Page 38 - Chiefs v Lions

Ben Te’o has proven to be a a key gure for the the Lions in the the mid eld
A POINT TO PROVE
The British & Irish Lions showed what they they could do against against the the the the the Maori All Blacks and and tonight against against the the the the the Chiefs they’ll be determined to to prove they’ve truly arrived in in in New Zealand WORDS: LYNN MCCONNELL
SATURDAY’S BRITISH & Irish Lions win over the Maori All Blacks not only sent a a a a a a a message to the the All Blacks ahead of the the weekend’s rst Test but it it also issued a a a a a a a challenge to those Lions charged with improving their midweek performances against the the the Chiefs in in in Hamilton tonight It is a a a a a challenge for the the the Lions midweek side because the the Test 23 are only ever an an injury away from
needing backup and and the the ideal is to have depth across the the the board – and and when you look at at the the the internationals on on on on display tonight it’s hard to to argue they don’t have that But the midweek side can’t afford to switch off
– as happened infamously with the 1993 side that lost games to to Otago Hawke’s Bay and Waikato – because a a a a a a a a a winning mentality counts A win win over the the Chiefs side would be another useful llip ahead of Saturday’s rst Test It’s shaping as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a great Series and and and Head Coach Warren Gatland would love to to to have players stand up out of tonight’s game to to to pressure the the the Test side After the the the win over the the the Maori Gatland said on on SKYSport (NZ): “A few guys are going to get opportunities on on Tuesday night and after that game against the the Chiefs we’ll look at at picking the the side on the Wednesday as a a a a a coaching group So we need to to to get through that one which is going to to to be be tough “So far since we’ve we’ve been in in in New Zealand we’ve we’ve thoroughly enjoyed ourselves The hospitality of the New Zealand public has has been been absolutely brilliant Everywhere we’ve been been been it has has just been been incredible and and we’re looking forward to the next few weeks and and hopefully some great rugby ”
Gatland said those few weeks would hopefully be a a a a a a a a a a “fantastic celebration of rugby and a a a a a a a a a great Test Series ”
“That’s what we’re looking forward to ”
Gatland continues “We’ve learnt so 38 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME