The All Blacks proved themselves masters of the unexpected during their 30-15 victory, dominating possession and reducing the Lions to counterattacksWhen it comes to the All Blacks, what you see is not always what you get. The Lions had used their pressing game to telling effect against the Crusaders and the Maori, forcing them to play behind the gainline and making offloads hazardous, but by narrowing the point of attack and playing through their scrum-half rather than their outside-half New Zealand were able to recycle ball quickly and dictate the pace of the game.Analysts play a major role in the preparation of teams, but trying to figure out New Zealand involves journeys up dead ends. The All Blacks are like...
The All Black coach was not buying TV’s relentless pre-match excitement but at the end the New Zealand audience seemed to get what it was yearning forIn the moments before the action got under way Scott Quinnell, prowling the touchline, tried to sum up the emotion of the occasion. “New Zealand will never have seen this kind of thing before,” he roared. “It’s not only going to be 15, it’s not only going to be 23, there’s going to be 30,000 British and Irish Lions. Tonight – tonight – our Lions – our Lions– will roar. The Lions are here for victory. And I believe, you should believe too: this is going to be epic!” Related: New Zealand and Rieko...
The Lions full-back’s moment of brilliance hurt the All Blacks but profligacy from sustained pressure cost Warren Gatland’s side dearlyThe Lions started the first Test in a great gushing rush of rugby, as if the referee’s first whistle had been the signal to pop the cork on a bottle they had been saving since they arrived in New Zealand three weeks ago. The All Black line broke open in front of Jonathan Davies, who slipped past Sam Whitelock and sprinted into New Zealand’s 22. He passed to Conor Murray, hard on his heels. Murray was brought down by Aaron Smith’s lunging tap tackle, but the ball made its way to Elliot Daly on the left wing. Daly sped for the...
Time will tell if Beauden Barrett can cast a Dan Carter-like spell for New Zealand but the first Test intriguingly pits his versatile fly-half style against Owen FarrellIn 2005 I was in and around the New Zealand squad and I was on the bench for the third Lions Test – they decided to give Dan Carter the night off. He probably deserved it after blowing away everyone in Wellington with a performance that left me thinking: “Bloody hell, how am I going to get past him and into the team?” Related: Lions’ pride and potential could produce New Zealand series for the ages | Robert Kitson Related: Lions carry hope against history in their lunatic endeavour to beat the All Blacks...
The tourists are under no illusions about their task against the world’s No1 side but there is belief within a team who are arguably the strongest Lions since 2001 and buoyed by encouraging warm-up winsIt may sound counterintuitive but, before the first Test, the British & Irish Lions should be drawing inspiration from a bunch of New Zealanders in Bermuda. For those not tuned into this year’s America’s Cup, New Zealand’s yachtsmen have slogged through numerous tough knockout contests to face the defending champions and hosts Oracle Team USA in the final. And the latest? It is never over until the plump mermaid sings but the fancied Americans are a clear second, reduced to playing catch-up by their battle-hardened visitors....