Tom Shanklin: 'Lions must start Second Test as they ended the first'

British Lions / Editor / 25 June 2009 / Leave a Comment

Cardiff and Wales centre Tom Shanklin picks his starting XV for Saturday's Second Test and explains why he believes the Lions can win in Pretoria.

Many were quick to criticise the Lions performance in their First Test defeat but they played better rugby than South Africa and took away far more positives from the game than people realise.

The Springboks didn't really try to attack and mostly relied upon our errors in the first half whereas many of the Lions players looked very strong. Mike Phillips played brilliantly. He was always a threat at the breakdown, gave the Lions good go forward around the fringes and was very unlucky not to have scored two tries. The centres, Jamie Roberts and Brian O'Driscoll, played extremely well and were key to the Lions attack. Tom Croft always seemed to pop up at the right time and played like an open side flanker around the field, being the first to the breakdown and always the first in support.

As soon as rain started to fall at Newlands on Tuesday night, I knew the Lions were in for a fight. Any possibility of free flowing attacking rugby was shattered by the appalling conditions. The Lions tried hard to stamp their authority on the game but countless errors and turnovers created havoc. Luke Fitzgerald and Shane Williams, both hungry for the ball, attacked with solid hands but the slippery conditions hampered them. James Hook took his points well and looked to take the Emerging Boks on at every occasion. If you're looking for a player to come on to change a game, Hook is the best choice. I think he'll get a bench spot this weekend.

I hope the Lions start the second test the way they ended the first. They need a solid set piece, allowing the backs to get over the game line in the first phase attack. It's crucial that the players are more disciplined and do not give away kicking opportunities to Ruan Piennar. The penalties they give away eats into the momentum of all their hard work.