Face up to facts
land kicking game, and that needs to be measured, it has to be patient, and there has to be a decision-making process. That’s the challenge, aided by the other team members.”
Whispers of attack, as ever, are encouraging to hear. But so much of the talk in the build-up has been about the role of referee Jaco Peyper’s interpretation of blocking runners, breakdow down work and the offside line. All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen yesterday hinted, w without irony, that constant t talk of the referee by the Li Lions coaching team was tantam tamount to bullying. To Tomorrow is likely to be as phys physical a contest as anyone has seen in some time. With that as a given, Peyper is a pivotal figure — and no amount of buttering up or back-ch back-chat will change that.
There a are many intriguing sub-plots to this match.m
New Ze Zealand have not lost at Eden Park sin since 1994 — when they were mugged byb France. That record sounds impressi impressive, but it is also the case that the All BlacksBl rarely lose anywhere.
Tomorr Tomorrow, the All Blacks will field 20-year-o 20-year-old flying winger Rieko Ioane, who was not even born then. His selection was a surprise to some, with powerhouse try-machine Julian Savea dropping out of the squad altogether.
Hansen went on to praise the “mental fortitude fortitude” of the young winger, while being les less candid about the potential performa performance of captain Kieran Read, who has been on the sidelines since April withwit a broken thumb.
Do you think Ioane — or Read — will be overawed or concerned about stadium records? Such concerns melt away when you are being dragged into a ruck or have to field kick after kick coming from the drizzly Auckland skies.
If you ignore the aura, the records, the age brackets and the chat, tomorrow’s Test all comes down to a few factors. If the Lions are to catch the All Blacks cold, this is the time.
They have to overpower the New Zealand pack; catch Read’s crew with their rushing defence; frustrate the hosts with a kicking game that turns them time and again; and actually live up to the promise of that exciting back three.
Which is not easy in Auckland, but the Lions look confident in the face of an exciting challenge. Position: NZ caps: Points: Position: Eng caps: Points: