Warren Gatland and his staff have had their selection meeting and come up with a cussed-looking team with a no-nonsense physical edge for Saturday’s first TestIt is so long since the All Blacks lost a Test at Eden Park that Maro Itoje was not even born the last time it happened. In July 1994 Wet Wet Wet were at No1 in the UK singles charts with Love Is All Around and rugby union was still, officially, an amateur game. Should the British & Irish Lions win in Auckland on Saturday it really will be a special achievement.For Lions fans in search of omens 23 years on, it could scarcely be any wetter across New Zealand’s north island than it is...
England backs and forwards are pushing hard for Test spots but Warren Gatland will know not to get too carried away despite commanding victory over an under-strength Chiefs sideIt remains to be seen how much can be read into Elliot Daly’s withdrawal immediately after his burst down the left led to Jack Nowell’s second try – particularly as he later came back on for Jared Payne – but there can be no doubting George North is under pressure for his place in Saturday’s Test side. Daly, Nowell and Liam Williams all enjoyed excellent performances, benefiting from the tireless work of their forwards, but it is Daly, with the added advantage of his powerful left boot, that appears closest to dislodging...
Itoje has proved a vital element in the Lions’ ‘pressing game’ and is key to trying to frustrate Beauden Barrett, so should start in the first Test against All BlacksThe British & Irish Lions sealed victory against the Maori All Blacks with a try that was spawned by their relentless defence which resembles the pressing game favoured by many of the top football clubs.Damian McKenzie – the Maori fly-half who is one of the most threatening runners in Super Rugby, where he operates mostly as a full‑back – received the ball in his 22 and was quickly closed down by the second-rows George Kruis and Maro Itoje 12 minutes into the second half, even though he was standing deep. Related:...
The Lions coach has come in for criticism in his homeland yet knows his side must resist the All Blacks’ attempts to provoke an open game in the first TestHistory, ancient and modern, points to the Lions being outroared by New Zealand. The All Blacks warmed up for the series by amassing 78 points and 12 tries against Samoa. When asked what the Lions would need in Saturday’s first Test, the Samoa captain, Kahn Fotuali’i, replied: “Luck.”As well as tries, luck has largely eluded them so far. The loss of the No8 Billy Vunipola before the tour was compounded by the thigh injury suffered by Owen Farrell in training, a Lion the All Blacks would find space for. It would...
Warren Gatland will face criticism for bringing in reinforcements and on the field there are still chances being frittered awayThe criticism will not bother Warren Gatland in the slightest but it has been widespread nonetheless after he seconded four Wales players and two Scots on the basis of geography. He has been accused of devaluing the Lions jersey in doing so and, moreover, he risks affecting the dynamic of the squad. You have to feel for Kristian Dacey for example, no doubt thrilled to be called up but constantly being told he is not there on merit. For Gatland to say those six will be leaving the squad after the last midweek game also feels unnecessary. All will be forgotten...