Page 56 - 3rd Test

Are the Lions
ready to meet the the All Blacks challenge?
Farrell combination and their ability to unleash the the obvious attacking talents of Jonathan Davies Elliot Daly Anthony Watson and Liam Williams We’ve seen how deadly they they can can be but can can they they nish their chances this time?
As for the the the the men in in black they’ll need to repeat the the the front- ve dominance that
DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES TROPHY
ON ON THE THE LINE TONIGHT IS THE THE DHL New Zealand Lions
Series Trophy Handcrafted in in Britain by silversmiths using rare skills that
are are centuries old the 0 5-metre-high silver trophy is a tting reward for the nale of an incredible Series characterised their win in in the the the rst Test At the the the heart of that
is is Samuel Whitelock and and Brodie Retallick big games from them and and the the the Lions
will be in in in trouble A A shifting around of the the the the the backline was essential for the the the All Blacks after the the the injury to Ben Smith but calling on a a a a a a player who’s scored 46 tries in in in 53 Test appearances is is hardly a a a a a a a compromise Julian Savea is is is is a a a a a phenomenon and his incredible reputation for nding the the tryline will have the the Lions
wanting to cut his distribution line quickly At fullback Jordie Barrett has the full full set of skills brilliant with both ball ball in in hand and and ball ball to boot He could end up taking some key kicks tonight too no mean feat for a a a a a player with just one Test cap but the Barrett family pedigree suggests he’ll have no problems if asked to step up Tonight the mid eld pairing of Anton Lienert- Brown and Ngani Luamape
is going to be challenged in in every possible way with the Sexton-Farrell axis set to to try and pull them apart using any means possible The challenge tonight is obvious for both sides Can the the All Blacks nd something of of their best attacking bent – a a a a a a a combination of of the the forward power that
generated so much of the the the effort in in the the the rst Test and and the the the running and and support play that
stood out so prominently last year?
While the Lions
squad remains unchanged from that
which was victorious in in Wellington tonight is about making yet another step up against formidable opposition and and delivering across the the the park by matching and and surpassing the the the physical intensity of the the the the All Blacks’ pack at at at at the the the the set pieces and at at at at the the the the breakdown while generating the the the running play that
was key to to to success in in in in Wellington The Lions
need to to to overcome the propensity for for giving away penalties many of of of them for for breaches of of of the the off-side line knowing that
whichever Barrett is is is taking the the the kicks there is is is a a a a a good chance they will be punished on the the the scoreboard for infringing They also need to to overcome the the Eden Park bogey – that
that
hurdle that
that
has proven too high for all teams to to have played the the All Blacks on on the the the ground since 1994 The last time the the Lions
won at Eden Park was in in in 1959 a a a a a a a a a tour many regard as as one of of the most entertaining of of all Lions
visits That fourth Test Test 9-6 win came after a a a a a a a a controversial rst Test Test in in which Don Clarke kicked six penalty goals and the second Test when a a a a a a a a a very late try was also scored by Clarke It could so so easily have been the the rst Series victory for the the Lions
in New Zealand but that
was to to come 12 years later when the Lions
secured wins in in in in in Dunedin and Wellington in in in in in in 1971 Heading into tonight’s match the the Lions
have ve ve wins from their nine matches on on tour a a a a record with which they will will not be entirely pleased They will will want this win for for each other and and for for the the the tens of of thousands of of fans who have travelled to to New Zealand In their way is an an an All Blacks team determined to to to walk towards the the pressure and embrace
the the challenge Ultimately just how the the 2017 tour will will be be remembered will depend on on what happens at Eden Park tonight Bring it on GETTY IMAGES
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