Page 24 - Chiefs v Lions

Joseph enjoying himelf on the the training ground for the the British & Irish Lions
their disposal is is unbelievable And when they’re on the the the the pitch they they attack extremely well They’re always a a a a a a a a challenge but you you you have to impose yourself – you you you can’t take a a a a a a step backward ”
Nobody could accuse Joseph of doing that In any game he plays “The rst and only time I played New Zealand was when we beat them at at Twickenham so I’ve played one one won one one ”
whether it’s for for England or or or his Bath side – – coached by former All Black Black Todd Blackadder – – the the the mid eld man is the the the one looking for the the the gap trying to step or or slide his way through defences What’s more Joseph has a a a a a right to to be con dent when it comes to to facing New Zealand sides After all he he has a a a a a a a somewhat unique 100 per cent success rate against against them “The rst and only time I played against against the the All Blacks was was at at at Twickenham and that was was when we beat them so I’ve got a a a a a a a a a pretty good record: played one one won one one ”
he he says Fellow Lions
Dan Cole James Haskell Mako Vunipola Courtney
33 TEST CAPS FOR ENGLAND
JONATHAN JOSEPH BY THE NUMBERS
Test against the the All Blacks: the the 38-21 2012 win
TEST TRIES
Lawes and Owen Farrell also played a a a a a a a a a a a part in in the 38-21 win
on that day at at Twickenham and combined with the the Irish contingent from Chicago the the tourists have a a a few people who don’t believe in in in the the invincibility of the the All Blacks “You could tell from our build-up and how we prepared ”
Joseph recalls “It just felt like we had a a a a a a a real shot at winning and being part of of it is one of of my fondest rugby memories ”
16
80 PER CENT WIN RATE AT AT TEST LEVEL
16
tries for Bath his club side coached by Todd Blackadder Can that experience help
this time around? “I think rst and foremost it’s about not
going going into any game thinking
you’re not
going going to to win
”
he he says “We can’t show them a a a a a amount of respect – we have to back ourselves and give it it a a a a a a a a real shot You need to to back your your ability on your your eld and try to to take every chance ”
As for being a a a a a a a a Lion Joseph admits he’s didn’t watch them much as as as a a a a a a a a a kid as as as he he he he he was “too busy playing outside ”
and as as as such he he he he he he has been taken aback by the the experience “It’s the the sheer size of it ”
he he he he he says “You walk around any town and there are Lions
shirts everywhere all all wishing you good luck all all saying ‘well played’ or whatever – that’s the great thing about being a a a a a a a a a a a Lion It really is is a a a a a a a a a a a much bigger stage stage ”
If any player is is ready for that stage stage it’s Jonathan Joseph and his dancing feet 8 TRIES
FOR ENGLAND
DURING 2016
huge
24 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME
GETTY IMAGES