It was assumed that Ireland’s historic win over the All Blacks in Chicago last November would provide key to a British and Irish Lions triumph in New Zealand. However, with the series tied 1-1 heading into Saturday’s titanic decider, it is Ireland’s 21-9 loss to the All Blacks in Dublin two weeks later that now Read More …
Jonny Wilkinson had to endure the mental pressure of having to win a Lions second test in Wellington in 2005 having been beaten a week earlier by the All Blacks and believes the current players have to adopt an “ all or nothing” approach tomorrow if they are to keep this series alive. Twelve years Read More …
Warren Gatland has made big decisions in his rugby life and refused to back down when they evoked widespread condemnation which makes his incomprehensible handling of the “Geography Six” on the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand so worrying. He brought in the Welsh quartet of Gareth Davies, Tomas Francis, Kristian Dacey and Read More …
Warren Gatland faces four massive selection calls at the start of the ultimate Lions challenge against the World champion All Blacks and he has to get every one of them right to give the team a chance of replicating the 1971 triumph. Gatland is under severe pressure as the first New Zealander to coach the Read More …
Warren Gatland bemoans the recurring questions about “Warrenball” while Sonny Bill Williams steps in to deflect attention from Tana Umaga over that infamous Brian O’Driscoll incident in 2005 In this age of carefully choreographed press conferences and limited access to players governed by ever increasing media management teams assigned to major rugby outfits, isn’t it Read More …
ALL BLACKS great Sean Fitzpatrick believes the most daunting fixture schedule to ever face the Lions will ensure they are battle-hardened for the three-Test series against the reigning world champions in New Zealand. The Lions start the 10-match tour with the easiest game — against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians on Saturday — and, as Read More …
Joe Launchbury is the best player not in the British and Irish Lions tour squad and frustration could dominate his every waking hour, but the chance to lead Wasps to the Aviva Premiership title against Exeter at Twickenham on Saturday is demanding all of his attention. Launchbury picked up yet another Man of the Match Read More …
Neil Jenkins believes the British and Irish Lions boast a quartet of world class kickers who can deliver a test series winning edge against the All Blacks in New Zealand. Jenkins, the Lions kicking coach, stands third in the all-time points scoring list on 1090 in tests behind Dan Carter and Jonny Wilkinson and the Read More …
Warren Gatland today snubbed captain Dylan Hartley and ignored key England players who had helped win successive Six Nations titles and equalled the world record of 18 successive wins when he named a 41 strong British and Irish Lions squad to tour New Zealand this summer. England still had the largest contingent in the squad Read More …
Tana Umaga admits the Maori All Blacks will be very short of preparation time when they take on the British and Irish Lions on next summer’s tour. The Maori will be the fifth of the Lions ten matches in New Zealand, with the game taking place at Rotorua where a vociferous crowd will support a Read More …
