Jeff Probyn: Lions tour could damage Lancaster’s World Cup bid
I say ‘could be’ because no matter how good the result, the truth is that there were many aspects in the game that could and should have been better which I am confident Stuart Lancaster and his coaches will have pointed out to the players.
Although it was an heroic defensive display, much of the attacking play was poor with kicking out of hand standing out as a particular example.
Most kicks were too far for a successful chase and allowed the New Zealanders space and time to mount counter attacks that on a different day could have changed the result.
I will probably be called an arrogant Englishman for daring to suggest this, but I feel that this England team can play better and now is the time to ‘tweak’ them as I believe that my comments in last week’s article about the balance of the team still ring true, despite what was an historical day.
The New Zealanders, to their credit, have not sought to use the excuse that a majority of their team had been ill with the winter vomiting virus in the build up to the game, despite the fact that it must have impacted on their performance.
That was not England’s problem as they can only play what’s in front of them and full credit must be given to the players for dispatching an out-of-sorts New Zealand as well as they did, something that no other England team has managed since Martin Johnson led his side to victory.
Taking New Zealand’s crown could be a curse as no side will underestimate this England team again which will add extra pressure to all of England’s games in the build up to the World Cup.
With next year’s Autumn International opposition confirmed as Argentina, Australia and New Zealand and Six Nations away game to Wales and Ireland, England have a year to prove that this was not just a ‘one off’.
Especially with this week’s World Cup draw pitting England against the two countries that have caused them more World Cup woe than any others, namely Wales and Australia.
Since the first RWC, Wales and Australia have been England’s bogey team – in 1987 we had Australia’s try that never was and the Welsh win against a 14-man England side (it took 14 minutes for substitute Gareth Chilcott to be allowed on to the field following an horrific eye injury to Paul Rendall).
Come the final in 1991 and Welsh referee Derek Bevan didn’t give the penalty try against David Campesse for a deliberate knock-on that stopped a certain try for Rory Underwood, while in 2003 both almost caused heart failure to English fans with Wales dispatched only by the late arrival of current England coach Mike Catt and an Australian side that on paper we should have beaten by 20 points finally falling to the boot of Jonny Wilkinson in the dying seconds of extra time in the final.
As a result, it is imperative for England that they win all matches played against both over the next two years to reinforce in Welsh and Australian minds the probability and expectation that they will lose to England.
As far as wins against Australia, that task will be made harder by next summer’s Lions tour.
The Lions tour will give both a financial and playing bonus to Australia.
Coming two years before a World Cup, a tour by some of the best players from the Northern Hemisphere gives the host country an outstanding chance to try a number of different combinations and blood young players against international opposition in games that carry no repercussions.
The Lions games have no impact on a country’s IRB world ranking no matter what the results, so even if Australia get stuffed in all the games it matters not a jot.
As much as the Lions are a great tradition there can be no justification for such tours in the professional era.
I know that many will see this as heresy, but in truth it is only the combined greed of the four Home Unions that allows them to continue, as the tours serve no purpose other than to raise money.
When the Lions were created, individual countries never toured, so in many ways they were at the forefront of the development of the game worldwide but once countries started to tour the Lions role disappeared. The Lions, like the Barbarians fall outside the IRB’s international remit so in order for the matches to be played everybody is on a pay day.
The venue country pay the Home Unions for the tour, the Home Unions pay their clubs/regions for player release and the player get paid to play. If it were not for the possible negative impact that the Lions have on the Northern Hemisphere’s chance of winning the World Cup, that might be no bad thing as all need the money.
However, money isn’t everything and out of seven World Cups only one has been won by the Northern Hemisphere and although many will say that is because the SANZA countries are the best, it may be that the help a Lions Tour gives them is enough to tip the balance in their favour.
If that is the case then there will be only one winner of next summer’s tour and that is Australia whatever the results.
