He couldn’t see it working at The Cake Tin but he was absolutely delighted when it did.
Warren Gatland found himself under intense scrutiny, last week, after naming his Lions team to face New Zealand in the Second Test. Ronan O’Gara questioned one of Gatland’s biggest tactical calls but he was happy to see it work out well.
Ahead of that game in Wellington, O’Gara questioned the logic of Ben Te’o being dropped to accommodate a relatively untested 10-12 combination of Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell. He said:
“I didn’t think there would be any way Gatland would go for it, considering the last 30 minutes, the last day. I don’t think it worked… I thought Te’o was their best back. [His substitution] demotivated the whole team.”
Following Sexton and Farrell’s fine outings in the 24-21 victory over the All Blacks, O’Gara is happy to say Gatland’s call paid off. The former Ireland and Lions outhalf spoke highly of both player on The Hard Yards rugby podcast [from 14:00 below].
“I was the one that questioned it,” O’Gara began. “I didn’t think it was the right move.
“Judging by how Te’o played – he was exceptional in the First Test – I thought that was an area that Gatland wouldn’t alter. That he’d keep that for later in the Second Test. But he went for it and it most definitely worked.
“You look at the crucial Conor Murray try and it’s Johnny and Farrell manipulating the [New Zealand] defence. Farrell runs a great line out the back of Jamie George, short ball, and the centre Ngani Lamaupe completely over-reads, goes to smash Farrell, front door pass, brilliant ball from Johnny and you don’t stop Conor Murray from there.
“That was the accelerator in the game. It gave the Lions confidence… There was a big momentum shift and that was a real moment.”
O’Gara believes this Lions team will now be finding a true rhythm and going into the final Test with confidence. Still, he can’t bring himself to go against New Zealand in the decider.
Check out the full episode of The Hard Yards where we extensively preview the Third Test with O’Gara, Stephen Ferris, Isaac Boss and Hayley O’Connor of Ladbrokes.
The Third Test kicks off from 8:35am [GMT] on Saturday.
