Thinking outside the box is Wallabies key to unsettle Lions in Melbourne. An upset in Melbourne is in the offing. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor).
The British and Irish Lions must be wary of a serious stoush looming against a fierce Boxing Kangaroo, not a meek little brother macropod Wallaby, as the Rugby Union Test series moves to game two at sports mad Melbourne.
A sell-out MCG crowd expected to be around 90,000, will witness a historic encounter that has all the ingredients of a blockbuster as a Wallabies team, buoyed by their spirited performance against the visitors, set their sights on upsetting the favourites and taking it to the decider in Sydney.
The challenge for the Wallabies in Melbourne to contain the crimson invasion lies in the weather, which is forecast to be wet and wintery making superior handling key.
It seems a travesty of justice in many ways that Melbourne draws more crowds to important sporting events than any other state in the country. Yet the governing ARU and the Victorian government were unable to provide a bail out package to save the Melbourne Rebels in their hour of need.
Those players are now scattered, and like karma, sees the return of former Melbourne Rebels player Sione Tuipolotu returning as a Lions and a much improved player for Scotland, after being ignored for Wallabies selection.
Tuipolotu’s aspiration to figure in a Lions sweep in front of his home crowd has been tragically cut short by a foot injury that has ruled him out.
The return of towering nomads Rob Valentini and Will Skelton, has raised optimism in the Wallabies ranks as they attempt to even out the disparity among the forwards which the Lions clearly dominated in game one.
Joe Schmidt’s men know the importance of defending against an imposing opposition, and all plans bringing back two veterans will naturally be to play with the same ferocious intensity and physical presence, but this time with reasonable parity, to improve on what they displayed in the second half in Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
What the Wallabies lacked in comparative stature was quickly nullified with defensive intensity and clever spoiling work in the rucks and mauls that had the Lions baffled as the broken play offensives caught them napping on several occasions.
The Lions for their part are concious of the very real unpredictability of the fast improving home team that has shown growing potential to reach the glory days of Australian rugby.
Far as they are in establishing their once feared status on the world scale, the Wallabies have shown they are no easybeats, actually far from it as they plot the table turning strategy for the Melbourne showdown that has an air of unpredictability about it.
Departing mentor Joe Schmidt, has resurrected a once proud legacy that needs serious succession plans with the same mindset. Whether it can be replicated and elevated will be debated post the New Zealand mastermind who has set the course upwards.
My gut feel leans heavily towards a famous Wallabies triumph in a fiercely contested game. The Lions are a team of brilliant talent from four nations. And their unbeaten run until now, albeit the last game against a fiery First Nations and Pasifika team that rattled their bench strength with a physical contest, suggesting they can be usurped.
But it was not a fully represented Lions outfit in the last game.
Whatever the outcome, rugby fans are assured of a quality game of rugby as the four nations rugby mad fans, following their heroes like the Barmy Army, have invaded the country to add colour, flair, and economic benefit in an atmosphere different to all other sports.
If I was to dissect the last encounter, the Wallabies will reflect on a decisive advantage of a halves combination of Tate McDermott and emerging sensation Tom Lynagh with the depth available filling the voids if the combination needs tinkering.
There will be much debate about my thoughts. But playing a reactive mindset opposed to a proactive one, doesn’t cut it for a come from behind success.
Actually McDermott and Ben Donaldson proved more penetrative and dangerous in their fearless forays in the second half. Tom Lynagh was outstanding in his debut making his legendary dad Michael, proud of the Wallaby succession
Possession will obviously be the key factor, and the Lions are a formidable force in all aspects. So the Wallabies have their work cut out to try and change the expected paradigm.
Using their backs which seemed marginally superior through wingers Max Jorgensen and Harry Potter with Joseph Suaalii at centre proving elusive will depend on the battle up front and possession gained.
The Wallabies have it in their hands to think outside the box and prove the paradigm of expectation doesn’t necessarily have to be the accepted norm.
