Page 56 - All Blacks v Lions - First Test

Sam Cane will be one of the All Blacks’ key men in the loose
system and has been groomed for exactly the opportunity he faces tonight. Props Joe Moody, Wyatt Crockett, Owen Franks and Charlie Faumuina are long-serving practitioners of their craft and will ensure a superb contest in the tight.
The All Blacks’ talent in the loose – with Sam Cane operating as openside anker, Jerome Kaino on the blindside, and Read at No 8 – is dangerous, and that’s supplemented by the emerging Ardie Savea off the bench.
In the backs, they even have a player who’s faced this current Lions team on two occasions. Rieko Ioane turned out against them for the Blues and the Maori All Blacks, his performances in those matches enough to earn him a starting spot in just his third Test.
Where the match may be decided is in the ability of the
All Blacks’ backs to achieve the level of potency that has made them so effective in recent years.
Halfback Aaron Smith’s speed – both in passing and around the ground – has seen him ranked among the best in the world, but his opponent Conor Murray has been an outstanding performer on tour, especially in his kicking game, and all New Zealanders know his strength on the break after his try in Ireland’s famous win in Chicago last year.
First ve-eighth and World Rugby’s Player of the Year last
year, Beauden Barrett, has been in top form for his Hurricanes side in Investec Super Rugby, and demonstrated his class in the warm-up Test against Samoa
last weekend. Just how he adjusts his game to the Lions’ defensive screen will be a pointer to his side’s hopes. Against him,
Owen Farrell is equally a key performer for the Lions. A steady distributor, excellent tactical
kicker and rock-solid defender, he’ll dictate the Lions’ fortunes with the ball.
The respective mid elds are another area of confrontation, with the All Blacks spreading their resources through Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams and Anton Lienert-Brown against the Lions’ Ben Te’o and Jonathan Davies.
Again, it was Farrell who perhaps best summed up the situation for the Lions. “The All Blacks have certainly got better over the last four years and are reigning supreme – but our squad is full of winners.
It’s full of guys who know how to win. I think we’re going to be a hell of a side,” Farrell said.
“It’s about who deals with the pressure best in the heat of the battle – who deals with the situation and makes the best decisions on the run.”
The stage is set, and the time is now. Get ready for the rst of three epic encounters between these two giants of world rugby.
ALL BLACKS
BRODIE RETALLICK
A marvellous ball handler and highly e ective in the lineout, Retallick doesn’t shirk his work in the tight and
is a talisman for the pack who can be a handful in support play.
AARON SMITH
Smith has had a
big 2017 with the Highlanders, taking his game up a level. His contest with Conor
Murray shapes as one of the more fascinating inner-game battles.
BEAUDEN BARRETT
World Rugby’s Player of the Year last year faces a challenge like no other in this Test, and because of his
potency on attack, he’ll be the centre of the Lions’ defensive pressure.
THREE KEY PLAYERS
LIONS
MAKO VUNIPOLA
Has been one of the Lions’ big e ort men up front and will be looking to impose himself on the All Blacks front men.
A strong carrier of the ball who takes plenty to down in the tackle.
BEN TE’O
The New Zealand-born mid elder might only have played a handful of Test for England, but he’s made an instant
impression for the Lions. A threat to any defensive line and ready to cause havoc.
CONOR MURRAY
The Irish halfback has been on an upward curve over the past 12 months and reached new heights with an outstanding
e ort in Ireland’s win over the All Blacks. Has continued that form for the Lions.
56 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME