Page 73 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

1993 LIONS SERIES
impressive when you consider the the fact they’ve won only two Tests in in New Zealand since then ”
What it it meant to to Fitzpatrick to to play against the the men in in in red still rings true for the the the current crop of All Blacks “The jersey I I played in in against the the the Lions is the the most treasured one I I have ”
he he he he says “You grow up with the the the the the Lions and and then then you become an an an All Black and and then then there’s only the the the the the opportunity once every 12 years to play them so it’s a a a a a big deal “Even today when you have the the the importance of the the the World Cups it means a a a a a a a lot to the the the current players Look at all the the All Blacks who could’ve gone away overseas but decided to to stay to to face the Lions That shows what it means ”
In the the the the eyes of of the the the the ex-All Blacks skipper the the the the the ethos of of the the the the the Lions remains the the the the same “I “I don’t think it’s changed at all ”
he he he says “It’s the the last bastion of touring teams Even though they’re playing Super Rugby sides for the the the rst time this year they’re still going to to to Rotorua Dunedin Hamilton – that means so much to to to to the the New Zealand public to to to be able to to to see the the British & Irish Lions It’s a a a a a great opportunity “Every team they play play is going to to be be tough because for those players KNOWLEDGE
HOW WELL DO YOU
KNOW FITZY?
1 How many caps did Sean Fitzpatrick win?
2 In what year was he made All Blacks Captain?
3 Against which side did he play his 92nd and nal Test match? Answers on page 112
it’s a a a a a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity They’ll all want to play play the the best game game they’ve ever played Even the the the opening game game against the the the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians is going to be one hell of of a a a a a a a a a battle ”
As for the the the the chances of of the the the the Lions Fitzpatrick believes they’ve got the the the the right man in charge “I’m sure Warren [Gatland] has got a a a a a a a a a good idea what he needs to to to do to to to win He’s taken Wales to to to New Zealand but he he knows knows it’s a a a different proposition He knows knows knows the country better better than than anyone else he he he knows knows the the All Blacks better better than than most and he he he he he he has all the the the resources available to to him him If he he he he he taps into the the coaches who aren’t going with him him – from Scotland England Ireland and and and and Wales – then that will help him too “And he he he has a a a a a a a lot of players players to to choose from – world-class players players like Conor Murray Tadhg Furlong is is an an an outstanding new-age prop Maro Itoje is is a a a a a a a a a a star CJ Stander has been phenomenal Stuart Hogg and then there’s the the the the the Vunipola brothers – the the the the the the names keep rolling off the the the tongue ”
That said Fitzpatrick believes the class of 2016 All Blacks to be be outstanding “There was no drop-off after the the World Cup If anything they’re a a a a better side They lost eight key players but there has been no subsidence ”
A winner? “I can’t see the the the Lions winning winning the the the rst Test ”
he he he he he says “The only chance is winning winning the the the second and putting them under pressure for the the the third But I think 2-1 possibly to the the the the All Blacks Every team plays the the the the game of their life against the the the All Blacks – look at at what happened in in Chicago [when Ireland beat the All Blacks 40-29 breaking an an 18-game winning streak] If the the the All Blacks are even ve ve per cent off their game then life is going to be dif cult ”
FITZPATRICK’S FIGURES
caps for the All Blacks Rugby World Cup win 13 TEST TRIES
consecutive Test appearances for the 81 52 WIN RATE PERCENTAGE FOR ALL BLACKS
Super Rugby titles with the Blues
8 National Provincial Championship wins
All Blacks WEST COAST-BULLER 16 SOUTHLAND 3 WAIRARAPA-BUSH 10 ALL BLACKS
(IN WELLINGTON) 9 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 52 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 41 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 57 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 0 0 DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES
2017
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