The Sunday Mail
Pretoria. —Everyone is talking about the tempo the Wallabies bring to their game and it is the reason the name Finn Russell would have been writ large in the minds of the Springboks in their preparations for today’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship showdown at CBUS Super Stadium on the Gold Coast.
The British and Irish Lions stuck largely to Warrenball, meaning coach Warren Gatland’s mostly kicking orientated game, in their series against the Boks. There were attempts to quicken up play, but they were largely circumvented by a combination of factors.
With Dan Biggar as the starting flyhalf, the Lions’ approach was always going to be akin to the more conservative Wales style.
Where that did change was when Scotland’s Finn Russell came onto the field early in the third test after the injury to Biggar.
The lift in tempo was noticeable, the Boks had to scramble on defence, and for most of the first half the hosts were barely holding on as the Lions threatened to run them ragged.
Had it not been for some poor decision making, the Lions might have been out of sight at halftime.
The Boks did adjust in the second half, and that should be noted by those who are fearing what the quick tempo Aussie playing style might do to the Boks today.
But in that first half the Boks did get a taste of what they might expect on the Gold Coast, where Quade Cooper’s selection in the number10 jersey for the Wallabies has amply telegraphed the host nation’s intent. — Supersport.
