Rugby: Lions identify weak spot

Two close shaves in as many weekends have concentrated the minds of the Lions hierarchy on the glaring deficiencies at the breakdown, where the test series against the Springboks will surely be decided.

Head coach Ian McGeechan admitted last night that a good deal of work will have to be done over the next fortnight after watching Heinrich Brussow, the diminutive Free State flanker, disrupt the tourists' momentum with a virtuoso display in and around the tackle area.

"Part of it is about interpretation," said McGeechan, who was none too impressed by the approach of the English referee Wayne Barnes.

"The whole question of whether a player is on his feet, off his feet, when he goes off his feet - the business of whether the tackler is rolling away quickly enough - these are difficult areas, very technical areas, and on this occasion, it became a lottery. But yes, it is something we'll have to get up to speed with, because it will be very important to be competitive there against the Boks."

McGeechan also acknowledged the lack of a genuine opensider had cost his team. "Our shortage of an out-and-out No 7 was a factor."

- INDEPENDENT