Page 39 - SECOND TEST

DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 39
“PREPARE TO PLAY” HAS
been the All Blacks’ mantra for for some years and it was brought to to bear for for Anton Lienert-Brown 33 minutes
into the the rst Test against the the British & Irish Lions in in in Auckland last weekend Lienert-Brown knew the the moment Ryan Crotty went down that the the starting centre was was potentially in in in in trouble So it was was that a a a a a a a a hamstring injury forced Crotty to leave the the eld and provided the the young Chiefs centre with his 10th Test cap “Throughout the week you you make sure you’re ready for those situations ” Lienert-Brown says “I had some ‘what-ifs’ that that I I went through and that that [an injury] was one of them “At the the the the time there were a a a a lot of of nerves but I had thought about it it it during the the the week so it it it wasn’t a a a a a a a surprise You see it it it happen you stand up and and and get on on the the eld You switch on on and and and and trust the the the process
and and know your role out out there there It’s just making sure you’re going out out there there to to to do do your job and not try to to to do do too much ” But Lienert-Brown was was immediately tested No sooner was was he he he he he on on on the the the eld than the the the Lions launched the the the counter- attack that resulted in a a a a a a a a a a superb try to anker Sean O’Brien That had the potential to to knock Lienert-Brown’s con dence But he stuck to to his processes “It’s one of those things and you’ve just got to focus for the next job ” he he he he says “You can look at it it two ways: if you you you get get down down on it it it then you’re letting the the boys down down but if you you you you can forget about it it and do do your next job well then that is really helping the team ” It’s only 10 months since Lienert-Brown made the step up up from Investec Super Rugby to to Test rugby again when called into the side after an injury suffered by Crotty in in in in Sydney Lienert-Brown started at at second ve-eighth against Australia at at Westpac Stadium where he he returns tonight a a a a a a much more worldly-wise player – in rugby terms at least “It has been sort of a a a a a a a a surreal journey I I guess ” Lienert-Brown says “Things have
“Things have
happened so quickly that at at times I have
to pinch myself ” happened so quickly that at at times I I I I have
to pinch myself It’s a a a a a a dream come true I I I I guess I’m still still living the dream dream and it still still feels like a a a a a dream dream ” Getting onto Eden Park exposed him to to to the unique avour a a a Lions tour
provides where seats usually taken by by All Blacks fans fans are ooded by by visiting Lions fans fans It creates a a a a a a a a a different atmosphere at at at times almost like an an away Test Test “It was the the hardest game of Test Test footy I’ve played and the the whole intensity around it was was something I I I hadn’t expected It was was a a a a a a a a a a real real experience – the Lions fans are really loud You’re playing the best players from four proud rugby nations so it was a a a a a a a a tough match out there and a a a a a a a a great experience for me ” The young mid elder who learned his rugby at Christchurch Boys’ High School knows all about how intense preparation for a a a a a a a a major game could be While he he he missed the Chicago
Test when New Zealand lost to Ireland last year he he he was selected for the rematch in in Dublin Dublin two weeks later The edge associated with that Dublin Dublin game he he he says was apparent again in in in Auckland last week as as as the the All Blacks prepared for the the rst Test PROFILE
Just 10 months after his Test debut Anton Lienert-Brown achieved something many legends of the the game never get to do – face the the the British & Irish Lions Lions He talks teammates Lions Lions fans and his philosophy of getting on on on with the the job WORDS: LYNN MCCONNELL
Lienert-Brown with All Blacks teammates after the rst Test