Ben Youngs’ form against the Rebels on Tuesday
has helped propel him into the starting line-up for tonight’s test

by Paul Cook in Melbourne –

I don’t know if Warren Gatland is a keen card player but it would seem certain that if the options laid before him this week were to ‘stick’ or ‘twist’, he firmly chose the latter. Seven changes to the starting line-ups were revealed this week when Australia and the British & Irish Lions announced their squads for tonight’s second test here in Melbourne – five on one side, two on the other but it wasn’t last week’s losers that were swapping a third of their team, it was the victorious Lions.

While Robbie Deans has backed the side that went within an errant divot of victory last time out by only making two enforced changes; Kurtley Beale moving up from the bench to replace concussion case Berrick Barnes and Joe Tomane coming in for the injured Digby Ioane, it was the team that go into the game with a 1-0 lead that has swept the broom.

Injuries to Alex Corbisiero and Paul O’Connell forced their hand with Mako Vunipola and Geoff Parling stepping up to take their place but the other three alterations are open to debate but also go some way towards indicating Warren Gatland’s approach to the game. Mike Phillips, some way below his best in the first test, has been dropped from the 23 completely, with Ben Youngs the new starting halfback and Conor Murray his support act.

Kurtley Beale was impressive off the bench last week and is sure to want to let his rugby do the talking after another tumultuous week off the field

Whilst Gatland conceded that Phillips was out of sorts in game one, “He probably wasn’t at his best last week in certain aspects of his game,” he pointed to another reason for his decision. “Mike is fit and available but he has had problems with his knee. He hasn’t done a lot of training. The decision was to rest him for this week and he’s potentially a key component for next week.”

The decision to promote Dan Lydiate to the run-on side and bring Sean O’Brien onto the bench, is a clear indication of the physical confrontation Gatland expects at the breakdown, an area where the Lions struggled at times last weekend.

“It is going to be a real battle out there,” he predicted, “so we have decided to add a bit more physicality up front. This is a do-or-die match for Australia, they are going to be absolutely desperate for this. They are going to throw the kitchen sink at us and we have to handle that.”

With Tom Croft dropping to the bench, Gatland admitted that the Lions are taking a gamble that their locking stocks will survive injury. “We know that’s a calculated risk, and we just felt with the potential of Tom and Sean coming off the bench it gives us a lot of impact, particularly in the second half. We are well aware there is some risk involved, as with all selections.”

The final change sees the miraculous return of Tommy Bowe to the wing, in place of the unfortunate Alex Cuthbert, scorer of the Lions second try in Brisbane. Bowe was initially told he would be out for six weeks after breaking a bone in his hand against the Queensland Reds but only three weeks later, and thanks to the work of a Brisbane surgeon, the experienced Ulsterman is able to resume his position in the no.14 jersey that most had earmarked him for prior to a ball being kicked on the tour.

“Tommy is a massive big-game player. You can’t coach experience and he has that,” purred Gatland, visibly pleased to have Bowe back in the fold. “It was like George North being fit last week. It was a boost for the squad and the players around him.”

Counterpart Robbie Deans was unfazed by the Lions’ changes, happy to leave the discussion on them to his fellow Kiwi. “Some interesting changes, some obviously forced which we weren’t aware of but all made for good reason which Warren no doubt, will explain.”

When asked if he read anything into the fact that the winning team made more alterations than his own side, he deadpanned “It means whatever you think. People will have views on that, it doesn’t really matter, we’re not going to waste anytime thinking about that.”

While naturally disappointed by last week’s loss, the Wallabies took a lot out of the first test
and say they will be all the better for it at Etihad Stadium

Of his own selections, Deans was thrilled to be able to call on centre pairing Adam Ashley-Cooper and Christian Lealiifano again, given the injury cloud hanging over Cooper all week and the potential concussion induced hiatus for Lealiifano.

“I haven’t actually asked Christian if he remembers his time on the field last week, it was obviously great for him to get his first cap but not a great way to end your first outing but he’ll get to experience a lot more this week and we’ll get the benefit of that. We’ve had the experience of a little bit more prep this week and hopefully, we’ll have a little bit more fluency in our game and obviously, Christian will be a big part of that.”

Irrespective of the players involved from both camps, Deans expects more of the same, a blood and thunder battle with no quarter asked or given. “It was fast and it was furious last week and it will be the same again. It’s gonna be a ripper.”

The stage is set for another epic tussle. Another Lions win will see them claim their first series victory since 1997 in South Africa, a long time between drinks for such a feted assembly and that is all Warren Gatland is focusing on.

“I don’t care how ugly the game is on Saturday as long as we win,” he admitted. “We are desperate to win the game and the series. We are desperate for the Lions to be successful.”

For Robbie Deans, defeat may not just mean the loss of the series, it may signal the end of his six year reign with the Wallabies. For now, he remains unmoved. “Nothing new there,” he responded when asked if the knives may be out for him on Sunday morning if the result goes against them.

The desperation to finish off the job or the desperation to stay alive. Which one will prevail?