An almighty first test between Australia and the British & Irish Lions has almost been forgotten amongst the myriad of off-field news stories this week

by Paul Cook in Melbourne –

Just another week in the Lions tour…

It was always likely that this Lions series will be decided by finite margins both on and off the field. The swings and roundabouts of professional sport and all that it entails mean that any amount of positive or negative influence, no matter how big or small, can mean the difference between winning and losing.

This week, between tests one and two of an already enthralling series, has not been short of its ups and downs and twists and turns for both sides. Which one can hold up best under the myriad of challenges they have been presented with may well determine tonight’s victor.

Last Sunday began with the Lions in ebullient mood. They were 1-0 up in the series, had seen three Wallabies leave the field on a stretcher during a brutal 80 minutes while escaping seemingly injury free and with the expectation that Australian captain James Horwill would be rubbed out for the final two tests after his citing for allegedly stamping on Alun Wyn Jones’ head.

24 hours later and the momentum shift could not have been greater. Not only was Horwill exonerated and free to play, but Lions lock Paul O’Connell, the mightiest of all warriors in a red shirt, was ruled out with a fractured arm following scans.

The loss of Paul O’Connell was a huge blow for the Lions

The loss of O’Connell cannot be underestimated. Captain four years ago in South Africa, the 33-year-old Munsterman was on his third tour of Lions duty and was in career best form, his sheer presence, work rate and physicality being a vital cog in this Lions machine. Assistant coach Graham Rowntree didn’t attempt to sugarcoat the significance of O’Connells’ absence when he spoke to the media on Monday evening.

“It is a massive loss as he has such a big influence on the group,” said the former England prop. “He is one of the best locks I’ve come across and he was in the form of his life. I’ve never seen him so fit.”

However Rowntree maintained that, despite the setback, the Lions would hold firm. “It has brought us all together, galvanised us. We are a very tight group and that is what will get us through. You have got to roll with the punches. You simply don’t get a settled routine on Lions tours. You have to adapt.”

Following on from the O’Connell blow was confirmation that prop Alex Corbisiero was also a likely non-starter for the second test with a troublesome calf injury. The 24-year-old got the nod in the first test because of his greater scrummaging ability and given the difficulties Mako Vunipola and fellow replacements, Richard Hibbard and Dan Cole experienced towards the end of the match, the absence of Corbisiero’s technique in tandem with O’Connell’s power, leaves some of a Lions persuasion slightly nervous about game two.

The Wallabies meanwhile, had their own concerns. Pat McCabe was ruled out for the rest of the year after re-injuring his fragile neck, while Digby Ioane was told he needed surgery on his shoulder and would miss the rest of the series.

That proved to be the least of Ioane’s concerns when Victoria police issued a warrant for his arrest. The Queensland Reds utility back failed to show before Magistrates on a charge of unlawful assault relating to an incident in Melbourne after the Reds clash with the Rebels back in March, prompting the Australian Rugby Union to quickly issue the following statement. “The ARU has worked expeditiously with Digby Ioane and Victorian Police to attend to this matter. Digby will report to Victorian Police and will be issued with a revised court date.”

However, in spite of all this drama, the elephant in the room was still the Horwill decision. After hours of deliberation, IRB judicial officer Nigel Hampton said he “could not find an intentional or deliberate action of stamping or trampling” and could not uphold the citing as a result but the derision that greeted the decision was palpable.

Intentional or accidental? James Horwill’s alleged stamp (see below) has divided opinion this week

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxw9WNhzhGg

“I played in the days when rucking was allowed and I’ve still got some scars that bear witness to the ruckings I had, but for me the head was sacrosanct and you stayed away from that,” said Warren Gatland, while Brian O’Driscoll called Horwill “a lucky boy”. In one of the more blunt reactions, former England hooker Brian Moore took to social media to illustrate his feelings. “To the judicial officer, Nigel Hampton, who ruled Horwill was trying to regain his feet, not stamp – You are a f****** idiot,” he tweeted.

Rowntree was also asked about the Horwill decision but played a straight bat. “I’ve got enough to worry about, what can you say? You can’t change anything, so you just have to get on with it,” he said. ‘‘It’s been dealt with, let’s move on.”

Unfortunately, that comment proved to be inaccurate.

Tuesday was game day as the Lions midweek ‘dirt-trackers’ put to bed last week’s disappointment in Canberra with a fairly comprehensive 35-0 win over the Melbourne Rebels. It was a chance for potential replacements to shine or for those outside of original test selection, to force their way into the reckoning and to that end, the performances of Manu Tuilagi, Richie Gray, Ian Evans, Sean O’Brien and Dan Lydiate were relevant, while Toby Faletau also produced his best effort on tour.

By Wednesday morning however, all thoughts of the actual rugby had been sidelined once again when ‘Burgergate’ struck. Wallabies Kurtley Beale and James O’Connor were splashed all over the dailies after being pictured – ironically with a Lions supporter – at 3.50am in a Hungry Jack’s establishment in Melbourne’s CBD.

Kurtley Beale & James O’Connor conduct their own pre-match ritual

Not exactly having an unblemished record in off field activities, the pair’s decision to parade themselves around in public at that ungodly hour, four days from arguably the biggest match of their young careers begs belief, irrespective of the fact they were not under the influence of alcohol and by all accounts, behaved impeccably.

Wallaby coach Robbie Deans, surely tested to breaking point by the decision making – or lack of it – by his young charges, faced a quizzical media for the next 48hrs. The Australian press, visibly tired of reporting about the same individuals and incidences time and again, particularly at such a pivotal moment in Australian rugby’s recent history, wanted answers, while the British & Irish press, happy to fuel any fire within camp Wallaby, were revelling in the awkward spotlight placed upon Deans and his entourage.

“Obviously that’s not an ideal hour, it’s not best practice in terms of sleeping habits,” the coach admitted before confirming he had spoken to the errant duo. ”Suffice to say it wasn’t a comfortable conversation. They understand it was too late for them to get to bed.”

As they hadn’t actually broken team protocols, there was never any question of them being dropped for the test and when the team was announced, Beale had in fact moved off the bench into a starting spot at fullback to replace Berrick Barnes while O’Connor has been persevered with at flyhalf. The only other change was Joe Tomane in for Ioane while Christian Leali’ifano gets the chance to add to his injury curtailed cameo of last week.

As centre partner Adam Ashley-Cooper put it, “I’m hoping he gives me a little bit more than 45 seconds this weekend.”

Tommy Bowe has reclaimed his wing spot for the second test – Photo: photae.com.au

On the other side of town, Warren Gatland sprang a few surprises with five changes to his winning side, two forced with Vunipola and Geoff Parling replacing Corbisiero and O’Connell respectively, but also three tactical alterations which have divided opinion; Ben Youngs at halfback, Dan Lydiate at blindside and Tommy Bowe on the wing, replacing Mike Phillips, Tom Croft and Alex Cuthbert.

It was while these changes were being digested, discussed, ridiculed and praised in equal measure on Thursday evening that the news of the IRB’s decision to appeal against the findings of their own appointed judicial officer in the James Horwill case, hit and hit big.

“Given its duty to preserve player welfare at all levels of the game, the IRB is compelled to further examine potential acts of foul play which either potentially or in reality impact on the preservation of player welfare,” the IRB release said. As a result, Horwill is free to play tonight but could still miss a potential decider in Sydney next week if found guilty second time around.

Whilst every endeavour to come to a rightful conclusion should be paramount – Horwill denies any wrongdoing and must remain innocent until proven guilty – the timing of the IRB’s appeal has to be called into question. Why was this not done on Tuesday?

All in all then, the last six days have seen; three players permanently ruled out of the series through injury; one player that had been ruled out three weeks ago suddenly make a ‘lazarus’ style comeback; wholesale changes made to a winning side while a confident loser merely tweaked their line-up; one player cited, cleared and then told that the governing body of the game will be re-investigating his case; two players out on a fast-food junket at 4am and one player issued with a warrant for his arrest.

And league fans accuse rugby union of being dull?