Sport loves nothing more than a scapegoat.
When you’ve reached the 80th minute mark and you’ve resorted to a win-or-bust final play to try and rescue the game, people tend to forget very quickly what went on previously and why the hell you’re in that position in the first place.
The other cock-ups become a little more inconsequential. The laziness, the sloppiness, and even the opposition’s heroics fade into the background as everything hinges on delivering with one last Hail Mary.
Five seconds shy of 80 minutes, it was do or die for the Lions on Wednesday who simply had to produce a converted try to spare their blushes against the Blues. How they were in a position of 22-16 at that stage was no longer significant and that is where heroes and scapegoats are made.
Rory Best was the unfortunate one to take the brunt of the criticism this time as his last-gasp lineout was missed and the Blues kicked for touch to win the game.
So the fallout was focused on the Ulster man and his perceived mistake. The loss was therefore blamed on his unsuccessful lineout and not the 22 points leaked that the Lions couldn’t match themselves.
Do something as simple as a Twitter search for Rory Best’s name and you’ll get a feel for the narrative in the aftermath of the Blues game. One man’s throw is being blamed for a team of four countries losing to a club side. It doesn’t seem fair and it certainly doesn’t seem right.
But that’s sport.
What must grind at Best most though is that, even if the game was going to be boiled down to that one final play, he’s certainly not the only who should be taking the blame.
The lineout play involved four people.
Best was one of them. Maro Itoje was the jumper. Joe Marler and Kyle Sinckler were supposed to help him get into the air. Only one man carried out that job.
Look at that again.
But, this time, watch Kyle Sincker in front of Itoje reacting very late.
Best prepares the throw.
- Sinckler.
- Itoje.
- Marler.
Marler seemingly reacts to a call and prepares to lift Itoje.
The ball is in the air and Sinckler still hasn’t readied to lift.
Itoje is about to jump, Sinckler still hasn’t reacted.
Marler ends up doing the brunt of his lifting on his own and Itoje can’t get high enough.
It’s too late.
Perhaps Best shouldn’t have thrown the ball so early, perhaps he should’ve just thrown it better.
Kyle Sinckler actually had a good game when he came on but he definitely played a part in that cock-up at the end.
He certainly wasn’t alone in the breakdown though. And that breakdown certainly wasn’t alone in bringing about defeat for the Lions either.
