British and Irish Lions: Halfpenny shines in Sydney

Leigh Halfpenny of the Lions celebrates after scoring a try. Picture: Getty

It would be a major blow for the British and Irish Lions were North – arguably the tourists’ most lethal attacker on tour so far – to be ruled out of facing the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium.

And, with centre Jamie Roberts suffering a suspected hamstring injury during Saturday’s 47-17 demolition of the New South Wales Waratahs, Lions head coach Warren Gatland could be forced into some significant back division rethinking.

Jonathan Davies’ brilliant performance against the Waratahs suggests he is ready to team up with Brian O’Driscoll as the Lions’ first Test midfield combination, if required, with Simon Zebo a probable alternative to North.

“His hamstring is still tight, he is still being treated,” Gatland said yesterday, in assessing North’s current position. “We have to make the call on Wednesday. He has not trained. To be honest, he is less than 50-50. Fingers crossed with Jamie. He has never pulled a hamstring before – he is not 100 per cent sure whether that is the injury.

“The forwards seem to be holding themselves together, and unfortunately the backs are the ones who are taking all the knocks. It is something I haven’t really experienced in the past.

“When we look back on it, we might think that 16 backs [in the original tour squad] wasn’t enough. I’ve already said that I have noticed a physical step-up from four years ago. I think we have been a little bit unlucky. Not so much that they are major injuries, just the bumps and bruises the players are  getting that are holding them back.”

There was, however, one very good bit of news for Gatland with regards to his back division and that was delivered by Welsh full-back Leigh Halfpenny. He scored 30 points in Saturday’s win over the Warathas, crossing the whitewash twice and converting eight kicks from eight attempts.

Zebo, making his Lions debut after being summoned into the squad last week, also got in on the tryscoring act, while stand-off Jonny Sexton and back-rower Tom Croft also touched down in what was an impressive performance from the tourists.

The team will be much changed for tomorrow’s encounter with the  Brumbies, with Tour newcomers Christian Wade, Brad Barritt, Billy Twelvetrees and 36-year-old Shane Williams all starting in Canberra as a result of the knocks.

Gatland, though, has maintained his positive outlook on injuries, adding: “I don’t think it will change the way we are going to play.

“The fact you pick up injuries, that’s part of the game and it is a great opportunity for other players to come in and put their hand up. I think we’ve got a strong squad, and if we do pick up one or two injuries there are a lot capable of coming in and doing a job for us.”

Gatland, meanwhile, delivered an upbeat injury assessment on Ireland winger Tommy Bowe, who broke his hand playing against Queensland Reds eight days ago and underwent surgery.

“He is out of the cast. It is healing well,” Gatland said. “At an outside chance he could be available for Saturday, but what they [the medical staff] are saying is it is more likely he will  be back training and available for the second Test.”

The Brumbies, under the astute direction of former South Africa coach Jake White, have long been viewed as a team outside of Test match action most likely to take the Lions’ scalp Down Under and end their unbeaten record thus far.

Gatland, though, will not be deflected from the sole purpose of his Australian mission – to win the Test series. “I’ve said all along that, if we dropped a game or two on the way, I was prepared to sacrifice that to win the Test series,” he added. “No-one is going to remember if we win all the other matches and lose the Test series. You have got to be prepared to make a couple of tough calls and if it means dropping a game or two on the way because of that, we are prepared to do that.

“If we don’t turn up on Saturday with the best possible chance and everyone fit and fresh, I don’t think it is fair on the rest of the squad, the players and the jersey. They [The Brumbies] have been playing well. They are quite similar to a South African side the way they play. They are very direct and come hard off the line defensively, and they will be primed. The more we continue to win, the bigger that Lions scalp becomes.”

The Lions’ determination to make it six wins from six, though, was mirrored by England centre Twelvetrees.

“You have got to believe in your own ability, which is where it has got me this year, making my debut for England and now being here,” he said. “I have been given the opportunity, and I just want to take it with both hands.

I want to be there contributing to the side, otherwise there is no point in being there.”