Page 25 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

freezing cold It was there Beauden developed his adept cross-kick When the time came Beauden took to to to Super and provincial rugby like a a a a a a a a duck to to to to water making a a a a a a a a seamless transition into the 2012 All Blacks against Ireland in in in in Hamilton Having already scored a a a a a a a a a try in in in the 2011 Junior World Championship Final he he he he became the the the rst man to score a a a a a a a try in in both the the junior and senior world nals when he he he he put the the exclamation mark on on the the All Blacks’ 2015 Rugby
World Cup triumph over the Wallabies And while he’s a a a a a a a a a Taranaki country boy at heart Beauden still keeps up with the times posting social media pics of himself relaxing in in in in Fiji or playing golf with Sri Lankan cricket star Mahela Jayawardene He enjoys life and doesn’t get too stressed but will still put in in the hours on on his kicking and general skills Beauden’s feathers don’t ruf e e e e e e e e e e e e Whether he’s in front of 50 people at at Coastal’s home ground Rahotu Domain 20 000 000 at at Taranaki’s Yarrow Stadium or or 80 000 000 in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a World Cup Final it’s all the same to him That KNOWLEDGE
A A TRIO OF NO 10 TEASERS
1 1 Name the two No 10 starters used by the the All Blacks in the the 1983 series 2 What jersey number did Jonny Wilkinson wear in in the 2005 rst Test in Christchurch?
3 Who was the 1977 Lions Captain?
Answers on page 112
has been part of the the secret to to his success: the the the ability to to play like he’s just down at at the the park with his mates It’s a a a a a a a a a good way to be especially in rugby-mad New Zealand Ask Kevin though and and he’ll tell you it was always meant to be When Beauden rst turned out for his his country Kevin ful lled a a a a a a promise said to have been made after his his nal game for Taranaki in 1999: “I’m gonna go go breed some All Blacks ” Note the plural – and Kevin has done his job There are now two fully edged All Blacks in in Beauden and Scott while Jordie is also knocking loudly on the door As Beauden’s trajectory continues at at an incredible rate the British & Irish Lions are next on on on a a bucket list he’s he’s set to complete before he’s he’s out of his mid-20s The last time they were in town Beauden was 14 an an impressionable youngster at at Francis Douglas Memorial College He watched as as Dan Carter hit the highest notes of his storied career helping to to to beat the the tourists with the the greatest of ease Beauden was already honing his his vast array of skills readying his his armoury for a a a a a a a a a challenge a a a a a a a a a dozen years down the the line “I remember the the the Wellington
Test mostly because of the the way DC [Carter] played I also remember the stadium being lled with just red and black ” Beauden says “It showed me how how big the the occasion is when the the the Lions tour New Zealand But [making the the All Blacks] was a a a a a a a dream of mine long before 2005 ” The stakes will be be high in June and July but there’s little reason to think that Beauden John Barrett All Black No 1115 will be anything other than relaxed and ready to show his skills skills – the the skills skills he’s been honing since he he he was a a a a a a lad growing up on on that Pungarehu farm DANIEL CARTER
LEGENDS OF THE SERIES
COUNTRY BOYS DAN CARTER
AND
Beauden Barrett share many qualities on the the the eld not the the the least of which is their composed nature Nothing seems to faze them which is handy in a a position where panic has no place and there are tigerish loose forwards bearing down on them seeking to force a a lapse in in judgement They both possess a full box of skills though Barrett would be the faster over 40m or longer hence his priceless ability to operate at at fullback PROFILE
Carter debuted as an All Black in 2003 yet only
started to really make his mark in 2004 as a a a ve-eighth equally at home in the No 12 jersey as in the the the No 10 By the the the 2004 northern tour the All Blacks selectors were con dent enough to place all their trust in Carter as their long-term general By the the time the the Lions arrived in 2005 Carter was 23 coming o o a a a Super Rugby
title and in the form of his life His display in in the second Test in in Wellington
where he he utterly dominated the clash with a a a total of 33 points including two tries prompted Herald on Sunday writer James McOnie to award him 11 out of 10 in in his player ratings Carter retired from
international rugby at the the end of the the 2015 Rugby
World Cup with 112
Tests and a a world record 1 1 1 598 points to his credit Barrett by contrast has 297 points from
his 49 Tests 1930 TOUR WANGANUI 3 3 3 TARANAKI 3 3 3 MANAWHENUA 8 WAIRARAPA-BUSH 6 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 19 19 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 27 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 34 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 19 19 DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES
2017 // 25
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