Wallabies game-breaker Will Genia must be prepared for British and Irish Lions onslaught

NICK Farr-Jones is certain the Lions will stoop to "playing in deep, dark places" when trying to upset Wallabies game-breaker Will Genia.

FORMER Test captain Nick Farr-Jones is certain the British and Irish Lions will stoop to "playing in deep, dark places" when trying to scramble the irresistible G-Force who is the difference between Wallabies glory or bust tomorrow night.

Trying to upset game-breaker Will Genia with every disruptive, body-jolting and law-bending tactic is a substantial part of the Lions strategy because, privately, they rate him as the only true World XV player in gold.

The little dynamo is unbeaten in his four previous Tests at Suncorp Stadium where his 2011 Super Rugby final success sits on the same level. It is his fortress of triumphs and game-breaking moments, including his try to set last year's tone of defeat for Lions captain Sam Warburton when he led Wales at the ground.

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Abrasive Welsh halfback Mike Phillips blew a disdainful kiss at NSW halfback Brendan McKibbin to dismiss a push in the tour game last weekend.

He is the far-from-saintly scrapper who will be a central figure in the "Get Genia" plan to disrupt or tackle him to the turf as often as possible.

Any time his silky pass and shrewd direction is removed from the Wallabies ruckbase, it is a win for the Lions that can snowball into more pressure on formative flyhalf James O'Connor.

"There's no doubt part of the Lions tactics will be about playing in deep, dark places to deny Genia and O'Connor any space outside him," said Farr-Jones, a Hall of Fame halfback for his own deeds in 63 Tests.

As The Guardian newspaper in England put it: "For the Lions, where there is not a Will, there is a way."

The Lions may also likely post two defenders temptingly apart on the fringes of the ruck to entice a Genia dart so they can then smother him with a double-teaming tackle that prevents an off-load and bowls him to the ground.

"I reckon if Genia stars, we are a damn good chance of winning the series. If he plays like he did at the World Cup (in 2011) it will be an uphill battle," Farr-Jones said.

"Will is that important in this Wallabies team. If he's going forward and the Lions are thinking twice about whether he's going to run, it enables others to have that vital room around him to attack.

"The Lions forwards will be doing the hustling and bustling to be constantly in Will's face to try to throw him off his judgment when sizing things up. He's brilliant at taking it all in, in a split-second with opposition jerseys all around him and we need him with that confidence.

"It will be Phillips doing the harassing on his opposite too and, dare I say it, a bit like Robert Jones was instructed at Ballymore in 1989."

It's a different era with penal standards on melees and punching. For that reason, Farr-Jones pulled back from predicting an explosion like 1989's infamous Battle of Ballymore when Robert Jones, another Welsh Lions halfback, triggered a brawling match to get the tourists back in the series.

He punched Farr-Jones in the early minutes and Lions flanker Finlay Calder almost barrelled the referee out of the way to pile on top with more blows that left the Aussie halfback's face and jersey spattered in blood.

"I'll never forget walking out of the dressing room after that '89 Test. My wife broke down in tears seeing the multiple stitches across my face," Farr-Jones said.

"I've got no gripe about what the Lions did that day. The only problem I have is that we, as the Wallabies, didn't stand to toe-to-toe.

"It's like Origin. Nate Myles didn't seem too affected by the (Paul) Gallen punch. You give a bit and you cop a bit and I'm sure the Wallabies are ready to stand up to the physicality that the Lions will want to deliver in this Test."

That a frenetic welcome in red awaits Genia doesn't faze the 41-Test spark, who embodies the Wallabies' ability to hold their nerve and strike in the 70th minute if that's what is required. He's played against Phillips enough times to respect him, be well aware of his piston-like fend and the physical qualities of a player who is 19kg heavier.

"He doesn't mind a little bit of niggle," Genia said with a wry smile.

"It's not so much an individual battle I see. It's the influence he has on the Lions because of his physical play and his willingness to run it because a lot of their game revolves around Phillips."

That Genia is so much "the man" for this Test is astonishing.

Will Genia

Former Test centre Tim Horan, who came back from his own terrible knee injury, has never seen a player return so slick so quickly after a knee reconstruction as Genia did in March.

Genia has armour plated himself for the extra attention he gets, not by being a grim warrior, but by still lapping up this big stage as the most fun you can have.

"These are the games you want to play. I got close-up as waterboy (for the Reds) in the tour match and all the high-level intensity and quality I expected was there from the Lions," Genia said.

You'll see a smile from him even in such a cauldron. Just don't disrupt the pre-match routine. Forget the Wallabies' Skins contract. The old lucky green undies will go on for their umpteenth big match.

In the head phones for this Bob Marley tragic, it will be reggae or rhythm-and-blues. Come Test time and Genia flicks the switch.

"Their ruck defence is quite tight so there won't be any loose space to exploit. That may or may not be how it turns out but there are always opportunities against any defence," Genia said.

"They run an up-and-in (umbrella) defence so there is the chance to go at them out wide with a pass over the top or run into the teeth of their defence, get a quick recycle to get them backpedalling and then go wide."

Genia has a high opinion of his new flyhalf buddy James O'Connor, who has supplanted Quade Cooper in gold.

Mike Phillips

"James is dynamic and not afraid to learn," he said.

Watch O'Connor and co, Lions. But don't dare drop your guard against Will Genia at Suncorp Stadium.