Why Ellis Genge’s ‘riposte to the doubters’ has thrown down the Lions ‘gauntlet’
Ellis Genge on Lions duty last Friday versus Argentina
Former England fly-half Stuart Barnes has claimed that Andrew Porter has “seen the gauntlet” thrown down to him by the impressive performance produced by Ellis Genge last Friday in Dublin.
Ireland prop Porter is predicted by many to be the starting loosehead when the Test series against the Wallabies begins in Brisbane on July 19. However, Barnes suggests this premise isn’t a done deal following what England’s Genge achieved versus Argentina.
The Lions went on to lose 24-28 in their pre-tour departure match at Aviva Stadium, but only after Genge had exited following a commendable show of force in the scrum against the vaunted Los Pumas front-row.
Writing in his latest column in The Times, Barnes outlined: “Ellis Genge enjoyed one of his finest days in the hurly burly of the front row. The highlight of his performance was his typically dynamic 52nd-minute charge.
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“He brushed aside two front-row forwards, (Montoya was one of them) creating such momentum that Argentina were unable to reset their rearguard in time and Tadhg Beirne arrowed over the tryline from a flat Tomos Williams pass in the face of a disorganised defence.
“Genge is a sight to behind…”
“Cue the television slow-motion replays. Genge is a sight to behold. The Bristol loosehead prop has made his name as one of the best ball-carrying tight forwards around, yet there have often been whispers from former denizens of the dark world of the scrum.
“On Friday night, he offered a perfectly timed riposte to the doubters before the flight to Australia, where a significant challenge awaits the Lions scrum. Spectators will remember Genge bursting through the heart of Argentina’s defence but Joel Sclavi will recall being put in just about every position a tighthead should not find himself.
“While Finlay Bealham was making his own case on the other side of the scrum, Genge’s aggression was being rewarded. James Dolman, who will referee the Lions’ match against Queensland Reds on July 2, blew his whistle vigorously…”
The problem with the penalty-winning dominance exerted at set-piece by Genge and co. was that the Lions didn’t take full advantage elsewhere.
“Genge and company provided the platform, but the Lions were more than a split-second behind their opposite numbers on the floor — a point that Andy Farrell acknowledged — and failed to maximise a significant advantage,” Barnes added.
“Andrew Porter, in many minds the favourite to wear the No1 jersey in the Test series, has seen the gauntlet thrown down by the England loosehead.”
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