TEAM TROUBLES

If I was questioning the Lions tour last week, I’m downright confused this week. Another crushing win, this time over the Waratahs, can wait, even in the aftermath of that there are more pressing matters to attend to. As has appeared to become accustomed during this tour, the next Lions team is announced a day after the previous match.

This week the Lions are going across Australia to Canberra where the surprise Super Rugby package the Brumbies lie in wait. But the problem for once does not lie with the Australians’ team selection, but with the Lions’. Because Warren Gatland has completely messed up with his final warm-up match choices.

I realise that he will want his squad to be fresh ahead of the first test on Saturday and that he will want to give a few other players a chance to impress before he makes his most important selection of his life, but some of Gatland’s team choices rate from puzzling to completely bizarre. Against a side that will be as competitive as the Brumbies, there’s no place for that.

Face it – a side that features six players that weren’t named in the initial thirty-seven man squad is a bit of a farce. We’ll excuse Rory Best since he was drafted in before the tour began, but apart from that, you’re looking at five guys who definitely don’t stand a chance at making it into the test squad. And even then Rory doesn’t stand much of a chance either.

Warren Gatland has simply selected a few squad fillers for this game. In many respects, the Lions have done a Force – selected a side that has one eye firmly on the weekend’s game instead of the task at hand. Everybody criticised the Force for selecting their second string side, but I don’t think you’ll find many calling out Warren Gatland on his selections.

I will. That side is a mockery to the Lions. It still contains plenty of quality players yes, but make no doubt about it, that is a weakened Lions team. For the majority of the Brumbies’ players this will be the only time they will face a side that has the might of the Lions, and their experience has been slightly ruined. In writing they will still face the Lions. In reality, they will face the Lions 2^nd XV.

I could go on forever, but it’s probably about time that I move on to the match itself. As I have already mentioned, the Brumbies will be the sternest test the Lions have faced so far, they aren’t top of the Australian conference in Super Rugby for nothing. In Matt Toomua they have a lethal fly-half and in the forwards they have two Wallabies in prop Scott Sio and loose forward Peter Kimlin. They are a well drilled unit and they will target the Lions as a potential win, especially with the side that Gatland has chosen.

One good bit of news on the Lions front is the captaincy has gone to Rory Best. On the flipside, his selection for this game means that it is very unlikely he will play any part against Australia on Saturday. Rob Kearney will get his first start of the tour too as he aims to stake his claim for a spot in the test squad.

The Lions should still have enough, even with the players that aren’t available through injury or just haven’t been selected. As poor as I think Shane Williams’ selection was on the wing, it will be exciting to see him back in a Lions’ shirt again too. For the first time in a while I will get to see a whole Lions game without having to record it, so bring on the Brumbies!

British & Irish Lions vs. ACT Brumbies

Tuesday 18^th June, 10:30

Canberra Stadium, Canberra

Warm-up match

Live on Sky Sports 2

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS

15. Rob Kearney (Ireland), 14. Christian Wade (England), 13. Brad Barritt (England), 12. Billy Twelvetrees (England), 11. Shane Williams (Wales), 10. Stuart Hogg (Scotland), 9. Ben Youngs (England); 1. Ryan Grant (Scotland), 2. Rory Best (captain, Ireland), 3. Matt Stevens (England), 4. Ian Evans (Wales), 5. Richie Gray (Scotland), 6. Sean O’Brien (Ireland), 7. Justin Tipuric (Wales), 8. Toby Faletau (Wales).

16. Richard Hibbard (Wales), 17. Alex Corbisiero (England), 18. Dan Cole (England), 19. Geoff Parling (England), 20. Dan Lydiate (Wales), 21. Conor Murray (Ireland), 22. Owen Farrell (England), 23. Simon Zebo (Ireland).

ACT BRUMBIES

15. Jesse Mogg, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Andrew Smith, 11. Clyde Rathbone, 10. Matt Toomua, 9. Ian Prior; 1. Ruan Smith, 2. Siliva Siliva, 3. Scott Sio, 4. Leon Power, 5. Sam Carter, 6. Scott Fardy, 7. Colby Fainga’a, 8. Peter Kimlin (c).

16. Joshua Mann-Rea, 17. Jean-Pierre Smith, 18. Chris Cocca, 19. Etienne Oosthuizen, 20. Jordan Smiler, 21. Mark Swanepoel, 22. Robbie Coleman, 23. Zack Holmes.

Referee: Jerome Garces (FFR)