British and Irish Lions: Key clashes to watch out for in the first Test

Callum Davis
20 June 2013

Warburton skippers the Lions in Brisbane

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With just two days to go until the British and Irish Lions kick of their Test series with Australia, Callum Davis identifies a couple of key clashes where the game could be won and lost...

"Genia is widely recognised as the best scrum half in the world and it is hard to argue with the assessment. It is difficult to identify an area of his game which is lacking: he is a reliable tactical kicker, his running game in open field and around the breakdown is both electric and allusive, while his service is unerringly slick."

Mike Phillips v Will Genia

The battle between the two scrum halves has been touted as the most significant match up of the series and the difference in the two players' styles has come to symbolise the contrasting philosophy of their respective teams. Both players are central to their team's strategy and whoever wins this individual battle may swing the outcome of the match in their team's favour.

Under Warren Gatland as a Wales player, Phillips was asked to work in close proximity with his forwards, taking the ball up himself into contact around the fringes. I have no doubt he will be asked to employ similar tactics on Saturday as part of the Lions' overall game plan to bully the Australians.

For Australia, who are without an experienced fly half in the side, Will Genia's responsibility as chief playmaker will be huge this Saturday. Genia is widely recognised as the best scrum half in the world and it is hard to argue with the assessment. It is difficult to identify an area of his game which is lacking: he is a reliable tactical kicker, his running game in open field and around the breakdown is both electric and elusive, while his service is unerringly slick. But if you had to identify one part of Genia's game which has been so impressive, it would be his game management from behind the Wallabies pack and directing the Aussie back line.

At 25, Genia is mature beyond his years and has captained the Wallabies a number of times already. Much has been made of Australia's exclusion of Genia's Queensland teammate, Quade Cooper, and their subsequent lack of experience at 10 with James O'Connor playing. However, Genia has the temperament and class to take the pressure from his novice half back partner.

Phillips has not been on the winning side in any of the last five times he has matched up against Genia, and I would be inclined to suspect the trend may continue. Phillips and the Lions back row will try and nullify Genia's influence by guarding him closely at rucks, but I think the diminutive Queenslander is too cute to be cut out of the game by mere physicality alone.

Michael Hooper v Sam Warburton

In the forwards, the most attritional battle will be between the two openside flankers. After some debate over whether the Lions captain warranted a place in the starting line-up, Sam Warburton will lead the side out on Saturday in Brisbane after an impressive display against the NSW Waratahs. The head-to-head between these two will be largely fought on the floor as both look to scavenge possession of the ball for their side.

The competition around the tackle will be the key area in the game and both Warburton and Hooper will be the men charged with fighting the tough tussles for the ball. Warburton has arguably not been the in top three performers from the Lions back row division, with Sean O'Brien and Justin Tipuric unlucky to miss out on a starting berth. But while O'Brien in particular has been devastating in the loose, Warburton's skills at the breakdown are regarded as world class and his selection illustrates the fact that Gatland believes the outcome of the game could hinge in this area.

In the absence of Australia's usual captain and number seven David Pocock, Michael Hooper will step into the fray as chief ball-winner for the Wallabies. The 21 year-old, who made his Test debut in a defeat to Scotland last June, is a more than worthy replacement for Pocock and was awarded the man of the match accolade against England last November.

The determining factor which could decide which one of these 'tackle jackals' comes out on top on Saturday will be referee Chris Pollock's management of the game. The Lions have been penalised heavily at the breakdown in their warm up games, and Warburton will need to tread a fine line between slowing down Australian ball and making infringements which could be punishable with points. The match-up between these two is so close to call, how Pollock decides to referee the game will ultimately determine who gains the upper hand in this one-on-one, and in the grand scheme of things, who draws first blood in the series.

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