THESE LIONS are hardly the pussycats of four years ago in New Zealand, and don’t deserve to emulate them by suffering the indignity of becoming the first pride to suffer a whitewash in South Africa.
Averting a whitewash is not the anti-climactic carrot they would have wanted heading into today’s third and final Test in Johannesburg, but such is their lot.
The Springboks, smarting from a lack of respect for their achievement, would love to rub the tourists’ noses in the Ellis Park dirt today, while, of course, “pride” and “Lions” are inextricably linked.
Even so, the game has lost much of its lustre.
By making 10 changes, the Springboks appear to be suggesting they have one eye on the coming Tri-Nations. The Lions, by making eight changes, albeit four of them enforced, are admitting that last week’s latest Battle of Pretoria took a huge physical and emotional toll. That’s also why they’ve risked re-adjusting their backrow in one of many new combinations and going with a 5-2 split on the bench.
The exclusive Sandton shopping malls, restaurants and hotels where the squad and the latest invasion of Lions’ supporters are assembled – the latter having taken longer detours via Stellenbosch, safaris or Cape Town – appear suitably subdued. Nelson Mandela square throbbed to Michael Jackson music, the thousands milled and a giant Lions jersey was stretched out on the ground for anyone to sign in the significantly warmer afternoon air. Yet it’s as if the red army are here in body more than spirit.
The bitter fall-out from the second Test has been an unwanted side issue, but now that the match looms it does have an importance to those here that extends beyond a footnote in history.
We know Paul O’Connell will be imploring his troops on, and Warren Gatland, the Lions’ assistant coach, is clearly upping the ante. Asked if a whitewash would make this tour a failure, he said simply: “Absolutely.”
Noting that this could ask plenty about the players’ character, he said: “For us, the boys are really gutted that we’ve lost the series. I think we’ve come here and earned some respect, but the hard work and the effort that all the boys have put in could all go down the tubes if we don’t front up,” he said.
“There’s a huge amount at stake for these guys, not just this tour, but looking forward there’s a World Cup in a couple of years and I think a lot of the players have taken a lot of confidence from what they’ve learned, and I think that’s going to be important for a lot of players going back to their home nations.”
Interestingly, at the coaches’ briefing with the officials on Thursday evening, Gatland revealed that the latter “won’t tolerate” the unpunished sledging, head-patting and after-the-whistle shoving which blighted the first Tests.
With typical honesty, he admitted: “There was great intensity last week but it probably wasn’t a great advertisement for rugby and how it should be played. So I’m pleased that the referees are taking that stance, but they probably should have done it in the first Test.
“Yes we want hard, physical rugby, but we don’t the game with all the off-the-ball incidents and if the referees take a hard stance on that it will be good.”
The Lions should be freshened up by their changes, but one wonders if they will be the better for it. Certainly the loss of four of their most influential players, the two props and midfielders, could be as keenly felt as it was in the latter stages of the second Test, and neither the wings nor the backrow look enhanced by the voluntary changes.
Furthermore, with the in-form Morné Steyn partnering Fourie du Preez (deemed low-key last week, but actually and ultimately the star turn) at half-back inside a midfield of Jaque Fourie and the hard-running Wynand Olivier, the Springboks may even be stronger at 10-12-13. The remodelled outside three looks shorter on savvy and football, but Jongi Nokwe is considered even faster than Bryan Habana.
Hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle generally improves the scrum when he comes on for the Bulls, but he’s had little rugby this season and last started a game in mid-April.
As with the midfield, the backrow, too, appears to contain more form, with Ryan Kankowski’s skill and pace (he is regarded as even quicker than Pierre Spies) set to augment the poaching of Heinrich Brüssow.
This is an odd one. There’s scarcely any form guide per se, though you’d have to wonder about the form of Phil Vickery, Joe Worsley and Shane Williams, and the Lions have not flourished when they have dipped beyond their frontliners.
The Boks are as hungry and fresh, at home and, were the Lions behind facing into the last quarter at altitude, you’d wonder how much they’d have the stomach for it. In this game’s unique way, it’s still some ask.
Betting:3/10 South Africa, 25/1 Draw, 5/2 Lions. Handicap odds (= Lions + 10pts) 10/11 South Africa, 25/1 Draw, 10/11 Lions.
Forecast:Springboks to win.
