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The Magnificent seven reasons why the All Blacks will win
It will be tight. It will be tough. It will be tense.
But I still back the All Blacks to win the 1st test by a converted try, which is why I have 7 MAGNIFICENT reasons the Abs will clinch it…
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In Shag we trust.
And why wouldn’t we? The All Black coach and selectors have fashioned a ridiculously successful record since taking over the reins post-RWC 2011. Just 4 losses in 5 years and none to the same opponent says, unequivocally, these guys know what they are doing.
The Grunt Machine.
Underestimate the All Blacks Tight-5 at your peril! With a wealth of experience (278 combined caps compared to 311 for the Lions front 5) these men are battle-hardened, tough, crafty and very rarely (if ever) get beaten OR beaten up. The Crusaders scrum taught the Lions a lesson in Christchurch and expect more of the same at EP.
Eden Park.
It’s called a fortress for very good reason. The ABs favourite ground is where we haven’t lost a single test since 1994 (vs France) nor a series since 1986 (vs Australia). Don’t ask why it seems so impregnable because there isn’t an obvious answer – other than those overwhelming statistics which well and truly speak for themselves.
Beauden Barrett.
Crowned the world’s best player last year because he is! Barrett is more than just a game-breaker he is, and has frequently shown that he is, thee difference. Any gap left, any lapse in concentration, any error made by the opposition and he WILL capitalise. For every mechanical and predictable piece of excellence Farrell offers, Barrett can see then raise it by 10 (points that is)!
The Bench.
No longer a game of 15 vs 15, the impact of numbers 16 through 23 more often than not heavily influences the tempo, sway and ultimately result of every modern day rugby test. This is one area where the All Blacks do have a discernible advantage, players coming off the bench who can and WILL affect the outcome.
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Last 20.
Following on from Reason #5 the fitness, pace and power of the ABs in the last quarter will again be evident and is perhaps the one obvious area where the visitors might just struggle to gain parity. In recent years the last 20 minutes is when the All Blacks flick the switch and attempt to run the oppo off their feet. It’s about fitness, composure, pressure, asking endless questions of the Lions and will most probably be the time when the test is won and lost.
Warrenball.
It may come as a surprise admission but truth is we’ve played it for years AND we’re better at it! We call it “play what’s in front of you”. And if there’s nothing obvious on then we’ll drive it up. Or we’ll kick it deep, come hard up in defence and belt you senseless. Then we might just remind you of the scoreboard! After which we’ll shake hands and head to Wellington looking to close out the series.
Confident? Why shouldn’t we be? That’s what being back-to-back World Champions does for a man. And that’s why pre-test it feels great to be an All Black fan!
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments