Peter Bills: Lions' lack of depth showing

The limitations of options available to the Lions for the second test against South Africa in Pretoria were again exposed with brutal clarity in Cape Town yesterday.

Another poor display by the midweek team confirmed that Lions coach Ian McGeechan has few real alternatives to last weekend's beaten test team in Durban.

Very few members of the Lions team, which could only manage a scrambled 13-13 draw with the Emerging Springboks at a cold, windy Newlands, made a convincing case for a test place.

True, conditions were dreadful with heavy, squally showers soaking the ground. But the Lions had enough possession to control two games yet never did anything much with it. They made numerous mistakes, looked plodding and predictable and could not shake off the courageous Emerging Springboks.

Their last-minute try, from replacement wing Danwel Demas, was converted magnificently from touch by Willem de Waal to tie the scores and put a major dent in the Lions' morale as they head for Loftus and their must-win test.

McGeechan will have been desperately disappointed that no one managed to rise above the general scramble and assert any authority. Skipper Ronan O'Gara was pulled off five minutes into the second half which suggested he may be in line for a starting place in Sunday's test. Flanker Martyn Williams worked hard as usual but rarely stood out convincingly.

The Lions needed the likes of Nathan Hines, Andy Powell and Shane Williams to step up to the challenge but they barely managed anything above the mediocre. Once again, there was little cohesion or penetration to the Lions game and too much of their ball was hopelessly slow, giving them few chances of making decisive breaks. Even when they did, they could not finish, Keith Earls' first half try excepted.

Halfback Harry Ellis, who might have been playing for a test place, was gritty and determined but little better than ordinary and took far too long to clear the ball.

The atmosphere of a test match will surely energise these Lions. But, as in Durban, it seems likely that so much will fall on the shoulders of centres Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts. If the Springboks can contain that duo, the Lions seem to have little else of real quality in their locker.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers will have been greatly encouraged by the evidence of this final Lions midweek game. As before, he will have spied a weakness in finishing power and an inability to play the game at a pace demanded by professional rugby. Most of the Lions play revolved around driving off rucks and mauls and trying to out-muscle their opponents. We know that is not good enough to overcome the powerful Springboks.

Truly, the poverty of rugby in the Northern Hemisphere is increasingly being exposed on this trip.