Page 63 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

games and you know how Dan exploded in in in in that second Test in in in in Wellington – one of the greatest performances in in in in in in a a a a a a a a game if you think about it from an an individual point of view It was awesome for him and great to see when you look back on it “You always enjoy
a a a a a a a a battle against a a a a a a really good
opponent and I guess whoever
they
pick is going to be strong ” it’s just around the corner now because I am really excited by it it it it and can’t wait to to get into the season You had a a a a a delayed start to the year with the need for surgery on your wrist How did that go?
It was just a a a a a a a a a a a a really good
clean-up I I had ligament damage and and cartilage as as as as well and and it it was really a a a a a a a a a a a a a a case of cleaning it it it up so I I could extend my career because it it was getting painful It rehabbed really well and now I’m back When I I had surgery they
gave me me me the the the timeframe for when it would be right and they
were correct It was all positive and and it it it it has given it it it it time to heal and and strengthen it it it it back up Being your wrist it won’t have prevented you you from continuing your physical preparation but it must have been bene cial to have a a a a bit of an extended break from playing?
It It probably was a a a a a a a a real real blessing It It enabled me to to have a a a a a a a a a a a really good
pre-season build-up I I was able able to to run and do pretty much everything except for the the real real contact work so the the body felt really good
and put me me in a a a a a a a great space mentally for when I did return to play CRUSADERS LIFE
As you you rehabbed you you were able to sit back and watch the the Crusaders in the the early part of the season How do you think the team is going?
It has been been awesome seeing the boys go go well We’ve been been really good
in in in games games especially in in in the second halves and and in in in a a a a a a a a few of of those games games we’ve come back and and been slightly off the the the boil in in in other parts as well I think the the the the con dence in in in the the the the group is is really high
– the the belief is is great and that shows in in PROFILE
The Captain leads the the the haka for the the the All Blacks prior to the the the the clash with France France at the the Stade de de France France 2016 THE ALL BLACKS
CAPTAINCY
How were you asked to take on the captaincy?
It came about through a a a a a a a bit of a a a a a a a process I I had captained the side before when Richie [McCaw] was out for for a a a a a a a a a a a a few games and then things naturally headed that way Then Steve [Hansen] of of cially con rmed it to to me me in the the off-season after the the 2015 World Cup It was a a a a a a a a face-to- face face discussion at Luke Romano’s wedding It was a a a a a pretty cool moment When you took on that leadership role the the Lions visit was obviously the the next big thing on the radar?
Looking back even before the captaincy decision a a a a a a a a a a major motivating factor for for me was still to to to be here and and playing in in in New Zealand with the opportunity to to grow this new All Blacks team and and also to play against the Lions It’s funny that 1977 TOUR NORTH AUCKLAND AUCKLAND 5 BAY OF PLENTY 14 14 14 ALL BLACKS
(IN AUCKLAND) 14 14 14 WAIRARAPA-BUSH 13 LIONS
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11 LIONS
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20 LIONS
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14 14 14 LIONS
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DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS
SERIES 2017 // 63