Page 35 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

PREVIEW
Locals and visitors will come together to to to cheer on their teams
outside the the the Super Rugby teams
the the the chance to tame the the the the Lions The unknown quantity of their opponents will no no doubt give the the the tourists plenty to to to think about While the the the tour tour of Australia in in 2013 gave the the Lions a a a a a a a a good idea
of what Super Rugby was about when they faced all ve ve Aussie sides nothing would have prepared them for the the the challenge expected by by the the the New Zealand Super Super Rugby Rugby teams
With 14 Super Super Rugby Rugby titles between them the the the the Kiwi teams
have been in in in dominant form in in in the the the the rst half of the the the the 2017 Investec Super Rugby season and promise to to to offer the the the toughest of of competition to to to the the the northerners TRADITIONAL RIVALS
Rotorua International Stadium will provide the the the ideal venue for the the the Lions match against the the the Maori All Blacks The famous New Zealand side rst played the the Lions back in in 1930 and and and have faced them eight times and and will be intent on on repeating their historic victory from the the the “No other team has beaten the the Lions more o o o en en than the All Blacks ”
2005 Tour A boisterous home crowd will be be urging the Maori side on on in in what promises to be be a a a a a a special occasion both on and off the eld The three Tests between the the the Lions and All Blacks will be be the the the biggest contests on on the the the 2017 rugby calendar – and and certainly the the biggest outside of a a a a a Rugby World Cup year History and and folklore will count for nothing when the the the the two sides meet on the the the the eld with the the the the the All Blacks seeking to to extend their impressive victory record No other team has beaten the the the Lions more often than the the the All Blacks a a a a a a a a statistic the the the touring side will no doubt want to to blunt in in in the the upcoming Tests SPECIAL TROPHIES
For the the rst time in the the history of a a a a a a Lions series all teams
will play for a a a a a a a a a a special match trophy adding an extra dimension to the already competitive challenges The taiaha a a a a a a a a a a a a a traditional Maori weapon is at the the the heart of of the the the design
of of the the the DHL New New Zealand Zealand Lions Series New New Zealand Zealand Rugby has commissioned the the carving of seven Maori taiaha for presentation to to the the the the winning team in in in in in each of the the the seven games leading up to to the the the All Blacks Tests The taiaha – which are are made from native kauri and are over
1 5 metres long – have been given to the host cities for safekeeping and and will be be on on on display at at at special events and and locations as part of the the build-up to the the matches The All Blacks and Lions will play for a a a a a specially designed Series trophy PROUD HISTORY For generations of New Zealanders Lions tours have been historic occasions
that act as as as markers connecting the the past with the the present As former All Blacks ALL BLACKS (IN WELLINGTON) 6 WANGANUI 3 3 3 3 3 TARANAKI 3 3 3 3 3 MANAWATU-HOROWHENUA 8 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 3 3 3 3 3 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 31 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 25 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 13 DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 35