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New Zealand v British and Irish Lions: Everything you need to know
It is now or never for the British and Irish Lions, who must defeat the all-conquering New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday if they are to keep their series hopes alive.
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Following mixed results in preparation for last weekend’s opening Test, the Lions were beaten 30-15 by a ruthless All Blacks outfit, who showed exactly why they are the two-time defending world champions.
One feels Steve Hansen would have ideally stuck with the same XV that proved too strong at Eden Park, but his hand has been forced by injuries to Ben Smith and Ryan Crotty, meaning Waisake Naholo and Anton Lienert-Brown come in at wing and centre respectively, Israel Dagg switching to full-back.
The Lions have also made changes. Sam Warburton replaces Peter O’Mahony in the back row and as skipper, while Maro Itoje comes in for George Kruis at lock and will be charged with running the line-out.
There is also a reshuffle in the backs as Jonathan Sexton takes the 10 jersey and Owen Farrell moves to inside centre with Ben Te’o perhaps unfortunate to drop to the bench.
Last Saturday’s result prompted some critics to ask familiar questions about the merit of Lions tours, but All Blacks captain Kieran Read is of the opposite view.
“It’s just been so exciting being around the country the last couple of weeks,” he said. “It’s been awesome, the Lions are so passionate about the game and I’m sure it will continue.”
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Read’s enthusiasm notwithstanding, another resounding home success at Westpac Stadium – where the Lions gave up a 23-7 half-time lead to draw 31-31 with the Hurricanes on Tuesday – will only provide further fuel for the nay-sayers.
One more sleep. #NZLvBIL ??? pic.twitter.com/grUHnMgRJv
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) June 30, 2017
HEAD TO HEAD
New Zealand: 30
British and Irish Lions: 6
Draw: 3
KEY PLAYERS
Waisake Naholo (New Zealand)
The Lions are already well aware of Naholo’s devastating attacking talent, the wing having crossed the whitewash during the Highlanders’ 23-22 victory earlier in the tour. The Lions may seek to take advantage of Smith’s absence and target Naholo with the high ball, but they will have to be mindful of his countering ability as the All Blacks’ back line is now blessed with an arguably more dangerous offensive weapon.
Sam Warburton (British and Irish Lions)
All Blacks skipper Read believes the Lions will target the breakdown area more so than last time out, and Warburton will be key to that game plan. The Welshman came off the bench early in the second half to replace O’Mahony in Auckland, and will be expected to lead from the front – as he did so in the victorious tour of Australia four years ago – if the Lions are to keep the series alive.
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THE LINE-UPS
New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Waisake Naholo, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Samuel Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Sam Cane, Kieran Read (captain).
British and Irish Lions: Liam Williams, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Davies, Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly, Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton, Sean O’Brien, Taulupe Faletau.
PRE-MATCH TALK
Kieran Read (New Zealand captain): “They’re definitely going to target the breakdown more this week than last. But if we can dominate some ball carries then hopefully it nullifies what they’ve got. If we’re sitting back and waiting, and trying to expect what the Lions will bring, we’ll be dominated. If anything it’s going to be even more physical than last week and we can’t wait for that battle. We’ve got to expect that.”
Andy Farrell (British and Irish Lions assistant coach): “We have had a lot more time to reflect, review and put to bed the first Test and taking the learning from it and move onto this one. It is about character for us this week, it is about manning up and putting everything on the line because it is that situation isn’t it? It’s do or die for us. These guys are a little bit hurt…and we will see what we are made of this week.”
OPTA STATS
– The Lions have lost the second Test on each of their last four tours, last winning such a game in South Africa in 1997.
– The All Blacks have won 12 of the last 13 meetings between the sides; the Lions’ only win in that run came in the second Test in 1993.
– The All Blacks have not lost on home soil so far this decade, winning 47 in a row since losing to South Africa in Hamilton in 2009.
– Rieko Ioane gained 86 metres in the opening Test, more than any other player on the pitch, his three tries against the Lions are the joint most of any player to play for or against the Lions on this tour (Tommy Seymour also 3).
– Beauden Barrett has made 13 of his 14 (93 per cent) kicks at goal for the All Blacks so far in 2017, he landed just 70 per cent (49/70) for New Zealand in 2016.
Comments on RugbyPass
Good to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
16 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
16 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
16 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
16 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
16 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
16 Go to comments