Page 55 - 3rd Test

Utility back Israel Dagg on the
the
ball for the
the
All Blacks PREVIEW
Smith and mid elder Ryan Crotty Add to that the
absence of of Sonny Bill Williams after his sending off last week in in in Wellington and it’s clear the
the
the
All Blacks have had to to test the
the
the
the
depth of their squad But when
you bring in in the
the
the
likes of of Julian Savea Jordie Barrett and Ngani Laumape you’re not short on quality Throughout the
the
the
the
Test Series Series there has been wet weather and the
the
the
the
Series Series decider is also expected to to be be played out in in wet conditions again tonight Under the
the
circumstances the
the
try-scoring achieved – especially those to O’Brien and All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor not to mention wing Rieko Ioane’s rst rst try in in the
the
rst rst Test Test and No 8 Taulupe Faletau in the
the
second Test Test – were remarkable demonstrations of of skill and execution in in the
face of of a a a a a a a a slippery ball It’s fair to to say that that history isn’t on on the
the
the
side of the
the
the
Lions and that’s before you even start talking about the
the
the
All Blacks’ incredible record at Eden Park – it is the
home fortress
every sporting side aspires to build yet so few manage Nobody needs reminding that a a a a a win tonight delivers the
the
Lions a a a a a rst Series win over the
the
the
the
All Blacks since 1971 and only the
the
the
second in in in their history It will
“When you bring in in the
likes of Julian Savea Jordie Barrett and Ngani Laumape you’re not short of quality ”
also be the
the
rst time in in Lions history that they’ve secured back-to-back wins over the
the
the
All Blacks In 1971 a a a a a a a a a draw at at Eden Park kept the
the
Series at at 2-1 and in 1977 All Blacks loose forward Lawrie Knight scored a a a a a a match-winner in in the
last few minutes to to to deny the
the
visitors In 1993 after a a a loss in in in in in Wellington the
the
All Blacks rebounded to to to win 30-13 while in in in in 2005 they came to to Eden Park with the
the
Series already secured But the
the
the
Lions have the
the
the
quality to to make history From the
the
the
the
the
very beginning there was was positive feeling within the
the
the
the
Lions Lions camp that this was was the
the
the
best Lions Lions squad for decades sourced from four Home Nations playing well England of course have been the
the
dominant force in in in in the
the
the
north and and in in in in Maro Itoje they have a a a a a a a forward destined to to become if he’s not already truly world- class Jamie George also has shown he he he can deliver accuracy in the
set piece and cause plenty of trouble for opposition defences in in open play likewise Irish prop Tadhg Furlong Mako Vunipola has a a a a a a a a a a point to to prove and few players are able to to cause as as much havoc as as the
Wellington- born front rower with ball in hand In the
the
the
backs much will
rest on on on the
the
the
success of the
the
the
Johnny Sexton-Owen
DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 55