Page 65 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

PROFILE
heightened for everyone back here in New Zealand that
this Lions team team is is going to be a a a a a a bloody good team team How do you expect the Lions to play out out here? Do you have any hints about what they might try?
It’s hard to know There’s a a a a different coaching set-up and they’ll be bringing players together from different teams I guess traditionally being Lions they’ll have have a a a a a a a a a a big strong forward
pack and they’ll have have have all the the the the the most skilled players from up there so they they have have the the the the the opportunity to to play a a a a a a pretty expansive game if they need to to to We’ll just wait and see I think it’s going to to be be interesting because they’ll have quality players and that
will determine the the the kind of game they want to go with really been on a a a a a tour like that
It’s a a a a a lot of of games for them I I guess in in in terms of of being away it’s like us us going to a a a a a World Cup and I know – just speaking from the the the Crusaders’ point of view but probably for all the the the other teams – everybody is pretty pumped about getting an opportunity to play The quality of the Super Rugby sides is going to be be really really high They’ll really really challenge the Lions sides so it’ll be be a a a a a a good opportunity for a a a a lot of players What have you made of the way the Super sides are playing so far
this year?
New New Zealand teams have been pretty positive The battles between New New Zealand sides have been intense You can see what it it means to everyone and and that
shows the the quality we have in in New Zealand Those are the the kind of games you look forward
to With the young players who’ve come in again this year do you sometimes sit back in amazement at the type of quality that
emerges?
Yes it it always seems to happen We’re pretty blessed with the talent
Always a a a a a a a fan favourite Read signs autographs following the Test with Wales in in in Wellington June 2016
and the the best thing about it is that
these guys come into professional environments where everybody is looking after them and making making sure they’re making making great decisions as well so they they can just go out and showcase their talent
on the the the the eld It’s pretty amazing to see these young men just doing their thing The All Blacks have set the pace since the 2015 Rugby World Cup with their style of game Do you feel there’s still more that
can come as you make the changes ahead
of what is the biggest challenge between World Cups?
We We have to – we we we can’t just just sit still We’ve learnt that
if we we we just just rest on on what we’ve done the the previous year then teams catch up pretty quickly There’s nothing going to be drastically changed in in in in in the game Rugby is all all about dominating up front and and making sure you’re winning gain-line and and going forward
so on the the back of that
that
hopefully there are going to be a a a a a a a few different things that
that
are up our sleeve But the game is pretty simple simple and getting those simple simple things right makes it easier SUPER RUGBY V THE LIONS
They’ve also got a a a tough tour because it will be the the rst time they have played the ve ve Investec Super Rugby sides How much di erent is that
going to be?
Yes I I I think it it it will be a a a a bit different for them I I I can’t really explain it it it I’ve never
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SERIES 2017
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