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Why Lions ignored call for No8 change by ex-tour skipper Warburton

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Warren Gatland has explained why he opted to stick with Jack Conan as his Lions No8 and only recall Taulupe Faletau to the second Test bench despite calls from Sam Warburton, the 2013 and 2017 tour skipper, for his fellow Welshman to start next Saturday’s clash with the Springboks in Cape Town.

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Faletau was the starting No8 in all three games in the drawn Test series versus the All Blacks in 2017, while he also wore that shirt in the Test series decider versus the Wallabies in 2013 after edging his way past Jamie Heaslip in the pecking order.

Eight years later, Faletau has now twice lost out to another Irishman, Conan getting the green light to pack down as a starter on successive Saturdays versus the Springboks with Gatland opting to only bring Faletau into the matchday mix as a sub this weekend after he elected to go with flanker Hamish Watson as his back row cover last weekend.

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Warren Gatland talks about the Lions shutting the series door on the Springboks

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Warren Gatland talks about the Lions shutting the series door on the Springboks

Conan was the Lions’ best ball-carrying forward, making 48 metres from a dozen carries in the 22-17 win. He also made a half-dozen tackles, passed four times and beat a pair of defenders. However, despite that impressive showing, Warburton suggested he would still like a back row change for round two versus the Springboks.

I would put Faletau at No8,” said Warburton on Sky Sports last weekend. “When the game opens up… Faletau is the most gifted player we have in those wide channels. That would be the only tight call, between Taulupe and Jack Conan. Other than that I expect Tom Curry and Courtney Lawes to keep their spots.”

Gatland agreed with his former skipper Warburton regarding his wide channel analysis, but he only went as far as to select Faletau on the bench and give the unheralded Conan another shot in the No8 jersey. “We thought about that No8 cover and as the game loosened up a bit in terms of him [Faletau] a little bit in the wider channels and his footwork.

“He has had some good moments on tour, some big moments in terms of carrying and stuff and we know how dangerous he can be in that regard, so we just felt having cover for Jack and with Tadhg (Beirne) as well, as the game opens up they might be able to have a significant impact.

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“He [Conan] has kind of been unheralded a little bit. Some people sometimes look for the spectacular stuff and it’s not something I do. It’s looking at all the things that he did well. He doesn’t make many mistakes, his carrying was excellent, his footwork was good and he was very, very solid, he didn’t miss any tackles.

“So I thought as a loose forward trio, that trio can get better and you wanted to keep that combination. Toby can have an impact off the bench. Sometimes you make changes but we were very pleased with the way Jack played last weekend.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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