton’s in the Bledisloe, and after very little deliberation the referee announced play on with a warning to Lima and a penalty given against him.

One of the greatest locks ever to play the game, Bakkies Botha, was yellow carded in his 2002 Test debut against France for stamping, an indiscretion that has nothing to do with timing and was worse than anything Swinton is guilty of on debut or otherwise.

Botha’s long-time teammate Schalk Burger was yellow carded for making contact with a player’s eyes in the second minute of a Lions Test in 2009. Notably that Test came six years after Burger debuted and long after it could be said he was a young man learning his trade, as Swinton is.

So where am I going with this historical comparison of hard men, dirty play, brain snaps and punishment?

First up, Swinton is no Richard Loe, Trevor Brennan or even Bakkies Botha. He’s a kid trying to create a reputation who has so far made too many mistakes.

All of Swinton’s mistakes as far as I can recall are down to timing and an excess of enthusiasm.

His sending-off in Brisbane in 2020 would have been a penalty and earnt a round of applause in 2010. There was no malice or intention, just as there was no malice or intention from Brian Lima when he caught Wilkinson high.

Swinton’s cleanout of Lachlan Boshier late in the Waratahs loss to the Chief’s last month was more stupid than dangerous. Boshier looked up unhurt and was probably as curious as all of us about whether the glancing contact with his chin would rub Swinton out.

It wasn’t like Botha’s yellow card for stamping when he debuted. It didn’t involve Burger-esque contact with the eyes. Yet Swinton is pilloried.

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

And that brings me to my next point: why are we so sanctimonious these days? We seem to enjoy signalling our virtue so much.

These sure seem to be the years of living dangerously, of our every action being a risk to life and limb. Has the risk of living, the risk of playing rugby, suddenly quadrupled in the last five, ten, 20 years?

The obvious answer is no, it hasn’t. But you’d think it by the way we talk.

The hashtag brigade are pretty good at whipping up fear and blowing up any semblance of balanced debate. If it is so simple to decide where lines are drawn and the repercussions for crossing them, why not welcome dissenting opinions?

An element of total risk aversion and sanitisation that has crept through society and in my view is poisoning rugby.

We hear so much from a handful of concussion campaigners and not so much from those who have different perspectives on how risk management may be implemented. Why not?

I’m already bracing for the outraged reaction to this article. People who don’t toe the line with the same opinions we see on social media are automatically abused or, worse, accused of being callous.

Don’t I respect science? Don’t I care about player welfare? Don’t I care about kids welfare?

Of course I do.

More Rugby

• Lachlan Swinton doesn't deserve his hot-headed reputation
• Too'mua looking for Wallabies to improve after early 'punch in the face' in first Test
• All Blacks surge to big win over fighting Fiji
• Let's focus on the moments between the madness for the Wallabies
• Lions tour faces more upheaval

Rugby

But with all the hysteria and vitriol surrounding issues like concussion in sport, the debate lacks a diversity of opinion.

Oscar Wilde said that diversity of opinion shows that work is new, vital and complex. Mark Twain noted, “It is not best that we should all think alike; it is difference of opinion that makes horse races”.

Is rugby really so much more dangerous than it was ten years ago? If it really is, and I have my doubts, then we need an appropriate and balanced approach to minimising risk.

We seem to have gone from awarding penalties and playing on to issuing red cards willy-nilly, ruining the reputations of young players who would have been celebrated in the not distant past.

Swinton is more a victim of our hyperbole than his own hot-headedness.

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/11/lachlan-swinton-doesnt-deserve-his-hot-headed-reputation/

https://therugbystore.com.au/lachlan-swinton-doesnt-deserve-his-hot-headed-reputation/

British and Irish Lions: Finn Russell's tour may be over admits Gatland

Scotland fly-half Finn Russell may be forced home from the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa with an Achilles tear admits head coach Warren Gatland.

Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57792507

https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-finn-russells-tour-may-be-over-admits-gatland/

Lions tour faces more upheaval

The British and Irish Lions tour faces more upheaval after coach Warren Gatland revealed that next week’s opponents could swap places to give South Africa more time to overcome their coronavirus outbreak.

Fresh from seeing the Bulls replaced by the Sharks for Saturday’s fixture at Loftus Versfeld, plans are having to be revised for matches five and six of their tour.

Instead of facing South Africa A on Wednesday and the Stormers three days later, they are set to trade slots as the Springboks look to halt the spread of coronavirus through their camp.

The Lions depart for Cape Town on Sunday and Gatland also indicated that the final two Tests are highly likely to be moved from Johannesburg to the coastal city that hosts the series opener on July 24.

“We’re not 100 per cent sure who the opposition is going to be next week, so it’s a little bit difficult to plan too far ahead,” Gatland said.

“It’ll either be the Springboks A or the Stormers. They might switch those games around.

“That hasn’t been confirmed. Hopefully in the next 24 hours we’ll know which way those games go.

“I’m pretty sure the second and third Tests will be played in Cape Town. That’s my understanding at the moment.

“Until they give us 100 per cent confirmation we just have to wait and see. I think they’re definitely going to be in Cape Town.”

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

The Lions have been cleared to face the Sharks for the second time in four days after the player who tested positive on Wednesday returned two successive negatives, enabling him and his close contacts to leave isolation.

However, the touring party faces being split as the unnamed member of the management team who was infected remains in quarantine along with his close contacts, made up of one player and three staff.

When the Lions leave for Cape Town, the five will be left behind in Johannesburg until they are able to follow the main group out of Gauteng.

Jamie George has been named captain of the side that will meet the Sharks, 14 of whom must back up after Wednesday’s 54-7 win at Emirates Airline Park.

More Rugby

• Lions tour faces more upheaval
• What concerns me most about Ian Foster
• Wallabies DIY player ratings vs France: The results - plus Will Genia's take
• Super Rugby is obsolete. Here's how to fix it
• Wallabies fans, relax. We won

Rugby

George becomes the first Englishman to lead the Lions since Phil Vickery in 2009 and the first ever Red Rose hooker to secure the honour. The 30-year-old Saracen insists the difficulties facing the tourists have had a galvanising effect.

“The last week or so has been relatively different but I’ve been so impressed with the boys,” George said.

“I just feel like whatever hostility comes our way, it manages to bring the group closer together and you saw that in the way that the guys on Wednesday night fronted up.

“Preparations haven’t been ideal for Saturday, but at the same time if you were at our team run today (Friday) you’d be pretty excited about what’s going to come on.”

Gareth Davies and Dan Biggar were the intended halfbacks for the first meeting until they were forced to quarantine but they start at Loftus Versfeld, with Davies and wing Anthony Watson making their first starts of the tour.

Only Elliot Daly and Duhan van der Merwe are retained from the XV scrambled together on Wednesday.

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/10/lions-tour-faces-more-upheaval/

https://therugbystore.com.au/lions-tour-faces-more-upheaval/