The tone of the Lions tour has changed, with the New Zealand media falling more in line with its public, in recognising that a truly momentous rugby event is now almost upon us.
The warmth and hospitality of the New Zealand public, and their evident enthusiasm for the Lions’ tour, is manifest everywhere you go. Anyone you meet immediately recognises the accent and asks: “Are you here with the Lions?”
With an estimated 30,000 supporters travelling to New Zealand - the bulk of the red army is set to descend on Auckland later this week - the home fans have also helped to ensure that every game has been virtually a sell-out. The Lions are good for business, and must be a welcome change from the steady annual diet of South Africa, Australia and Argentina, as well as a summer tour from one of the European countries.
The lines in the sand having been drawn by the All Blacks with their clinical and often scintillating 12-try, 78-0 rout of Samoa, so the Lions responded with their most impressive performance to date in that 32-10 win over the Maori All Blacks last Saturday in Rotorua, the spiritual home of Maori rugby.
One trick ponies
Even then the NZ Herald still tried to portray the Lions as one trick ponies whose style, or lack of it, would not be a victory for rugby, even if they were to somehow beat the possible the world’s greatest ever side over the course of a three-test series on New Zealand soil.
But the respected Tony Johnston assuredly caught the more accurate tone when suggesting we should all embrace this contrast in styles. Viewed in that context, it could be a wonderful clash between the pick of the North and South.
The Lions' win also moved the debate on from the hoary old chestnut of Gatland calling up six late replacements from the Welsh and Scottish squads who were travelling nearby, albeit it provided firmer footing for Gatland to explain his rationale as well as debunking the theory prompted by Steve Hansen that these call-ups somehow demonstrated the tourists were a squad divided.
Nothing appears to be further from the truth, as the tourists have embraced an unrelentingly arduous and taxing itinerary, as they have the new arrivals. If anything, the claims will only unite them further, and it’s a little surprising that Hansen, who is after all head coach of back-to-back World Cup winners and record breakers, feels inclined to resort to such off-field tactics.
Devalued
Plenty of former players and Ian McGeechan, along with the rugby supporting public back home, have questioned the call-ups in the belief that it has devalued the Lions' jersey. One can see where they are coming from to an extent. Perhaps, if Gatland and co had looked at this in advance of the Highlanders match, they might have called up, say, Cian Healy and Joe Launchbury at a weeks' notice and the optics would have been better.
However, the move makes practical sense. Gatland is basing this on experience, believing it was a factor in the Lions winning that first test in Brisbane four years ago. He has to give the Lions their best chance against the All Blacks, and if all of the 23 for Saturday - or all bar one or two - are able to train and prepare for the first test en bloc for the week, it will help to achieve that goal.
The All Blacks, after all, wouldn’t countenance risking any of their Chiefs players tomorrow.
Even so, the surprise is that the issue has generated such a debate given there was a precursor four years ago for the Brumbies match at the same stage of the Australian tour, and Gatland has frequently said he would do this. In any event, it is what it is.
The manner of the Lions’ win, along with the selection of their starting team and replacements, also clarified the picture regarding the composition of the first test starting XV and replacements. It’s hard to see how any of the starting XV to face the All Blacks will be involved against the Chiefs, with perhaps only one, or maybe two, making the bench, barring injury.
Luck
If a squad of 40 or so players from any one country, never mind four, and from any age group for that matter, are taken on a long tour it is inevitable that some demarcation lines will emerge. Not every player can be of the same standard. The better players will come through stronger. It will be largely based on ability, but mental strength, physical wellbeing and varying degrees of luck. Witness Ben Te'o playing on a stronger winning team and Robbie Henshaw on two losing sides. Or Mako Vunipola starting those wins and Jack McGrath being consigned to one start against the Blues and three subsequent appearances off the bench.
The same is certainly true whenever a Lions squad tours.
Of course, this week will be a test of the mental strength of those consigned to this Chiefs game. They should remind themselves that four years ago a dozen of the 23 on duty in the pre-first test defeat to the Brumbies still managed to feature in the test series. Granted, only the starting XV for the first test were 'protected' from that last midweek game before the test series, and five of the bench against the Brumbies were also among the replacements against Australia four days later, while the starting scrumhalf in Canberra, Ben Youngs, was on the bench in Brisbane. Even so, another four of the starting line-up as well as Alex Corbisiero (who was on the bench) went on to appear in the second and third tests.
Hence, plenty of those 16 players from the original squad who won’t make the cut for Saturday’s first test are still liable to appear in the series. But those will be the players who perform against the Chiefs, and against the Hurricanes next week.
gthornley@irishtimes.com
