BRISBANE, Australia: The British and Irish Lions will pit their vast experience against a Wallaby team featuring three debutants and a rookie flyhalf in their bid to seize the momentum in today’s first Test in Brisbane.
The tourists, chasing their first series win in 16 years, go into the opening match of the three-Test series anchored by a powerful set-piece, quality leadership with three Lions captains in their ranks, and the calming experience of centre Brian O’Driscoll and lock Paul O’Connell.
The two Irishmen have 222 Test caps between them, with a dozen for the Lions, giving them a decided edge over the Wallabies, who won the last series in Australia in 2001. O’Driscoll and O’Connell are joined by five other survivors from the series against the Springboks in South Africa four years ago in scrum-half Mike Phillips, prop Adam Jones, lock Alun Wyn Jones and back-rowers Tom Croft and Jamie Heaslip.
The forward pack alone has played a combined total of 403 Tests, and 17 Lions Tests.
In comparison, Australia coach Robbie Deans has gone for three Test newcomers -- winger Israel Folau, centre Christian Lealiifano and flanker Ben Mowen -- while James O’Connor will play only his second game at flyhalf at this level.
The Lions also go into the opening clash unbeaten in all seven Tests played in Brisbane going back to 1899.
Warren Gatland’s team lost their unbeaten record on the current tour in a 14-12 upset to the ACT Brumbies on Tuesday after running up five victories on their tour.
While the Lions are match-hardened, the same cannot be said for the Wallabies, who will be playing their first Test since December.
Deans has had his squad in camp for three weeks working on combinations, strategy and fitness, but they are notoriously slow starters and in the past two years have lost to Samoa and Scotland in their first internationals of the season at home.
Compounding the team’s lack of match practice is the relative inactivity O’Connor, who has played just one Super Rugby match in six weeks, Digby Ioane and Berrick Barnes.
“We feel very positive where we are, we feel we’ve got a few hit-outs under our belt which has given us that match-hardened edge that we’re looking for,” Gatland said this week. AFP
