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Halfpenny ready for Lions kicking battle

Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny

Leigh Halfpenny is relishing the battle to be the number one goal-kicker for the British and Irish Lions’ first Test with New Zealand on June 24.

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Warren Gatland has a wealth of quality to select from when it comes to kicks from the tee, with Halfpenny facing competition from the likes of Owen Farrell, Dan Biggar and Jonathan Sexton.

Halfpenny was top scorer for the Lions on their 2013 tour of Australia with 114 points to his name, 49 of those coming in the three Tests with the Wallabies.

The Wales international also faces competition for a starting berth at full-back with compatriot Liam Williams, England’s Jack Nowell and Stuart Hogg – who finished as player of the tournament in the 2016 Six Nations after a series of impressive displays for Scotland.

“There’s huge competition, they’re all world-class goal kickers and world-class players,” he said.

“There’s huge competition, both for places in regards to the back three there’s huge competition there and also in the goal-kicking but it’s just about taking your opportunities when you’re given them and putting your hand up, just trying to perform as best you can.”

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SK 1 hour ago
The times are changing, and some Six Nations teams may be left behind

If you are building the same amount of rucks but kicking more is that a bad thing? Kicks are more constestable than ever, fans want to see a contest, is that a bad thing? kicks create broken field situations where counter attacks from be launched from or from which turnover ball can be exploited, attacks are more direct and swift rather than multiphase in nature, is that a bad thing? What is clear now is that a hybrid approach is needed to win matches. You can still build phases but you need to play in the right areas so you have to kick well. You also have to be prepared to play from turnover ball and transition quickly from the kick contest to attack or set your defence quickly if the aerial contest is lost. Rugby seems healthy to me. The rules at ruck time means the team in possession is favoured and its more possible than ever to play a multiphase game. At the same time kicking, set piece, kick chase and receipt seems to be more important than ever. Teams can win in so many ways with so many strategies. If anything rugby resembles footballs 4-4-2 era. Now football is all about 1 striker formations with gegenpress and transition play vs possession heavy teams, fewer shots, less direct play and crossing. Its boring and it plods along with moves starting from deep, passing goalkeepers and centre backs and less wing play. If we keep tinkering with the laws rugby will become a game with more defined styles and less variety, less ways to win effectively and less varied body types and skill sets.

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