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Gatland’s Selection Betrays the Spirit of the Lions
Published: July 3, 2013
Last Saturday, as we sat among a hostile Aussie crowd, I began to see the reason for their derision— why they don’t respect Northern hemisphere rugby—even if coached by a nominal Kiwi. A few minutes into the game, the Lions are on top and have an attacking line-out midway between the Wallaby 22 and the tryline. The Lions opt for a 12 man line-out. The most creative player of his generation is thrown into a line-out in an attempt to maul the ball over the line.
Flashback to 1999, Lens: A Gatland-trained Ireland is five minutes away from its lowest ebb. Ireland pile in for a 13-man line-out. Argentina successfully defend and Ireland are out of the World Cup. For the first two test matches whenever the Lions have the ball, the option is for normally creative players like Johnny Sexton or Brian O’Driscoll to hoof the ball aimlessly, and for a big winger to chase and attempt to catch or at least win a penalty. Leigh Halfpenny is normally unerring and kicks the points. That’s it—Gatland doesn’t need to leave his game plan in a taxi for the Aussies to figure it out—kick, chase—if you don’t fit into the plan (i.e. you’re not a 6'4'' and 18-stone winger), you’re dropped.
Gatland is lucky: Kurtley Beale wears the right boots in the Suncorp, and he is another losing Lions coach trying to salvage his reputation.
Gatland said he would pick his Lions test side on form, not on reputation and not on nationality. Yet every decision he has made, it appears at first sight, has been based on ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Rugby Union
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