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Spencer under fire

South African knives are out for Lions', and former All Blacks' first five-eighths Carlos Spencer.

Tuesday, 02 March 2010

Sportal.co.nz

South African knives are out for Lions, and former All Blacks', first five-eighths Carlos Spencer.

"Carlos Spencer is causing confusion and panic in a Lions team that requires calm," said Keo.co.za.

The article said Spencer had failed to add anything meaningful to the Lions three matches.

It also rejected coach Dick Muir's claim that Spencer had picked up bad habits in England and the more he played with his team-mates the better he would get.

Spencer was in the twilight of his career as was seen when he didn't start at Gloucester.

"Spencer should have much to offer the Lions' camp, but with the current care-free mindset, it's hampering their progress. As a senior player who's admitted he's struggling to keep up, his frantic actions also contradict that," the article claimed.

"As an influential international - the only one in the side - Spencer should have a calming effect. Instead, he has the opposite."

The article was also critical of the Lions' inability to punish opponents who had players in the sin bin.

"Muir's big goal is to score tries, and in the 45 minutes [Burton] Francis has been on the park, the Lions have scored seven. In the 163 minutes Spencer has been on, they've scored five.

"Admittedly, they've been very different situations, but it's clear to see how Francis's game suits the Lions strengths."

Francis had shown more composure than Spencer and he deserved to start against the Brumbies at the weekend, not Spencer.

"Muir's goal is to win the Super 14 in three years. In 2012, that's not going to be with Spencer playing pivot. From a short-term and long-term perspective, Francis is the better option to start," the article said.

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