Murray Kinsella reports from Whangarei
JOHNNY SEXTON WILL have further opportunities to convince Warren Gatland that he is the Lions’ starting Test out-half, but as first auditions go the Irishman’s outing against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians was a disappointment.
The Leinster playmaker was, like many of his team-mates, off colour as the Lions opened their tour with a less-than-convincing performance in a 13-7 victory in the northern city of Whangarei.
Making the underperformance all the more damaging for Sexton was the fact that his replacement and main rival for the Lions’ 10 shirt, Owen Farrell, looked so sharp.
The England international came on for Sexton in the 49th minute and sparked a more cohesive attacking effort from the Lions, leading to Anthony Watson’s crucial try.
Though Sexton had received treatment after taking a blow soon before exiting, handing over the place-kicking duties to Greig Laidlaw when he was down, Gatland said the Ireland out-half had not suffered an injury.
And while Farrell appears to have pushed further ahead of Sexton in the out-half pecking order for the Lions, Gatland didn’t agree with that suggestion.
I think that’s pretty unfair in making an assessment like that,” said the Lions boss post-match at Toll Stadium.
“These guys arrived on Wednesday and are still recovering from travel, they haven’t got into regular sleep patterns yet. We knew it would be difficult in terms of that. We know the guys are still… a number of players in the squad still haven’t got into regular sleep patterns.”
However, Gatland did praise Farrell’s impact off the bench for the Lions – also citing the influence of George Kruis and Justin Tipuric in that regard – and it’s very clear that the Lions head coach is a big fan of the Saracens man.
Why wouldn’t he be? Farrell is one of the best players in the world and his form has been superb in recent months.
“He’s got a big match temperament, there’s no doubt,” said Gatland of Farrell.
“I would have been happier of course if he’d knocked over that [penalty] he put against the post, that might have given us an easier last 10 minutes.
“But he’s played some pretty good rugby in the last 18 months, and he’s one of the standout performers in northern hemisphere rugby anyway.”
While Farrell is the favourite to start the Tests against the All Blacks in the Lions’ 10 shirt, Sexton will be eager to get his next shot and demonstrate that he can be a key player in New Zealand.
Farrell and Biggar will get a start each in the next two games against the Blues and the Crusaders, however, so Sexton will have to make do with cameos off the bench for the time being.
Gatland will change his entire starting 15 for Wednesday’s clash with Tana Umaga’s Blues in Eden Park, as the Lions look for a morale-boosting victory in Auckland.
While Gatland needs individuals to step up to the plate, he’s also keen for collective improvements before the second game of the Lions’ 10-match tour.
“The concerns are just being more accurate and finishing it, you know?” said Gatland.
“I think the players are going to be quite disappointed with themselves that they created those chances. The pressure in the game was stuff that we put on ourselves.
“It emanated from us not being quite as accurate as we could have been, but we will get better for that.”
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