Page 102 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

CHIEFS v THE LIONS
Renowned for their exhilarating brand of rugby Dave Rennie’s double Super Rugby champions pose a a a a serious threat to the Lions 20 20 JUNE 2017
FMG STADIUM WAIKATO HAMILTON
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THIS IS IS SOMETHING OF A homecoming for Lions Head Coach Warren Gatland who in in a a a a a a a a a strange twist of fate was hooker for the Waikato side that soundly
beat the the the 1993 British & Irish Lions 38-10 Now consistently among the the the Super Rugby frontrunners the the the Chiefs truly exploded into life in in 2009 when their dynamic style of rugby led them them to to the the the the the the runners-up spot It would take them them three years to to nish the the the the the job but they did
so with a a a a ourish winning back-to-back Super Rugby titles in in in in in 2012 2012 and 2013 The win win in in in in in in 2012 2012 was lauded not just for Dave Rennie managing to win win the trophy in in in in in in his rst season in in in in Super Rugby but also for the the the non-stop all-action style of rugby rugby employed by by by the the the Chiefs – the the the rugby rugby world sat up and took note A A side that can attack from every position on on the the the pitch the the the Chiefs with All Blacks Brodie Retallick and Sam Cane in in in their ranks are serious contenders again in in in 2017
THREE CHIEFS TO WATCH
DAMIAN MCKENZIE (utility back)
McKenzie 22 was one of the stars of of the 2016 season starting all of of the Chiefs’ games and scoring 10 tries amid a a a a haul of 199 points He has continued where he he left off in in 2017
AARON CRUDEN ( rst ve-eighth)
The Chiefs have enjoyed their greatest moments with Cruden in the No 10 shirt and the Lions match will be his swansong An All Black on on 47 occasions he will be sorely missed SOLOMON ALAIMALO (utility back)
Hotly tipped former Northland back Alaimalo is is in his rst Super Rugby season and made his debut on on the wing in in in week four Big things are expected of the versatile back 102 // DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS
SERIES 2017
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