24 - 28

32 - 25

16 - 12

39 - 24

What Goes On Tour in Hamilton - Chiefs v British & Irish Lions Match Preview

By Sam Smith

19 Jun 2017

Jamie Wall at FMG Stadium in Hamilton, Waikato

Here’s Jamie Wall to take you through The Warm Up ahead of tonight’s big game between the Chiefs and British & Irish Lions.

LIVE

Comments

0 Comments

Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Latest Features

LONG READ

'Don’t cry for the Lions over Argentina... it should be their touchstone now'

The Lions' Dublin send-off was always going to be a distraction from the real business at hand, but now it is time to 'circle the wagons'.

LONG READ

A glut of Lions balances the less than rosy state of the Irish rugby garden

While Leinster quenched their trophy drought, there are big summers ahead for Munster, Ulster and Connacht.

LONG READ

Tom Willis: 'You need an edge, you need to flick that switch once you cross the line.'

The Saracens and England back row talks about the importance of family, his French leave in Bordeaux and love of bagels.

Comments on RugbyPass

Blackmania 38 minutes ago

Scott Robertson names his 35-man All Blacks squad for France series

I think we’ll see Will Jordan and/or Ruben Love on the wing against France. Maybe Rieko Ioane too, although I don’t think that would be a good idea. Tavatavanawai can also play there.

As for Rieko Ioane, I’m quite pessimistic about him this year. He’ll need to show something different, otherwise he could eventually be dropped from the squad.

Proctor is pushing hard, ALB seems to be highly regarded by Razor, and the imminent return of Fainga’anuku puts Ioane in serious danger… I also see Jordie Barrett being tested at 13 at some point.

80 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 50 minutes ago

Scott Robertson names his 35-man All Blacks squad for France series

Impressive squad, seems to have picked on form.

I am a little surprised they are only 2 deep at fly-halve?

If Barrett starts and D-Mac benches as a utility back, would they do the unthinkable and try to match a French 7:1 split?

80 Go to comments

DarstedlyDan 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson names his 35-man All Blacks squad for France series

I suspect this is the reason. Blackadder has a big engine, is everywhere, is reliable and makes many tackles (& had a very good game on Saturday). But he tends to die with the ball in contact, and there are others who are more dominant tacklers (Jacobsen, Finau for example).

Also the 5 loose forwards they have chosen are positionally well balanced - Wallace covers 8 + 6, Ardie 7 + 8, Finau 6, Kirifi 7, and Jacobsen 6+7+8. Blackadder I assume would have been competing with Jacobsen for the 6-7-8 cover role, and they obviously see a little more in Jacobsen than Blackadder there.

80 Go to comments

DarstedlyDan 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson names his 35-man All Blacks squad for France series

No, he hasn’t. Aidan Ross has though.

80 Go to comments

DarstedlyDan 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson names his 35-man All Blacks squad for France series

Isn’t it more likely that Wallace is there as an 8 + 6, Ardie as 7 + 8, Finau as 6, Kirifi as a 7, and Jacobsen as 6-7-8 cover? Or has the coaching team come out and said Jacobsen is there as a 7 & I’ve missed it?

80 Go to comments

DarstedlyDan 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson names his 35-man All Blacks squad for France series

Blackadder definitely unlucky, but… while he tackles & tackles, has a big engine and is everywhere, where is struggles is dominant carry (as you rightly state, Finau beats him there). When he carries he tends to go to ground pretty quick and often does not make gainline advantage. I wonder if that is behind their thinking.

80 Go to comments

DarstedlyDan 2 hours ago

Scott Robertson names his 35-man All Blacks squad for France series

I think the squad opens up for a 6-2 bench alternative, which has not been the case in previous years. A backline of Roigard - Barrett - Barrett - Ioane - Reece - Tavatavanawai - Jordan with reserves Ratima - DMac for example would be able to cover all positions, and allow the selection of a big forward pack with 6 run on reserves. Will be interesting to see if they go down this route in one of the tests.

80 Go to comments

DarstedlyDan 2 hours ago

Scott Robertson names his 35-man All Blacks squad for France series

Looks to me like Clarke will start on the left and Reece on the right - not sure why you think they will be competing with each other? Who will be starting right wing under that scenario?

Otherwise agree with your assessment - the AB coaches have been praising Tangitau and he is very fast (something we otherwise lack out wide and since Ioane is still selected as a centre). Fainga’anuku will be interesting - both how they will use him (if they do) and who he would replace in the squad.

80 Go to comments

DP 2 hours ago

British and Irish Lions warn Australia over potential contract breach

This was alwasy going to be a balancing act for Australia, they can field a competitive test squad but the depth just isn’t readily available.. 1-2 key injuries and it’s advantage Lions. Sums up the state of play in Oz and Union.

2 Go to comments

d 2 hours ago

Winners and losers of the first All Blacks squad of the year

I can understand Clarke getting the nod for his test track record, but don’t know how Reece got the nod over Narawa after his poor performance at test level last year. He looks great in SR , in fact I was a big fan, but his decision making and defence have been proven inadequate.

6 Go to comments

Toaster 2 hours ago

Scott Robertson names his 35-man All Blacks squad for France series

Newell is a destructive scrummager

Agree Hotham is hot and cold

80 Go to comments

Toaster 2 hours ago

Scott Robertson names his 35-man All Blacks squad for France series

Exactly

It’s not that he doesn’t play well when he’s available but we continue to search for more than that

That last loose forward spot continues to be a big question mark so I can see why he’s trying Finau perhaps one last time and selected Kirifi as a point of difference

Papalii

Jacobsen

Finau

Blackadder

None of them have nailed it

Lakai looks the most likely but is injured

80 Go to comments

BAZ 3 hours ago

British and Irish Lions warn Australia over potential contract breach

So any single country hosting B & I LIONS Tours can be held in breech of contract in withdrawing even injured Test players from State or Provincial fixtures as well. Is that usual in such touring contracts in the past just asking out of interest for any Lions tours as a curious KIWI?

2 Go to comments

Nickers 3 hours ago