SO, HOW DO YOU BEAT THE ALL BLACKS?

IT’S almost impossible! New Zealand haven’t lost a Test series against the Lions since 1971 and have won 45 consecutive Tests at home. Here, IMOS sport provides a blueprint to beat Steve Hansen’s side.

STOP RETALLICK

The linchpin of the All Blacks pack, Brodie Retallick will be central to New Zealand’s forward assault on the Lions. The Chiefs lock is a superb lineout technician and powerful scrummager but it is his work in the loose that sets him apart.

The 26-year-old is famed for his ‘tip on’ passes right on the gainline which target soft shoulders and exploit gaps in the opposition defence on the fringes of the ruck.

It is imperative the Lions pack blitz Retallick early while being alert to his passing game.

EXPLOIT THEIR RUCK DEFENCE

When the All Blacks are stretched in attack, their ‘pillar defence’ at the ruck leaves a lot to be desired. In the opening minute of England’s narrow 2014 loss in Auckland, Chris Robshaw made a surging break through the middle of a poorly-guarded ruck in the opening minute. Sean O’Brien identified the same flaw in the build-up to Rory Best’s stunning try in Ireland’s lastgasp 24-22 loss in 2013 and, most recently, Conor Murray exploited a yawning gap on the fringe of the breakdown, with a little help from CJ Stander who effected a smart block on Owen Franks (above), during Ireland’s stunning first-half display in Chicago.

WIN AERIAL BATTLE

Beauden Barrett’s place kicking may be questionable, but his kicking out of hand is world class — he possesses an arsenal of attacking kicks from hands and his tactical kicking game will give Andy Farrell plenty of headaches.

The All Blacks have effectively turned kick-offs into a third set piece after lineouts and scrums. Dan Carter was the master of the kick-off and could drop his restarts right onto the 10-metre line with Kieran Read and the now-retired Conrad Smith adept at fielding high balls on the run. Barrett has taken up the mantle and is equally adept.

Ireland used lifting pods across the field during their 21-9 defeat in Dublin last November in an attempt to negate this tactic.

SCORE LOTS OF TRIES

Steve Hansen’s side are a devastating attacking unit, securing the Rugby Championship last year by beating South Africa and Australia three times each, bagging four-try bonus points in all six matches. It was the first time in the tournament’s history that a side recorded a maximum haul of 30 points. It’s not how many tries that New Zealand score but when that makes them so dangerous. In their 14 Tests in 2016, the Kiwis scored an average of 20 points after half-time. If the Lions are to have any chance, they must cross the try-line on multiple occasions — Ireland needed five tries to see them off in Chicago.

DON’T GIVE READ THE EDGE

New Zealand skipper Kieran Read is on set to recover from a broken thumb and lead his side out for the opening Test. The No 8 is an integral part of the All Blacks 1-3-3-1 attacking shape, where all eight forwards fill the width of the pitch, and looks to roam on the outside edges to utilise his offloading game and intelligent running lines.

MAKE THEM PAY

Joe Moody’s tip tackle on Robbie Henshaw proved a huge turning point in Ireland’s 40-29 win at Soldier Field. Schmidt’s men took full advantage and scored 12 points while loosehead prop Moody was in the sin-bin. Two weeks later, Ireland were not able to display the same ruthless streak. The All Blacks spent 60 minutes down to 14 when Aaron Smith and Malakai Fekitoa were both yellow-carded at different stages. Ireland’s point return from 20 minutes with a one-man advantage? Three points.

MAUL THEM

New Zealand have struggled with this tactic in the past. Ireland looked to utilise the driving maul at every available opportunity during that famous Chicago win. Jordi Murphy powered over in the first half from a surging lineout maul before Jonny Sexton exploited a huge gap on the blindiside to send Simon Zebo over early in the second half after another powerful drive sucked in the All Blacks’ defence. That 14-point haul directly from lineout mauls proved decisive.