The major headache facing the British & Irish Lions ahead of their Wallabies showdown
A problem usually plaguing Australian rugby is now emerging for the British and Irish Lions, and it has introduced new questions and headaches for Lions selectors ahead of their tour down under.
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At the end of the spring tour, Finn Russell had one hand firmly on the British & Irish Lions No.10 jersey, but after three rounds of the Six Nations, that grasp is quickly slipping.
The playmaking role that has so often plagued the Wallabies is now the key concern for Lions coach Andy Farrell heading into the tour Down Under in June.
While Noah Lolesio took a firm hold of Australia’s chief playmaking role at the end of last year, the Six Nations has introduced new questions and headaches for Lions selectors, who must pick a trustworthy conductor to guide a team made up for four different nations.
Russell is the enigmatic, unpredictable and incisive running five-eighth who can destroy defences on the inside with his legs or on the outside with his hands.
But he has looked a pale imitation of the playmaker who put Australia and other tourists to the sword last year.
Russell missed all three of his kicks off the tee against England last weekend – just one of those would have handed Scotland victory at Twickenham instead of their 16-15 loss, despite scoring three tries to one.
In fact, Russell seems to have developed the yips at the worst possible time for the northerners.
Last year he missed just one of 24 kicks in the Six Nations, this year he has the worst percentage in the tournament with a success rate of just 38 per cent.
Farrell knows that with Australia’s rapid improvements and home ground advantage, every point will matter in their three-Test series.
And after years of being able to rely on the trusty boot of Jonny Sexton at Ireland, Farrell now has nobody at his disposal who could be considered a world-class goal-kicker in the vein of Sexton, Jonny Wilkinson or Gavin Hastings.
Farrell will likely pick from Russell, England duo Marcus Smith or Fin Smith, Ireland’s Sam Predergast or Welshman Gareth Anscombe.
Smith, a similarly attacking genius to Russell, has been shifted from five-eighth to fullback by England coach Steve Borthwick, making his claims for the Lions No.10 jersey less credible.
Borthwick has trusted rookie five-eighth Fin Smith, only 22 years and with just nine Test caps. He is showing an assured style, but will Farrell really give him the keys to his star-studded team in the opening Test in Brisbane on July 19?
Prendergast would be the most familiar to Farrell, who has seen the 22-year-old rise through the Irish system and has groomed him as Sexton’s successor.
But again, will he trust the defensively shaky youngster in the cauldron of Suncorp Stadium?
Anscombe, with 39 Test caps and probably the most assured boot of the lot, is a decent enough option. But Wales have lost 15 successive Test matches and while they showed signs of improvement against Ireland under new interim coach Matt Sherratt last weekend, their players are severely lacking confidence.
This weekend, Farrell may have some definitive answers as Scotland host Wales, while Ireland face a probably title-deciding game against France.
England host Italy, who shipped 73 points against the French last week, so this will hardly be the examination from which Farrell will decide the merits of Smiths Marcus or Fin as his chief playmaker.
For so long, the No.10 debate was the unanswered and unwanted domain of Australian rugby. But finally, the wonky boot is on the other foot.
Originally published as The major headache facing the British & Irish Lions ahead of their Wallabies showdown