Page 40 - Blues v The Lions

have always been a a a a a a a a a focal point of the the tour for the the team and and its many fans The Lions’ 32-9 defeat of Auckland in in in 1950 and and the the the 34-15 win in in in in 1977 rank as their nest displays against the the the home province In 1983 a a a a a a a a slightly built young No 10 called Grant Fox calmly slotted a a a a a a a a a dropped goal to sink Ciaran Fitzgerald’s charges 13-12 Fox was there again 10 years later kicking six penalty goals as as they edged the the the 1993 Lions 23-18 The nal midweek clash of the the the 2005 tour saw Auckland with a a a a a young NEW ZEALAND
Kaino coming off the bench push Sir Ian McGeechan’s midweekers to 17-13 before a a a crowd of 47 000 The Lions returned south to Auckland on on on on Monday after an an an an of cial New Zealand welcome at Waitangi on on on Sunday They have had a a a a a a a a a a chance to to regroup rethink and and take stock They will surely get better and and are elding a a a a a a a a a a different line-up tonight as part of of Head Coach Warren Gatland’s strategy of of of giving a a a a a a a a a a a run to to every member of of his 41-man squad if possible in in the opening three games ripped into their work before 20 000 vocal fans at Toll Stadium Barbarians hooker and Captain Sam Anderson- Heather scored the the tour’s opening try driving over a er er 22 minutes The Lions slowly clawed back the initiative and wing Anthony Watson scored their try out wide following some solid pressure from the pack The Barbarians were resilient in defence with the the Lions unable to to add to to their score a er the the 51st minute despite the the injection of some senior players from the bench This will have given the Lions plenty to think about on the trip south Their best performers were No 8 Taulupe Faletau who made a a a a a a try-saving tackle on Barbarians centre Kaveinga Finau blindside anker Ross Moriarty who powered through his duties and New Zealand-born mid elder Ben Te’o who looked the the the most likely of the the the other Lions backs to breach the line PROVINCIAL
BARBARIANS 7 BRITISH & IRISH
LIONS 13 GAME ONE REVIEW
TOLL STADIUM WHANGAREI JUNE 3 3 7 35PM CROWD: 19 951
THE BRITISH & IRISH
LIONS WILL
be keen to keep improving a er getting through their opening match in in Whangarei They won but clearly
have much work to do a a a er a a a fully committed and gutsy NZ Provincial Barbarians XV tested them both physically and tactically Barbarians No 10 Bryn Gatland son of Lions Head Coach Warren Gatland mixed up his his game nicely and his his pack 40 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME
PREVIEW
The British & Irish Lions visited the Waitangi treaty grounds on on Sunday following their opening game Gatland has been able to choose from a a a a a a a a a a a a full squad as as several players weren’t considered for Saturday’s game because they had been involved in in domestic nals the the the weekend before An extra four days in the the country will have helped Gatland himself was pragmatic after the 13-7 win in in in Whangarei paying credit to a a a a a a a a a a ne Barbarians out t t t t t t t “There’s a a a a a a a a a a massive amount of of depth in in New Zealand a a a a a a a a a a a lot of of those [Barbarians] players are knocking on the the door We know how tough the the next few weeks are going going to to to be be be but getting that game under our belt is going going going to to to be be be helpful to to us going going forward ”
Every Lion you speak to to has done their homework on on on Super Rugby so they they won’t make the the the the the mistake of underestimating the the the the Blues If they they do it could make for for a a a a long evening for for those dressed in red around Eden Park tonight The home side will no doubt follow the the the Barbarians’ example and use the the the ball freely while adhering to their structures The result should be open rugby rugby at at one of the great rugby rugby grounds And don’t forget Auckland is is a a a a a a city with a a a a a a history of taming Lions so anything could happen this evening GETTY IMAGES