The schedule has been the underlying narrative of this British and Irish Lions’ tour.
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It’s the tightened schedule – shortened on the demands of English club rugby owners – that left the Lions totally under-prepared, and therefore vulnerable in the first few games, resulting in defeats to the Blues and Highlanders.
It’s the schedule that forced Warren Gatland to call up six players who might not have been first on the quality list of potential replacements, whatever you think of what that means to the Lions’ traditions.
On an old style tour (like 1977, 40 years ago but very similar to this one in many ways, the Lions looking to dominate in the tight forwards, New Zealand countering with running rugby and guile) there would be another three games to play before the first test and the Lions would only now be playing the top provincial teams.
The evidence of the comprehensive victory over the Chiefs by the “weekday” team is that it has taken this long for all the Lions squad to finally get on message.
Against a weakened Chiefs team, the Lions played phase rugby, 20 at a time, sucking the energy out of their hosts in Hamilton. Greig Laidlaw probably got his hands on the ball more than any player on tour so far; Jack Nowell’s first half try as actually a bonus, I’m sure Gatland would have taken 9-3 at half-time and the pressure building.
After an hour, the Chiefs were spent, and the Lions were able to have a little running fun with a couple of lovely tries. Make no mistake, however, Nowell’s second and Jarrod Payne’s tries were the result of the hard yards won in the first hour.
The other improved aspect is defence, with Andy Farrell’s system now wholly in synch. Only one try conceded in the last two games – and that down to a defensive mix-up on a wet ball – tells the story.
Of course the All Blacks on Saturday are a different proposition, and few if any of today’s Lions team will feature. But the gameplan is set, and the challenge has been laid.
