With an All Black tight five, the Christchurch side are powerful in the ruck and they can really do some damage through Richie Mo’unga and David Havili
Warren Gatland is kidding no one when he says there is not much difference between playing the Super Rugby teams and the All Blacks. He’s trying to take the pressure off his players but they’ve just lost to the Blues, who haven’t beaten another Kiwi side all season. Test level is a different, much bigger beast and when it’s the full-blooded All Blacks against the Lions the levels of pressure and intensity will go right through the roof.
While losing to the Blues was a blow it wasn’t fatal and now they come to the pivotal point of the tour. The team to face the Crusaders looks more like a Test side and, if they win, the Blues loss is forgotten. The problem, though, is that the Blues have given New Zealand rugby a taste of blood and the Crusaders will be looking to get a piece as well.
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