Perhaps surprisingly, Alun Wyn Jones comes in at lock, with Maro Itoje starting on the bench.
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Te’o says he will keep on learning in every match he plays.
June 15 – Named skipper against the Maori All Blacks after tour captain Sam Warburton is confined to a replacement’s role as he continues his return from an ankle injury.
“Let’s let the rugby do the talking because there’s been enough trash talk already”.
Hansen, speaking at a press conference after announcing his team on Thursday, indicated Gatland had been wrong to “apply pressure” on the official by talking about such matters openly. We have a moment to meet them (on Friday) and we will talk about things we need to talk about in private. “We are getting a different message as a squad of players in terms of that welcome to what we are reading in the media”.
In a nod to the try scoring concern, head coach Warren Gatland selected Liam Williams, brilliant on the counter-attack against the Chiefs, ahead of fellow Welshman Leigh Halfpenny at fullback.
“I’m feeling spot on”, the 31-year-old said.
With many players’ families – including Murray’s – and partners arriving into Auckland in recent days, the Lions have been able to switch off from the pressure of this build-up, comfortable in the belief that they are as well prepared as they could possibly be. “I’ve just answered the question you blokes have asked me”. “We play across all the venues in New Zealand but this is the one that we really feel at home at”.
Ioane is the fastest member of the All Blacks squad and also offers a safe option with Ben Smith and Israel Dagg with the All Blacks back three expected to face an aerial bombardment from Lions halves Conor Murray and Owen Farrell. But you would be sick if you were Joe Launchbury, or Danny Care, or even Cian Healy because, I think you could do an bad lot better than some of the players that are there.
O’Driscoll never beat New Zealand in an otherwise storied career, retiring before his country’s historic win against them last November.
“To play the All Blacks you have to be bold, you have to take risks”.
“We’ve created opportunities. Early on the tour we weren’t finishing off the line breaks”.
Former Scottish internationals lined up to criticise the selection that also saw 16 players from England and 12 players from Wales even though they had finished below Scotland in the 6 Nations.
We struggled at the start of the tour, but we’ve outscored opponents nine tries to three in the last four games.
“I’ve just tried to play my best rugby”.
“Whoever dominates the set piece, ruck area will have a strong (chance) of winning the game”, he said.
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“The amount that we have lost now that he has gone is incredible – the rugby knowledge and brain, the man and the friend and coach and brother that we have lost”.
