NEW ZEALAND v BRITISH & IRISH LIONS, 24 June

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NEW ZEALAND v BRITISH & IRISH LIONS  
24 June 2017
KO: 19:35 NZST (8.35am BST)
Eden Park, Auckland

Live on [Sky Sports HD]

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
ARs: [tbc]
TMO: [tbc]

A. Head to Head

38 Played 38
29 Won 6
3 Drawn 3
6 Lost 29
634 Points 345

B. Recent Form

9 July 2005
Eden Park, Auckland
38 – 19 to New Zealand

2 July 2005
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
48 – 18 to New Zealand

25 June 2005
Lancaster Park, Christchurch
21 – 3 to New Zealand

3 July 1993
Eden Park, Auckland
30 – 13 to New Zealand

26 June 1993
Athletic Park, Wellington
7 – 20 to British & Irish Lions

12 June 1993
Lancaster Park, Christchurch
20 – 18 to New Zealand

16 July 1983
Eden Park, Auckland
38 – 6 to New Zealand

2 July 1983
Carisbrook, Dunedin
15 – 8 to New Zealand

18 June 1983
Athletic Park (Wellington), Wellington
9 – 0 to New Zealand

4 June 1983
Lancaster Park, Christchurch
16 – 12 to New Zealand

C. TEAMS:

NEW ZEALAND

01. Joe Moody (25)
02. Codie Taylor (16)
03. Owen Franks (91)
04. Brodie Retallick (61)
05. Samuel Whitelock (85)
06. Jerome Kaino (78)
07. Sam Cane (41)
08. Kieran Read (97)

09. Aaron Smith (59)
10. Beauden Barrett (50)
11. Rieko Ioane (2)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (34)
13. Ryan Crotty (26)
14. Israel Dagg (62)
15. Ben Smith (61)

16. Nathan Harris (5)
17. Wyatt Crockett (59)
18. Charlie Faumuina (47)
19. Scott Barrett (5)
20. Ardie Savea (13)
21. TJ Perenara (30)
22. Aaron Cruden (47) / Lima Sopoaga (7)
23. Anton Lienert-Brown (10)

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS  

15. Liam Williams – Scarlets, Wales, #833
14. Anthony Watson – Bath Rugby, England, #816
13. Jonathan Davies – Scarlets, Wales, #778
12. Ben Te’o – Worcester Warriors, England, #815
11. Elliot Daly – Wasps, England, #822
10. Owen Farrell – Saracens, England, #780
09. Conor Murray – Munster, Ireland, #790

01. Mako Vunipola – Saracens, England, #787
02. Jamie George – Saracens, England, #819
03. Tadhg Furlong – Leinster, Ireland, #818
04. Alun Wyn Jones – Ospreys, Wales, #761
05. George Kruis – Saracens, England, #817
06. Peter O’Mahony (capt) – Munster, Ireland, #832
07. Sean O’Brien – Leinster, Ireland, #796
08. Taulupe Faletau – Bath Rugby, Wales, #779

16. Ken Owens – Scarlets, Wales, #829
17. Jack McGrath – Leinster, Ireland, #827
18. Kyle Sinckler – Harlequins, England, #814
19. Maro Itoje – Saracens, England, #825
20. Sam Warburton – Cardiff Blues, Wales, #800
21. Rhys Webb – Ospreys, Wales, #820
22. Johnny Sexton – Leinster, Ireland, #791
23. Leigh Halfpenny – Toulon, Wales, #775

Shame that due to injuries Scotland won't have a player representing the lions in the first test, but good luck to all the Welsh, English and Irish players pulling on the Lions jersey tomorrow, I think the Lions can win!

mikey_dragon wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:A stopped watch is right twice a day

I can't remember there being many examples of JD2 being incapable of passing on this tour? I can remember a few for Te'o though, it's pretty much been every single one of his attempts at passing... Still that's a pretty good midfield. BTW if you want another example of a Welsh player being personally attacked, in this case yes it's JD2, then head over to the Lions 2017 thread. It's good to be right this often mind.

My word Mikey.
So the Welsh posters on the 6n Wales v Italy thread were lying when they said he has always had issues with his passing just after he had missed his winger and put it straight into touch?
Were they also lying when they said once he puts in a bad pass he then reverts to kicking rather than passing? Just like people have mentioned here?
Am i picking on him when I have said he runs great lines and brilliant defender but his passing can let him down ( I have said the exact same thing about teo by the way)

You do seem to like this "world against us" thing

Well whatever gets you through the day

bsando wrote:Shame that due to injuries Scotland won't have a player representing the lions in the first test, but good luck to all the Welsh, English and Irish players pulling on the Lions jersey tomorrow, I think the Lions can win!

Best post I've read on here in weeks! I too wish there were some Scottish players in the team, for what it's worth.

Both centres passing is below average for internationals. They can pass and do a certain our of time but....They're not good.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Both centres passing is below average for internationals. They can pass and do a certain our of time but....They're not good.

Not sure what your saying there 7.5?

 A lot of All Black tries have been scored with balls that have gone through Crotty's hands in the last year to 18 months.

carpet baboon wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:A stopped watch is right twice a day

I can't remember there being many examples of JD2 being incapable of passing on this tour? I can remember a few for Te'o though, it's pretty much been every single one of his attempts at passing... Still that's a pretty good midfield. BTW if you want another example of a Welsh player being personally attacked, in this case yes it's JD2, then head over to the Lions 2017 thread. It's good to be right this often mind.

My word Mikey.
So the Welsh posters on the 6n Wales v Italy thread were lying when they said he has always had issues with his passing just after he had missed his winger and put it straight into touch?
Were they also lying when they said once he puts in a bad pass he then reverts to kicking rather than passing? Just like people have mentioned here?
Am i picking on him when I have said he runs great lines and brilliant defender but his passing can let him down ( I have said the exact same thing about teo by the way)

You do seem to like this "world against us" thing

Well whatever gets you through the day

When did I say they were lying? I said I can't remember there being many examples of JD2s bad Passing on this tour, but I remember a few for Te'o who seems to escape criticism for some reason. Many including myself have criticised JD2s passing and left foot kicking in the past but onwards from that Italy game he played really well.

Oh and you didn't check the thread obviously.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:We need JD2 to show the form he had in the Pro12 semi & final & get the wings involved because they have real pace.

Getting excited now. Come on the Lions!

Someone's hacked Trev. Whoever has done I couldn't agree with them more! Go the Lions!

Rumours that SoB is injured - warbuton to start and CJ on the bench.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Rumours that SoB is injured - warbuton to start and CJ on the bench.

Ohh eck where did you hear that?

RDW_Scotland wrote:Rumours that SoB is injured - warbuton to start and CJ on the bench.

Noooooooooooo!

Twitter, and apparently it came from NZ herald...

Shoulder apparently.

It is a shame if O'Brien is injured.

I think the selection is pretty good. My main concern is whether the T'eo JD combination will work given their limited passing games (I have no problem with either individual though). Itoje probably deserves to be starting, but AWJ is a good player.

What's the weather forecast?

very gentle breeze, blowing from west, that is from left to right on your screens.

 bit of blue sky trying to peep through, hasnt rained this morning although the concrete is wet.
 if there is no more showers in the next ten hours then conditions should be near perfect.

Thanks. I think we've picked a dry weather back 3, although of course they are all used to playing in the rain!

Gatland has really bigged up Daly

As for George North, he doesn’t even make the 23, with Elliot Daly getting the nod on the left wing.

“Elliot is just an outstanding rugby player,” said Gatland.

“He could play 15, wing, 13. You tell him once and he gets it, there’s not many people that understand the game the way he does and he doesn’t have to be told too many times.

“He picks things up pretty quickly and I think he’s going to be a top player for England in the future if Eddie gives him an opportunity.

“He has been really excellent on tour. That run down the sideline on Tuesday where he threw the inside pass, there aren’t many who can do that.

“He just put the gas on and passed inside. I’m not sure every player in the squad has the ability to do that.”

And is that just a tiny niggle at EJ (who is also definitely a fan)?

If Warburton comes in, does he change the captain? I wouldn't, but it's going to be odd having the tour captain start the first test - but not as captain.

Just in case you thought this was just a game of rugby apparently the Lions are the reincarnation of Voldemort.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11880995

Farrell must be a risk missing 3 tackles in his last game I would have gone for Sefton to partner with Murrey , also missed goal kicks! We will soon find out.

If the injury to SOB is true there may be bugs in the Lions hotel.

glamorganalun wrote:Farrell must be a risk missing 3 tackles in his last game I would have gone for Sefton to partner with Murrey , also missed goal kicks! We will soon find out.

Oh God not the missed tackle stat again! These stats are meaningless out of context.

The purpose of the rush defence is NOT necessarily to tackle the player so much as it is to force play back towards the forwards and prevent it going out wide. Farrell is used to playing this way with Sarries and so tackles coming from out to in. He is not concerned to necessarily tackle the player so much as to prevent the ball getting to the next man. Indeed it is often better to force play back towards his forwards than make an isolated tackle .

Sarries often have worse tackle stats than their opponents but concede less points. Farrell often has worse tackle stats than others but is regarded as a defensive leader.

Lies, damned lies and rugby statistics.

Exiledinborders wrote:

glamorganalun wrote:Farrell must be a risk missing 3 tackles in his last game I would have gone for Sefton to partner with Murrey , also missed goal kicks! We will soon find out.

Oh God not the missed tackle stat again! These stats are meaningless out of context.

The purpose of the rush defence is NOT necessarily to tackle the player so much as it is to force play back towards the forwards and prevent it going out wide. Farrell is used to playing this way with Sarries and so tackles coming from out to in. He is not concerned to necessarily tackle the player so much as to prevent the ball getting to the next man. Indeed it is often better to force play back towards his forwards than make an isolated tackle .

Sarries often have worse tackle stats than their opponents but concede less points. Farrell often has worse tackle stats than others but is regarded as a defensive leader.

Lies, damned lies and rugby statistics.

It may be OK in club rugby but this is the all Blacks.

Gatland has picked a good bench, prefer Tips over Warburton.

glamorganalun wrote:Farrell must be a risk missing 3 tackles in his last game I would have gone for Sefton to partner with Murrey , also missed goal kicks! We will soon find out.

Who knows how he'll play, but Grant Fox seems to be able to understand the decision to pick him:

Fox and the All Black management are well aware just how influential Farrell is. “Owen just does everything well and we don’t see any weaknesses there at all,” he said. “He is a very smart player, runs good lines and is very good at putting people into space around him. He is courageous down that channel, too, and that is not always a trait of No 10s.

“That comes maybe from playing out one at inside centre and having to deal with that. Playing at No 12 [for England outside George Ford] has probably given him greater awareness of what the guys outside him need and what they’re looking for. That certainly would have helped his development. Owen is a hell of a good player.”

Is it KO yet fam? Bored and nervous...

Morning all, looking forward to this one. Should be a good game.

Morning Billy

Morning Trev, very optimistic for this.

Morning. Nervous excitement here...

Hi eirebilly ...evening here ...but electric anticipation !

Yep. JD2 was a bad selection wasn't he...

Inches away !

Daly close....

Great start. Superb by jd2 and to hold up daly..

Great start. Mako offside was a bit unnecessary. Should've made them play out of there.

Top save from Watson ! ABs coming in waves...

Ridiculous intensity from the ABs!

Lions may be happy to concede just three points from that assault.

Outrageous off loading..

Have the rules on clearing people out of rucks by the neck changed or just for the ABs? Been at least 3 so far

No stopping that one ! Taylor superbly gathered and scored.

Looking ominous...

Very poor from the Lions there, the AB's were telegraphing that they would go for the quick tap and the Lions did not set their defence.

Good to see Peyper being soft on the ABs so far. Such nice boys, they deserve all the decisions.

I hope we don't have to sit and listen to boring statements about the ref after this....he has nothing to do with it. Simple fact is NZ are a different animal to the rest of the world right now and they are facing a Lions team that hasn't really clicked at all and has made errors throughout the tour which NZ will punish all night long.

Intensity is incredible from NZ, poor poor switching off by the Lions defence....no excuses for that. I would be interested to see the meters made after the tackle because for the all talk of our physicality, we are being bounced about all over the shop at the moment.

3 times been caught on the holding now...just not good enough...

Not much leadership on display from POM so far when the chips are down. Contrast that to Read who is gathering his troops and speaking to them at every opportunity.

owen10ozzy wrote:I hope we don't have to sit and listen to boring statements about the ref after this....he has nothing to do with it. Simple fact is NZ are a different animal to the rest of the world right now and they are facing a Lions team that hasn't really clicked at all and has made errors throughout the tour which NZ will punish all night long.

Intensity is incredible from NZ, poor poor switching off by the Lions defence....no excuses for that. I would be interested to see the meters made after the tackle because for the all talk of our physicality, we are being bounced about all over the shop at the moment.

Sorry but when players are being illegally cleared out to allow for fast ball it has a lot to do with it, Lions were penalised for offside 5 metres from the ABs line yet every ruck before that the ABs were offside without a word said by the officials

AWJ doing his best impression of a competition winner.

AWJ has been dire so far, why oh why is he playing???

mikey_dragon wrote:Not much leadership on display from POM so far when the chips are down. Contrast that to Read who is gathering his troops and speaking to them at every opportunity.

Isn't experienced and leadership exactly why AWJ is in the team?! Or touring at all...


Still waiting to see its effect.

mikey_dragon wrote:Not much leadership on display from POM so far when the chips are down. Contrast that to Read who is gathering his troops and speaking to them at every opportunity.

He's been quiet with the ref as well, been quite a few calls that he should be having a word about

There it is. An AWJ mistake and cue the criticism. No mention of Kruis getting stripped though. Interesting.