English and Irish Lions tour dealing with a suicidal itinerary...

The British & Irish Lions are dealing with a potentially "suicidal" itinerary in New Zealand, according to Sir Graham Henry.
The Lions' schedule sees them face all five of New Zealand's Super Rugby franchises and also the Maori All Blacks, a game traditionally seen as an unofficial fourth Test.
And they will also face New Zealand twice at Eden Park, a ground where the All Blacks last lost in 1994, as they look to secure their first series win over the Kiwis since 1971.

The ultimate British & Irish Lions Team of the WeekAhead of Wednesday's Lions team announcement, we have tallied up each XV to see which players have featured the most so far to produce a starting 15 based solely on form this season.
How the Lions captain and bolter found out they were selectedA call from Barbados and preventing a Great Dane from escaping: Brian O'Driscoll and Jason Robinson reflect on how they found out they had got the call for British & Irish Lions duty.Henry knows full well the pressures of coaching both the Lions and the All Blacks. Back in 2001 he led the Lions to Australia for what proved to be a 2-1 series defeat and 10 years on he coached the All Blacks to the World Cup.
He believes the Lions will bring a "strong" squad to New Zealand, but fears the itinerary may halt their progress as they look to build momentum through to the first Test on June 24.

Sir Graham Henry coached New Zealand to a 3-0 series win over Lions in 2013. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)"There is huge pressure on the Lions," Henry told ESPN. "You just want the Lions to do well because it is such a marvellous brand in world rugby and they need to do pretty well to maintain the potency of the brand, because it's huge for the southern hemisphere countries to have the Lions tour.
"I know from my own experiences how much the players respect getting selected for the Lions. It is the pinnacle of their career. It is massive but they need to do well and I just wonder if the itinerary is suicidal. That is my concern.
"They are playing New Zealand Maori, they are playing the five franchised teams -- and those five franchised teams have nothing to lose, no pressure on them at all, so they will fire everything at the Lions and take them on.
"Hopefully they [the Lions] have the ability to overcome that. But really when you tour, you need to ensure some momentum is created by results and you just wonder how they are going to go into the Test series with that itinerary. It is very demanding."
Henry points to Wales' match against the Chiefs on their 2016 tour as an example of what the Lions can expect. Warren Gatland's side faced the franchise in a midweek match on their tour of New Zealand and were humbled 40-7.

British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland will announce his squad on April 19. David Rogers/Getty Images"The Chiefs had nothing to worry about, no pressure, they just went out and expressed themselves," Henry said. "When those young kids do that in this country, against opposition that they respect, and they are obviously going to respect the Lions, it is going to be a massive challenge for the Lions."
Henry is full of praise for the work Gatland has done in northern hemisphere rugby. "It is bloody incredible," is his take and puts him alongside Steve Hansen in terms of being the two most experienced coaches in world rugby.
For Gatland, one of his main challenges with this taxing schedule is to ensure the Lions peak for the Test series. Their time in New Zealand will be judged on their record against the All Blacks, but winning their matches against the franchises will be key in building momentum.

"They are remembered by the Test match results but sides gain confidence and momentum through the games they play leading into those Test matches and if they don't get success in those games, confidence is not going to be high and that is going to affect the way they play in the Test matches," Henry said. "I don't know if you can draw a line between the games you play prior to the Test and the Test.
"I think it is all part of what you're doing there and part of the psyche of the team, the confidence of the team and how they play.
"Certainly they are going to be remembered for how they play in those three Tests, but the building of the confidence and the ability to play the game through those franchise games and the New Zealand Maori game will be pretty important."
ESPN

ESPN Staff . Since the first ball of the domestic season was kicked or passed, we have been putting together our British & Irish Lions team of the week. It is a week-on-week chart of where each Lions hopeful's form lies. . Ahead of Wednesday's Lions team announcement, we have tallied up each XV to see which players have featured the most so far to produce a starting 15 based solely on form this season. . 15. Stuart Hogg (Scotland) The Glasgow Warriors fullback has been one of the most exciting players to watch this season and should be included in the Lions' squad. 14. Elliot Daly (England) With Daly, versatility is king, as is his ability to knock over penalties from inside his own half. He has impressed for club and country this season. 13. Garry Ringrose (Ireland) Ringrose could gate-crash the squad on Wednesday as the bolter after a superb campaign for Leinster and Ireland. 12. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland) Arguably the in-form inside centre in northern hemisphere rugby and should feature in Wednesday's squad. 11. Chris Ashton (England) Ashton's form has caught the eye recently and his try-scoring ability could force his way into the reckoning. 10. Owen Farrell (England) He was suggested as a possible Lions captain at stages throughout the season but is a dead cert to be included in the squad. 9. Conor Murray (Ireland) / Rhys Webb (Wales) The battle for scrum-half should be fascinating with Murray and Webb locked on the same number of times they have featured in our team of the week. 1. Mako Vunipola (England) Mako has established himself as one of the world's most destructive loose-heads but he is also outstanding in the loose. 2. Rory Best (Ireland) Best is likely to miss out on the Lions captaincy to Sam Warburton but his leadership skills will be invaluable in New Zealand. 3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland) Furlong will likely travel to New Zealand as the Lions' first-choice tight-head after a strong campaign for Leinster and Ireland. 4. Maro Itoje (England) Itoje can cover both the locks and blindside and will be hopeful of a Test spot against the All Blacks. 5. Joe Launchbury (England) Launchbury was superb for England in the Six Nations and could force his way into the starting 15 in New Zealand. 6. CJ Stander (Ireland) Stander can also play at No.8 and has been one of the form back-rows this season for Munster and Ireland. 7. Sam Warburton (Wales) Warburton is odds-on to be named Lions captain on Wednesday and has the form to back up the honour. 8. Billy Vunipola (England) Like his brother Mako, Billy has emerged as one of the world's best forwards and will cause the All Blacks all sorts of trouble.

 ...a crazy schedule really...They're playing the NZ Barbarians 3rd June                               Blues on the   7th June                            Crusaders on the 10th June                               Highlanders    13th June                                 Maori ABs      17th June                                 Mighty Chiefs  20th June
..all that pummeling even before the first test on the 24th...talk about suckers for punishment...
Then the Canes soften them up a bit more on the 27th before the last two tests 1st and 8th July...A Hell tour awaiting them ...

Agreed. It is too much rugby, even for a big Lions squad that is able to rotate players. There should be 2 or 3 less games in the tour. Again, the greedy administrators are just trying to milk it for all they can, with zero regard for rugby. 

 Brycy a poorly put together Stormers side beat the hapless Chief so get some perspective oak. I don't watch NH rugby but they would have to be pretty poor not to be able to knock of the soft kiwi sides don't ya think Brycy. I mean they have 4 international sides to choose from.
Of course you have not mentioned their biggest difficulty. Bent down under refs. Man it was painful to watch England getting robbed blind last time they toured. So The Lions travel down to the land of the long dark cloud. My tip would be to tuck in your heads to avoid a cheap high shot. Star players take care and remember what happened to O'Driscoll. AND whatever you do don't partake of Cloudy's mean boil concoction - a tour ending error! Also NEVER listen to any comment made by that arch villain, the nefarious JW!!
If in doubt call Beeno for advice.Go Lions go get em!

 
I take it both parties have agreed to this?

Yes the NZRU and Auckland RU bankers are both on board with the itinerary.
The parties who sanctioned this itinerary have never ever played the game at this level I guess. 
Crazy.

 The large number of games was requested by the Lions management not by the NZRFU.And of course as we are such nice accommodating people we agreed to their wish's

 crusadersfan is right,... lions demanded such a calendar,... they wanted to have games to gel the team,....
besides they are going to name around 40 players to travel,... almost 3 starting teams,... most of the players will play 2 games before the tests against the AB,.... no such a big deal


lions should win all the games before the tests,.... but I don't think they will,.... saders have the best chance to beat them IMO,... like only the Blues they will play with their AB,.... it would be a great and good surprise if Highlanders, Chiefs and Canes playing without their AB can beat them,.... but I cannot see the Highlanders without Squire, Dixon, A. Smith, Fekitoa, Naholo and B. Smith beating them,.... same the chiefs without Retallick, Cane, TKB, Cruden, ALB and probably Mckenzie,... or canes without Coles, A. Savea, TJ, Barret, J. Savea and NMS

Lions in these games are going to use their forward pack to bully the opposite and impose themselves physically,.... and in many cases they'll success,... but not against the saders pack,... that could be a hell of a match

Great now all u guys have to do is ensure that the TMO is a Zealander and the series is won.
Such great ambassadors for rugby.
What great folks you guys really are? 

 

 What are you banging on about Arfur ? Have us naughty Kiwis done something wicked by accommodating the lions management ?And the refs are Saffas btw as you would know with but a cursory glance at the itinerary .

 That guarantees a few more pommy gold watch's on the streets of SA for the muggers to target 

 
Wel in that case it should be an awesome tour.

The B & I Lions will no doubt be competitive ... just a pity Jones isn't running the show.

 Will be massive, most anticipated series in NZ since the 2011 WC.Last visit was huge but think this is going to be bigger, we talk more about this tour at work now than Super rugby and that includes our 2 pet saffas.No work will get done until after lunch tomorrow since the team gets named tonight.