New Zealand: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Aaron Cruden/Lima Sopoaga, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown
British and Irish Lions: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Anthony
Watson, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Ben Te’o, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 Owen
Farrell, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sean O’Brien, 6 Peter
O’Mahony (c), 5 George Kruis, 4 Alun Wyn Jones, 3 Tadgh Furlong, 2 Jamie
George, 1 Mako Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19
Maro Itoje, 20 Sam Warburton, 21 Rhys Webb, 22 Jonathan Sexton, 23
Leigh Halfpenny
Date: Saturday, June 24
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19:35 local (07:35 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Romain Poite (France), Jérôme Garcès (France)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
I literally cannot wait for this!
Don't know when last I was so up for a test match. Just shows how much poorer rugby union is since they replaced good old fashioned tours with Tri-Nations/4 Nations/Rugby Championship or whatever you want to call it. The annual contests between us and our SH rivals pale into insignificance when compared with an old fashioned tour that includes a test series.
My first exposure to international rugby as a kid was the 1974 Lions tour to South Africa and I've always had a soft spot for the Lions ever since. They always play with great passion and pride and are followed and supported by equally passionate supporters who every 4 years, put all their differences and rivalries aside and support the team as their own, Irishmen standing shoulder to shoulder with Englishmen while Welshmen and Scots embrace every time a Lions kick goes over. It is the last truly great tradition of Rugby Union and the fact that it only happens every 4 years (and we only get a visit every 12 years!) is part of what makes it such a great occasion.
I really wish we could go back to tours like this. When the British Lions are playing New Zealand, we should be touring Australia or have the Wallabies tour here. In 4 years time when the Lions tour Australia, we should be going to New Zealand for a tour or host them here.
Is it really asking too much that we have a 4 year cycle in World Rugby where we only play the Tri-Nations every alternate year and in between we have the RWC and traditional tours?
Back to tomorrow's game, before the tour I didn't give the Lions much hope of winning even a single test against these mighty All Blacks but as the day draws near, I may well be deluding myself but I'm starting to believe! If there is any one thing that has impressed me about these Lions it is their patience. They are willing to go through phase after phase and I think they will surprise and frustrate the All Blacks with the amount of possession they are able to keep.
I will probably be on my knees in front of the TV tomorrow at some stage promising some make-believe God that I will worship him from now on if he only allows the Lions to score a try . . . or if he smites Jaco Peyper down with a bolt of lightning! Been a long time since I was this wired before a game of rugby!
Come on the Lions!!!
