Wallabies-Lions key battlegrounds: The giant, the gamechanger, and where the Lions have the edge

There are several key battlegrounds across the park when the Wallabies do battle with the British & Irish Lions, but there’s one game-changer who could decide the series.

The Wallabies are set to host the British and Irish Lions.

There will be match-ups all over the park when the Wallabies finally do battle with the British & Irish Lions.

JULIAN LINDEN runs the rule over both squads, and reveals where the Wallabies’ strengths, where the Lions hold a clear advantage, and the man who could break open - and decide - this series.

Front row

The engine room has always been a great source of pride for the Lions, who love the dark arts of scrummaging as much as a length of the field try.

With six props and three hookers in their squad, the Lions certainly have plenty of depth and experience in their ranks.

Once a weak point for Australian teams, the Wallabies now have a very reliable scrum, thanks in part to the work done by legendary All Blacks scrum doctor Mike Cron, and a variety of options in all three front row positions.

Australia’s key player is loosehead prop Angus Bell. His set-piece play has improved by his real strength is his high workrate with the ball in hand.

Angus Bell is a key member of the Wallabies’ engine room. Picture: Getty Images

SECOND row

It is part of Australian rugby folklore that the decisive moment in the 2001 series win over the Lions was when Justin Harrison stole a lineout from Martin Johnson at the death in the third and deciding Test.

The lineouts will again be critical in this series.

Standing over two metres tall and weighing over 135kg, Will Skelton is expected to be one of the two starting locks, which will aid the Australian scrum because of the extra push he gives, but reduces the lineout jumpers because he’s too heavy to lift.

The Lions have a great second row, with their skipper Maro Itoje a guaranteed starter.

BACK ROW

Everyone who plays in the tight five likes to tell themselves that games are won and lost in the set pieces but the biggest plays are the ones that most people don’t see because they happen on the ground, often under piles of bodies.

That’s the skill of a loose forward, to disrupt the opposition by either slowing down play or better still, creating turnovers.

Blindside flanker Rob Valetini has been a standout for the Wallabies these past few seasons. Picture: Getty Images

Both teams in this series have got exceptional players to choose from for their backrows so the hardest part is going to be in deciding who misses out because there’s more talent than space available.

The one player who won’t miss out is powerhouse blindside flanker Rob Valetini, Australia’s player of the year for the last two seasons.

HALVES

This is one area where the Lions look to have a distinct advantage.

An old school running halfback, New Zealand-born Jamison Gibson-Park is the frontrunner to be chosen as the Lions’ starting No. 9, with Scottish playmaker Finn Russell his likely partner in the halves.

That all points to the Lions planning an attacking game.

Finn Russell, pictured with Sione Tuipulotu (left), will spearhead an attacking Lions outfit. Picture: Getty Images

The expectation is the Wallabies will adopt a more conservative approach under Schmidt.

Australia does have a classic running half in Tate McDermott, but Schmidt has always preferred Jake Gordon, who has a strong passing and kicking game, so the Queenslander’s appearances could be limited to coming off the bench.

The choice of playmaker is wide open with Noah Lolesio favoured to start and take on the kicking duties.

MIDFIELD

Although he played brilliantly as a fullback for the Waratahs, NRL convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is all but certain to be picked at outside centre against the Lions.

The selection of his midfield partner is a tricky one for Schmidt.

Hunter Paisami was expected to wear the No. 12 jersey on last year’s Spring Tour but he withdrew so he could be at home for the birth of his child.

Wallabies superstar Joseph-Aukoso Suaalii could be the gamechanger. Picture: Getty Images

Len Ikitau took his spot and formed an instant bond with Suaalii.

A rare talent, Suaalii will be one of the focal points of the series and could even be the gamechanger with the Lions expected to go with the older, untried pairing, possibly the Aussie-Kiwi born combination of Sione Tuipulotu and Bundee Aki.

OUTSIDE BACKS

Both squads are overflowing with quality players who can fill the back three positions so neither side has any obvious advantage in this department.

That’s not to say that the wings and fullbacks won’t have an important role to play in deciding the outcome because they almost certainly will.

Tom Wright’s reliability at the back will be key for the Wallabies. Picture: AFP

With defences expected to be tight, the finishers could be the difference while both fullbacks can expect to be kept busy dealing with a bombardment of high kicks.

The Lions love to kick the ball any chance they get and like all Kiwis, Schmidt is prone to the same tactics.

But the Wallabies are in good shape because Australia’s incumbent No. 15, Tom Wright, is very reliable under the high ball and has a decent kick himself. The Lions’ outside backs have bigger boots but can be shaky defusing bombs so you rest assured they’ll be tested.

Originally published as Wallabies-Lions key battlegrounds: The giant, the gamechanger, and where the Lions have the edge