The Lions have thrown down the gauntlet to the All Blacks, says Robin Davey, who argues Warren Gatland has thrown off his reputation for conservative game plans and familiar selection choices.
The All Blacks may be world champions and they may reign supreme right now, but the British and Irish Lions are gunning for them.
Perceptions that Lions coach Warren Gatland is a defensively-minded, negative type of coach have been thrown out of the window and it’s clear from his controversial team selection for the first Test in Auckland on Saturday that he means business.
Only a week ago Leigh Halfpenny and George North, both of whom rose to prominence under Gatland in his guise as Wales coach, were considered shoo-ins for the Test team – especially Halfpenny after his 100% goal-kicking success rate in the notable victory over the Crusaders.
But almost at the last minute Gatland has really stirred the pot with a back three picked out of nowhere, following the impressive midweek win against the Blues.
Instead of the safety-first Halfpenny, Gatland has drafted in Liam Williams whose attacking performance against the Chiefs made many sit up, while Elliot Daly is another whose enthusiastic displays and willingness to go looking for action have edged him in front of North, whose involvement in games has been limited.
Add Anthony Watson to the mix and Gatland has pretty much gone for broke, with Daly and Williams part of a trio of potent strike runners who could even unsettle the All Blacks.
Alun Wyn Jones will play his seventh successive Test for the Lions and has edged out Mario Itoje in another surprise after the burgeoning England lock’s performances on tour.
And the choice of Irishman Peter O’Mahony to lead the side in place of tour captain Sam Warburton is another selection which couldn’t have been imagined a few weeks ago.
But there it is, a bold selection for sure and one which is intended to ratchet up the pressure on the rampaging All Blacks who smashed Samoa 78-0 in their warm-up match and haven’t lost at Eden Park since 1994.
They are the more experienced side with 788 caps compared with the Lions’ 623 and will go in as favourites especially since skipper and barnstorming No.8 Kieran Read is fit again after breaking his thumb in April and will now win his 98th cap.
If the Lions possess a few strike runners then the All Blacks have them all over the park and it speaks volumes for their try-scoring potential that coach Steve Hansen can afford to leave out Julian Savea despite the winger scoring 46 tries in 53 Tests. Instead, Hansen has gone for the thrilling Rieko Ioane.
The Smiths, scrum-half Aaron and full back Ben, are huge threats as is Israel Dagg on the wing while centre Sonny Bill Williams will also present a big challenge with his physical, off-loading game.
The Test still promises to be a real firecracker and Gatland has loaded his bench – Itoje is sure to get on for Jones after an hour or so with Welsh trio Warburton, Halfpenny and Rhys Webb also likely to feature as worthy replacements for the final quarter when the All Blacks usually crank up the pressure.
But it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these All Blacks and for them to take on the Lions is probably the ultimate test.
Expect the Lions to take the All Blacks on up front and try to squeeze them, as they have other opposition on tour, before unleashing those strike runners. But the All Blacks play such a fluid game and never ease up for a moment.
It could be an epic, but though the Lions are geared up for an almighty battle it’s one they will surely lose.
