Page 12 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

[SIX NATIONS]
ENGLAND RULE
THE ROOST
The British & Irish Lions are picking from the nest crop of home nations players for for decades With four in-form sides New Zealand had better be be ready 77 POINTS CONCEDED BY IRELAND IN FIVE GAMES THE MEANEST DEFENCE
the the likes of Launchbury and Tipuric together with 2013 Captain Sam Warburton (78 made four missed) and the the Northern Hemisphere’s current young star Maro Itoje (73 and three) all in the same XV you’ve got what looks like an impenetrable red wall of defence Not that they won’t be coming at at their New Zealand opponents too Loose forward CJ Stander of Ireland made 103 carries in in in ve ve games and as any All Black involved in in in Chicago will testify he he he can do a a a a a a a a a a lot of damage So imagine when he’s joined in in in that back row by say England’s powerhouse of of a a a a a a a No 8 Billy Vunipola? Having 150kg of of Vunipola Vunipola Vunipola running at you isn’t fun for anyone Add in in the second Vunipola Vunipola LINEOUT TAKES BY JUSTIN TIPURIC WALES
SCOTLAND BEAT WALES
Wales beat beat Ireland Ireland Ireland Ireland beat beat beat England England and and and and and England England beat beat almost everyone – except for Ireland The world’s No 2 side side may have won consecutive Six Nations but every side side was competitive in the 2017 tournament The tackle counts make for eye- watering viewing England’s tireless lock
Joe Launchbury put his body on the line 89 times making 85 tackles missing just four – in in in only ve games Then there was the the dynamic Welsh loose forward Justin Tipuric who took down 84 opponents with just four slipping his grasp These stats are enough to make attackers feel tired just looking at at at them The Lions of 2017 aren’t going to to know when when to to quit And when when you put JOE LAUNCHBURY
JUSTIN TIPURIC SAM WARBURTON
1888 TOUR CONTINUED AUCKLAND 1 1 1 HAWKE’S BAY 2 WAIRARAPA 1 1 1 LIONS LIONS LIONS 1 1 LIONS LIONS LIONS 3 LIONS LIONS LIONS 5 12 // DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 GETTY IMAGES