Lions must forget the 'rugby chaos' and go back to basics as All Blacks await

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David Flatman9 June 2017

The Lions improved against the Blues but must do much more - and quickly - to have a chance against the All Blacks.

David Flatman analyses the key areas against the Crusaders...

SHOW SOME HUMILITY AND DISCIPLINE... KEEP IT TIGHT

This new phrase "rugby chaos" has become a thing, and I rather dislike it — partly as it doesn’t necessarily mean much, but primarily because it seems the precise opposite of what the Lions need.

Fractured, unpredictable, unstructured situations are the areas in which New Zealand have been punishing world class teams for generations.

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As unromantic as this may sound, the Lions should forget all notions of entertainment and look to hold the Kiwis in a clinch for as much of every match as possible, however dull it looks.

Frankly, they need as little chaos as possible. It’s a nice idea to go out there and run rings around perhaps the world’s greatest-ever broken-field team, but a modicum of humility is needed. Keep it tight, beat them up, give yourself a chance.

QUICK BALL PLAYS INTO THEIR HANDS - SLOW IT DOWN

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When considering how the All Blacks prefer to play you have to face the uncomfortable truth that, in reality, they can do it however they want to, and the Crusaders are much the same.

Given the choice and the room, they like to leave a hooker and a back row player in the wide channels, aiming to send their most powerful, hefty units at the smaller opposition backs to make yards.

To effect this plan, their breakdown work has to be at an extremely high level. Backs will be required to do their bit over the ball, and forwards are regularly asked to double-ruck, which can be a tiring business.

The simplest way to make those predatory, wide forwards look like beached oil tankers is to deny them the quick, slick ball they desperately want. It’s reasonable to assume that, in order to slow things down effectively, the Lions back row needs to fire. However, that won’t be enough.

Think back to Brian O’Driscoll’s work at the breakdown, and think what a threat he posed to any side looking to achieve easy width. Ben Te’o and Jonathan Davies will need to put their bodies through the breakdown grinder if the Crusaders’ fierce tempo is to be arrested.

Closer in, the front row has a big responsibility, too, with Mako Vunipola in prime position to act as chief nuisance in that area.

GEORGE WILL NEED PLENTY OF SUPPORT

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Finally, after all the (mostly English) speculation, Jamie George starts a game for the Lions.

A gifted and durable all-round player, he sets himself apart from other accomplished athletes by being a set-piece specialist. There will be a lot of pressure on him tomorrow, but his mates can help him out.

Around the field, he can take care of himself, but in the scrum he will need his two bookends to do a job for him. If Vunipola allows Owen Franks to drive into the gap between him and George, the hooker will find his chin being driven into his chest, which makes life less comfortable. If Tadhg Furlong is rocked back, George will be trying to hook a ball below his left shoulder as his right shoulder is being pulled away.

At the line-out George is supreme, but the Crusaders are at least his equal. George will need his caller to be both aggressive and sympathetic in equal measure.

While George’s throwing is rightly regarded at top class, we will soon find out if the inevitable timing issues of a new side have been nailed since that line-out at the end of the Blues game.

FURLONG MUST KEEP HIS AGGRESSION UNDER CONTROL

We have spoken before of the Lions’ available power and how that may indeed be their most damaging weapon.

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Well, tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong may just be the man to spearhead the Lions’ assault at close quarters. A hugely dynamic ball carrier and energetic, mobile defender, Furlong is also carnivorous at scrum time. Never seemingly keen to hit and hold, if he smells blood he goes for his opponent in a big way.

With any props this aggressive, there is the potential for them to inadvertently start working alone, swinging the hips out to achieve a more destructive angle, all the while dislodging the backside from the shoulders of the driving lock behind.

If Furlong’s aggression pours out without control, the Crusaders will deal with him comfortably enough.

If he stays straight enough to utilise George Kruis’s strength from behind, he could splinter the opposing scrum, denying them the clean, steady ball for which they are famous and with which they prefer to work.

It’s dark, it’s gritty, but it’s a world in which Furlong has the power to dominate, so long as that discipline remains.

TEST SHIRT CAN BE FARRELL’S WITH ONE MORE GOOD GAME

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When (repeatedly) asked about his pencilled-in Test team, Warren Gatland (repeatedly) tells us that he doesn’t bother with all that, seeing as it would likely change so much by game time anyway.

Already we see assumed combinations looking frail, so his approach appears sensible.

A fortnight ago, most observers would have backed Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell to partner up at 10 and 12 respectively.

Two games in, though, and it seems that Sexton is struggling. Now, this is a top-of-the-range operator, but he hasn’t yet looked comfortable or in control.

One more assertive performance from Farrell — win or lose — could well see him become the front runner at fly-half.

With Ben Te’o having looked superb in the Lions’ first game, it could be all change in the control room.

Certainly, with Farrell at 12, the outside backs will see more ball but, as presented elsewhere, there looks to be an argument for tight power over spacious galloping.

A test midfield of Farrell, Te’o and Jonathan Davies seems more likely by the day, so this game will make fascinating viewing.

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