OUR PREDICTIONS

Mike Greenaway WHO WILL WIN: All Blacks WHY: The settled, composed All Blacks have not lost at home since 2009 and it is difficult to see that eight-year streak halted by a team that has been together for only a few weeks. That is the major problem with Lions tours, the Test team only starts gelling as a unit as the tour ends! Vata Ngobeni WHO WILL WIN: All Blacks. WHY: There is nothing unfamiliar about the place the All Blacks find themselves in and so they will fully appreciate what it is they need to do to win. They have the experience, the form from individuals and as a collective and are the kind of team that thrives under pressure. Jacques van der Westhuyzen WHO WILL WIN: British and Irish Lions WHY: The visitors are battle-hardened and have figured out how to disrupt the All Blacks’ game plan; and that’s to play in their faces and rush their decision-makers. The Lions’ defence is top-notch and Warren Gatland has put emotion aside and picked a form team. The All Blacks will be vulnerable first-up. Wynona Louw WHO WILL WIN: All Blacks WHY: The Lions will be in good spirits going into the clash, and their forwards look strong enough to get a firm grip on the Kiwis, but the All Blacks’ backs (and their pack) will be too much for the Lions. The fact that the All Blacks haven’t lost at Eden Park since 1994 will be another big factor. Darryn Pollock WHO WILL WIN: All Blacks. WHY: The Lions have been slowly building towards this first Test match, with better performances, and even better tries, but they are still way off the mark of the All Blacks, and that was noticeable in their Samoa Test. The Lions will try to defend their way to a win, but you simply cannot do that against New Zealand.