Page 67 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

IRELAND
IRELAND
ON THE
CHARGE
The Irish contingent is is going to to be pivotal to to any hopes the Lions have of a a a series victory in in 2017 Having beaten both the All Blacks and and England in recent months these are players who know how to win WORDS: TOM ENGLISH
EVERYONE THOUGHT IRELAND
WOULD WIN
– even if it was never spoken aloud by anyone other than perhaps some con dent fans In the the 2017 Six Nations England hadn’t quite looked the the the the same as as as the the class of 2016 They had had crushed
Scotland the the the the week before but but that was attributed by some to to to be be down to to to the the the visitor’s failures rather than England’s strength In truth England England had had struggled struggled against Italy France and and and and Wales Wales They’d won but but struggled struggled Ireland too had had not looked their best losing to to Scotland and and and and Wales Wales but but thumping Italy and and and and beating the the inconsistent French This This was was a a a a a a a a a a a a different Ireland Ireland though This This was was the the the Ireland Ireland that had halted the the the All All Blacks’ record-breaking 18-game winning streak The The All All All Blacks Blacks Blacks – – a a a a a a a a a a a a a side side they’d never ever ever beaten in in in their 111-year history The The All All Blacks Blacks – – a a a a a a a a a a a side side that they frequently challenged but who would ultimately snatch the the the the the the win away from them them at at at at at at at the the the the the the death They They had had beaten beaten them them They had beaten the the the the unbeatable England were also on on an an 18-game streak which seemed to be a a a a a a a a a good omen for for their opponents – fuel for for the the the Irish re re re re And when the the the the big day arrived Ireland never looked like losing Despite the the the narrow 13-9 scoreline England just couldn’t get a a a a a a a a grip on on the the the game Ending not not one but two record-breaking sides – that’s not not luck Not even the the the the Irish have that that much Fourth in in the the the the the world with recent victories against the the the the the top three – clearly Ireland are on the the the the the rise rise But when does the the the the the story of this rise rise begin? You could start with the the the the 60-0 defeat against the the the All Blacks in in in in in in 2012 but a a a a a a a a a a better place to to begin begin is is is the the Six Nations that that followed in in in in in 2013 At that that point Joe Schmidt was at at at at Leinster though he he he had been unof cially earmarked as as the the next Ireland Ireland Coach In the the the the 2013 Six Nations Ireland Ireland hit rock bottom It was a a a a a a a a a a a calamity – their worst championship
of the the the millennium by far WELLINGTON 6 MARLBOROUGH-NELSON 23 LIONS LIONS 13 LIONS LIONS 40
CANTERBURY 13 LIONS 14
WEST COAST-BULLER 0 LIONS 45
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