The fly-half is a totem for the Lions and if he cannot win his fitness race for the first Test it would be a significant hit to their chances in New ZealandThe general consensus is that if the Lions are going to beat the All Blacks they will need to score three or four tries but that is a myth. They are in New Zealand to win Test matches, they are not going to play a lot of rugby, they are not going to showcase many skills and they will 100% try to strangle the All Blacks. If they execute the gameplan, built around a very solid defence, a very solid set-piece and a very accurate kicking game, then one...
By now the Lions will realise how demanding a New Zealand tour can be but Warren Gatland’s squad still has the potential to develop a clinical edgeThe British & Irish Lions move on to Rotorua, hoping the Bay of Plenty lives up to its name after average returns so far in New Zealand. Tuesday’s defeat to the Highlanders deflated rather than punctured the belief generated by the success over the Crusaders in Christchurch, but only victory will do against New Zealand Maori on Saturday when the tourists will field what will be very close to their side in the first Test.Four matches into the trip, every player in the squad now appreciates that a tour to New Zealand is unlike...
Tourists found wanting in final stages against Highlanders; Warburton needs to prove he is up to speed; discipline disintegrates and Ben Te’o the man for No12If a second midweek defeat of the tour has brought the Lions down to earth, there is equally no need for Warren Gatland to panic. There were positives in the 23-22 defeat in Dunedin – they outscored the Highlanders three tries to two after all – but many of their failings against the Blues returned. It was a breathless match, the best so far, but the Lions were found wanting in the final stages. Should Owen Farrell rather than Greig Laidlaw have kicked at goal considering it was his first involvement? Should Elliot Daly have...
The partnership, featuring Murray’s tactical kicking and Farrell’s distribution, led to the British & Irish Lions’ best performance of the tour against the CrusadersThe British & Irish Lions may have been rocked by criticism in New Zealand of their playing style, but their victory against the Crusaders showed they are not going to be swayed by it.They pitched up in Christchurch with six players from the 2013 tour to Australia who were making their first starts in New Zealand: if it was not quite the A-team, they brought their A-game, led around the field by authoritative, pragmatic half-backs. Related: Sam Warburton to return from injury and lead Lions against Highlanders Related: Lions’ confounding win gives New Zealand reasons to be...
Forwards leave coach spoilt for choice and set tourists up well for the tests that lie ahead as they prepare for their match against the Highlanders on TuesdayIt is impossible to overstate the fresh sense of purpose that has accompanied the entire British & Irish Lions squad south from Christchurch to Otago. Not many sides conquer a strong Crusaders team with something to spare and the result on Saturday had two significant consequences. Not only do these Lions have more belief in themselves but New Zealand’s worst nightmare is in danger of materialising.From a New Zealand point of view all was relatively normal before the weekend. The touring team had been struggling to make an impression, the local media were...