Lambie the go-to guy

Conditions like those seen at Kings Park on Saturday do not come around that often in this part of the world.

But when they do, they require those generals who wear the No10 jersey to alter their tactics - and there was one who did.

It seemed like the wet weather brought the best out of Springbok and Sharks flyhalf Pat Lambie as he cajoled a gritty performance out of his teammates, who adapted best to the estuary that was the Kings Park surface.

With this performance, Lambie gave a glimpse of what he could be capable of later in the year at the Rugby World Cup in Britain, where there is always the possibility that the weather could turn as foul as it was in Durban on Saturday.

Lions coach Johan Ackermann singled out Lambie as the difference between the sides, even though the flyhalf benefited significantly from an improved display by the Sharks pack.

Ackermann went so far as to suggest that Lambie could be the go-to man in the northern hemisphere, should the weather frown upon the eager aspirants gathered for the global rugby showpiece later on this year.

"He showed how important he could be for the Springboks in the World Cup if they run into this kind of weather over there," Ackermann said.

"He is a quality player; he controlled the game very well. He showed plenty of maturity and calmness.

Lambie's display did not consist of just booting the ball down field. He mixed it up with judiciously placed cross-kicks that had the Lions back three scuttling about frantically to defend in the pouring rain.

Three of the Sharks' four tries had their origins in Lambie's aerial bombardment, for which the Lions simply had no answers.

Another Springbok No10, Elton Jantjies, tried to emulate Lambie but the horse had long since bolted by the time he ran onto the field.

In addition, the Sharks were far too smart to allow themselves to be lured into a situation where they would be forced to taste some of their own medicine.

Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold said the management had originally prepared for a wet weather game.

But, he said, that was prompted rather by the expectation of high humidity rather than the dramatic cloudburst that more than levelled the playing field.

The deluge had a marked effect on the scrums, where the Sharks, unexpectedly, dominated.

However Gold did not lavish praise only on Lambie, but also on his fellow Springbok and halfback partner, Cobus Reinach.

Reinach never allowed the pressure on the Lions to ease up with his smart distribution from the base of the scrum.

Lambie's goal-kicking was not up to his usual high standards but that did not concern Gold.

Having coached in England, where the bulk of the 2015 Rugby World Cup will be played, Gold has a very good idea of what he is talking about.

"He will be critical and the reason I say that is because of how he manages the game.

"In this game he kept a really cool head and was never flustered, even when he missed that kick.

"He's an 85% goalkicker and when he missed that penalty, there was a six-point swing. But he never allowed himself to be flustered by that miss.

"He is a real old head on young shoulders - really composed. You are going to need that kind of game management from Cobus and Pat in those conditions because you are going to get them. It will be slightly colder, but, overall, these conditions will be there."