Last-chance saloon for 'Geech' gang
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Friday June 26 2009
ON the morning of the first Test against Australia in 2001, Matt Dawson's column hit the news stands. It was unfortunate timing. The scrum-half had gone through Lions head coach Graham Henry and his management team for a short-cut and, when the Lions destroyed the Wallabies at the Gabba that night (their last Test victory), Dawson was left high and dry.
Dawson's column, coupled with Austin Healey's "Justin Harrison is a plank" effort a fortnight later, represented the end of worthwhile player diaries. These days, they tend to be reduced to harmless blogs, replete with exclamation marks and 'behind-the-scenes' revelations about which players snore the loudest or have the smelliest feet.
But, for all the criticism he received (and breaking ranks on tour should never be condoned) Dawson was ultimately correct. Henry's dispassionate approach failed to tap into core Lions values -- with the result that an extremely talented squad lost a series they should clearly have won.
Thus, having a pop at Ian McGeechan and his management team a day before the second Test with South Africa is a dangerous exercise. In the unlikely event that the Lions win in Pretoria tomorrow and go on to claim the series, management-bashing will appear out-of-sync with remarkable achievement.
It has already been stated here that McGeechan has got a very soft ride from the media. His personable character and respected standing are rightly appreciated, but routinely addressing him as 'Geech' in press conferences or as 'the old master' in copy is a little too incestuous (the fact that one senior member of the media is ghosting his autobiography must be factored in as well).
These journalists were also present in New Zealand in 2005 for the Clive Woodward horror-show and are, thus, well-disposed towards his successor for overseeing a far more accessible -- if incredibly sanitised -- media operation.
However, there are genuine areas of criticism to examine and it is as well to voice them now, rather than wait for the hindsight analysis that will inevitably ensue should it all go pear-shaped tomorrow.
The first bone of contention centres on selection policy. With McGeechan, Warren Gatland, Rob Howley and Shaun Edwards the key decision-makers, there has been a heavy leaning towards Wales and Wasps players and Stephen Jones and Simon Shaw have been the main beneficiaries. In key areas, familiarity has trumped form.
Then there are McGeechan's press utterances. While controlling the information on the seriousness of injuries to the likes of Keith Earls and Andrew Sheridan carries a certain tactical pragmatism, the post-match statements after the loss to the Springboks and the draw with their emerging counterparts made you wonder were you watching different games.
"We are delighted with the performance and it gives us a lot of encouragement," said McGeechan after the first Test defeat, before going on to question the refereeing.
clout
The second-half revival was encouraging, but was undeniably aided by South Africa's crass substitution policy and referencing the chances the Lions left a-begging rather than the officials would have carried far more clout. Nobody goes out to play a bad game, but these are professional players and people have spent a lot of money to travel and watch them -- tacit acceptance of failure does not wash.
On Tuesday night, McGeechan talked about negotiating "a potential banana skin" and how "it was a tremendous defensive display -- if you take the last minute away." That last minute allowed a side with no international experience to snatch a draw against multi-capped opponents, placing McGeechan's observation up there with: "Apart from that Mrs Lincoln, did you enjoy the play?"
It is impossible to dispute the fact that building a side to dismantle a settled team of world champions on their own turf is a monumental challenge but, in that scenario, you need to maximise your chances.
The Lions still have a shot, albeit one as slim as an 'Easi Single,' but there have been some dud moves from McGeechan and management as we head into the last-chance saloon.
Only a victory tomorrow could hope to alter that perception.
- Hugh Farrelly
