Lions need a 'fast' start
The rash of injuries that besieged the hapless Lions may have contributed to their dismal results, but there is another equally critical factor – their sloppy starts.
To say that John Mitchell’s charges have been ‘slow out the blocks’ would be stating the obvious.
Last week, against the table-topping Chiefs, they trailed 0-20 after 26 minutes and lost 21-34 – outscoring the Chiefs in a 50-minute period.
The week before the Brumbies, Australia’s top-ranked team, raced into a 17-6 lead inside the first half-hour, then increased that to 29-6 soon after the half-time break and eventually the Lions lost 20-34.
There was also a late rally against the Bulls, the South African conference leaders. Despite a try by the Lions in the second minute, the Bulls eased into a 25-7 lead just after the half-time break, before that late rush saw the Lions close the final scoreline to 18-32.
And the Cheetahs held a 21-0 half-time lead, with the Lions scoring their only points in the 65th minute in a 26-5 win for the men from Bloemfontein.
The Lions coach, Mitchell, admitted they can’t afford to give teams early head-starts anymore, especially not the Blues – whom they meet in the basement battle in Auckland on Friday.
“Clearly our starts have been inaccurate,” Mitchell told this website in an interview from the team’s base in New Zealand – where they were preparing for their outing at Eden Park.
“We just have to get going and not get frustrated.”
He suggested that some of the problems could be put down to a “lack of experience” and a “lack of continuity”, brought on by the many injuries.
“It has been [a problem] all season,” he told this website, when asked about the latest setback – a knee injury to inside centre Alwyn Hollenbach, which forced Mitchell to shuffle his midfield for the umpteenth time this season.
Jaco Taute shifts from outside centre to inside centre, with Lionel Mapoe coming in at No.13 to partner him in the midfield. Mapoe’s spot on the right wing has been taken by Michael Killian.
“It is our sixth midfield and inside centre combination,” the Lions mentor said, adding: “We have used seven [different] front [No.4] locks … we have used 33 players already in this competition.
“That curse [injuries] has been there since the first round of the competition.”
Mitchell pointed out that some players are experiencing Super Rugby for the first time and it is not a tournament where everybody find their feet in.
“Jaco Taute has been a Trojan for us and he is coming in at inside centre. Lionel Mapoe was outstanding for us at outside centre in last year’s Currie Cup, before his injury and we are also bringing stalwart Michael Killian back from injury.”
Asked if he felt the slows starts could be a mental issue, the Lions coach said it is an experience thing.
“This is a group that is learning to develop at Super Rugby level,” he said, adding: “We haven’t had much experience at loosehead prop, tighthead prop and front lock … not like we had in the Currie Cup.
“Not having No.9 and No.10 together – we have not had [our first choice] No.9 since round three. We haven’t had Elton [Jantjies] and Michael Bondesio together since round two.
“When you are down to [numbers] three and four in certain positions, you are asking a lot of your team’s capability to turn up for a competition that is extremely demanding.”
The Blues, who are in last place on the standings and two points behind the 14th-placed Lions, have had major injury problems of their own – not to mention the coaching saga that has enveloped the Auckland-based outfit.
Their injury toll now stands at 11 – including current All Blacks Keven Mealamu, Isaia Toeava, Jerome Kaino, Tony Woodcock and Anthony Boric as well as Rudi Wulf and Brad Mika. There is also no place for the enigmatic Rene Ranger.
And then there is the news that under-fire Blues coach Pat Lam’s job will be up to tender.
“We only hear about it [Pat Lam’s job issues] through your industry [the media], so we are just focussing on what we can control,” Mitchell said.
“We have a short turnaround and unfortunately there was the injury to Alwyn [Hollenbach].
“We knew about that [injury] on Monday already and have prepared with the new combination.
“However, we need to start well, we need to start both halves well. We need to make sure that we look forward to an arm wrestle, get excited and don’t get frustrated during our bade periods in the game.
“They [the Blues] still posses some quality in players like Ali Williams, Piri Weepu and Ma’a Nonu.
“If we are going to be light in the tackle and not hold onto the ball, not able to build pressure and convert, then they will hurt us.”
By Jan de Koning
