Lions must make a hot start or

Catching All Blacks cold tomorrow is the tourists’ best chance of winning a series in New Zealand for the first time since 1971

WHEN it comes to talking about the All Blacks, it is not so much shock and awe as being dragged into the realm of myth and aura. No matter how much we talk about how special the world’s No 1 side can be, it is always worth remembering that the first Test of a series is the best time to catch them. There are exceptions, of course. In 1993, Gavin Hastings led the Lions to a 20-7 victory over the All Blacks in the second match of the Test series, in Wellington. The Lions would ultimately lose out 2-1, but the Third Test took on far greater significance. The hosts squeaked home in a clincher in Christchurch and, by then, none of the tourists was overwhelmed by the prospect of facing them.

In modern times, however, you have to look at the way the All Blacks can suffer from ring rust.

Last summer, Wales caught them on the hop in their tour opener, with some great individual performances, most notably from Liam Williams and Taulupe Faletau, who start tomorrow at full-back and No 8 respectively. Wales would go on to lose that Test 39-21 but, much like England in 2014, they exposed some vulnerability.

Three years ago, an England side shorn of its Premiership finalists rattled the All Blacks at Eden Park, with the hosts shading it 20-15. It was seen as an opportunity lost for the tourists, but again it offers a guide.

This time, New Zealand opted to try to negate this rustiness by taking on Samoa last Friday in a one-sided affair.