Warren Gatland has picked what could be the strongest Lions squad for the match against the Crusaders this Saturday at 5.30pm (AEST).
However, the Crusaders are the top club side in the Southern Hemisphere and must start the match as favourites.
Pundits have referred to the match as the ‘fourth test’, and Lions management are treating it is at such, picking the strongest 23 from the panel of 41 players in the squad. Eleven will be making their first start of the tour, including four debutants.
Sean O’Brien, Conor Murray, Jonathan Davies and George North will start on the match on Saturday having last made an appearance for the Lions in the test series four years ago against Australia.
The side will be captained by Alun Wyn-Jones as tour skipper Sam Warburton is injured. O’Brien takes Warburton’s place in the back row.
He will be joined by his Irish colleague Peter O’Mahony and Wales’ Toby Faletau. Faletau is the best No. 8 in the squad at the moment.
Jones will be joined in the second row by George Kruis. The front row is Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and Tadhg Furlong. Vunipola is another veteran of the 2013 series. The front five will have to show the form of their lives as their counterparts are the All Blacks test front five.
Conor Murray reunites his halfback partnership with Owen Farrell (the two featured in seven games together on the 2013 Lions tour). Farrell was on many team sheets for the test series at centre, where he hasn’t played yet.
Ben Te’o and Davies are the midfield combination. Te’o was the standout performer in the backline against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians in the first game and Davies was one of the stars of the 2013 series.
The wingers are North, who is another of the 2013 stars, and Liam Williams. Williams played well below his standard in the recent loss against the Blues, receiving a yellow card, and will want to reclaim the form that impressed the New Zealand media in Wales’ losing test series against the All Blacks last summer.
At fullback is Stuart Hogg, who was another player who failed to impress in the opening fixture. With Leigh Halfpenny having a perfect success rate with the boot in the Blues game, Hogg will have to show the form that won him his man of the six nations awards two years running if he wants to feature in the test series.
The bench is full of talent – when they’re on form. Ken Owens was the stand-out hooker in the six nations and will want to show his best after a less than stellar performance as the Lions captain against the Blues.
(Image: AAP Image/David Rowland)
Jack McGrath had the highest tackle count in the Blues game. Dan Cole is another veteran of 2013. Maro Itoje is one of the few Lions that have impressed and will want to continue his form.
CJ Stander played well against the Blues, scoring the only Lions try in the game, and will want to be at his best, though the back row is one of the most competitive positions in the squad.
Rhys Webb will want to make the most of his second crack at it, though he looks to be in competition with Greig Laidlaw for a place on the bench.
Jonny Sexton has featured in both games so far and failed to impress in either. He’s a world-class No. 10 when he’s on form, but he has yet to reach that form. The Lions may try the Sexton-Farrell 10-12 combination in this game.
Anthony Watson is the only Lions back to score a try so far on tour, and in the first game. He also scored against the Crusaders in England’s tour of New Zealand in 2014.
England defeated a depleted Crusaders side 38-7. Owen Farrell was on that tour but missed out on test selection, so Watson is the only member of the squad to have featured against the Crusaders.
The Crusaders have picked their strongest team possible for the game, including seven players that were named in Steve Hansen’s All Blacks squad for the Lions series.
Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Seta Tamanivalu, Codie Taylor. Isreal Dagg and Joe Moody are the New Zealand internationals.
Jack Good hue and Matt Todd have been picked as injury cover for the All Blacks, and New Zealand prop Wyatt Crockett provides cover on the bench.
The Lions have an almost impossible task, even if their form had been good so far this tour, which it hasn’t. The Crusaders have won all 14 of the Super Rugby games this season, which means they’ve beaten the best clubs in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
The Lions have failed to impress anyone so far on this tour. While the forwards have matched up well enough, there seems to be no real creativity in the backline.
Clive Woodward’s 2005 Lions tried a 10-man defence-orientated game and were thrashed in the series 3-0. It’s a wonder if the Lions have learnt anything in the 12 years between tours.
Warren Gatland should be aware of the style of play that succeeds in New Zealand but has shown a lack of imagination in his tactics. The Lions certainly have the players to do some damage if they are let off the leash.
While another loss would be damaging for tour morale, another poor performance would be mentally crushing for the players. The Lions can front up for this game, but I still see them losing by at least ten points.
British and Irish Lions
S Hogg (Scotland), G North, J Davies (both Wales), B Te’o (England), L Williams (Wales), O Farrell (England), C Murray (Ireland), M Vunipola, J George (both England), T Furlong (Ireland), A W Jones (Wales, capt), G Kruis (England), P O’Mahony, S O’Brien (both Ireland), T Faletau (Wales).
Replacements: K Owens (Wales), J McGrath (Ireland), D Cole, M Itoje (both England), CJ Stander (Ireland), R Webb (Wales), J Sexton (Ireland), A Watson (England).
Crusaders
Israel Dagg; Seta Tamanivalu, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, George Bridge; Richie Mo’unga, Bryn Hall; Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Owen Franks, Luke Romano, Sam Whitelock (capt), Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Matt Todd, Jordan Taufua.
Replacements: Ben Funnell, Wyatt Crockett, Michael Alaalatoa, Quinten Strange, Jed Brown, Mitchell Drummond, Mitchell Hunt, Tim Bateman
Justin Kearney
Guest
Quite frankly I thought that game was a bore fest MelR.
Taniwha
Guest
yes
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Then I apologise
adastra32
Guest
Yes. They just did.
MelR
Guest
Bloody awesome performance from the Lions tonight. I ate humble pie and watched a great game!:) Kudos to Warren and the coaching team.Crusaders were outplayed on all fronts.The Lions tour is really game on now!Bring on the All Blacks!
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Akari one of my closest mates in NZ had a relative have their lose their home severely damaged as a result of the earthquake - it sort of hit home to me. I also have a medical colleague (a surgeon) who was in Chch during the earthquake.... he and others from Aussie helped where they could... he lost his passport in the rumble but helped where he could. SBW donated $100,000 of his own money to the cause as he experienced the extent of the immediate disaster and the aftershocks...
taylorman
Roar Guru
None of them made the semis though. You'd probably need to qualify good form then. Cos it didn't seem to help win them key games and yes it does matter if you're in NZ, that is, if you want to win. ?
Raymond Dickson
Roar Rookie
The Lions are on a hiding to nothing here , win and everyone will say they should win these games . Lose and plenty of kiwis will be throwing all sorts of snide comments there way . This tour is rough but at least Steve Hansen sees the benefits the Lions are getting by playing NZs top sides . This must be a game where the mid week players will get one last shot . Sean Obrien needs to have a blinder and again hes up against the most under rated 7 in NZ in Todd . Then if Warburton keeps breaking down he has to be there first option . Cant understand why AWJ keeps getting so many extra chances , just pick Itoje and Kruis and move forward . I am no Crusaders supporter like many other kiwis here who support anybody but the red and blacks , this is a hell of a tough game for the Lions . If Farrell and Murray control the game off the back of solid ball then this is going to be a beauty . The Crusaders have dominated all there S18 rivals because of the balance and superiority of there tight 5 but today for me that wont be the case There effective rolling maul , dominant scrum and brutality at the breakdown is there platform so again this is probably something the Lions can actually compete with them at quite substantially . While Mouanga is playing good rugby , it will be interesting to see how well he plays against a side like this , for me the jury is still out . The greatness of a 10 is how well he plays when his pack is being matched or bettered , and today I think thats on the cards . For me the Lions will win today by 6 or less , and then hopefully this series will live up to the hype .
Chaz
Guest
Woke up feeling nervous, read this and now feel very nervous. Things I'm looking for are; -if the Lions must lose, don't get humiliated -Kruis against Whitelock. Make it competitive. Kruis is an excellent player and athlete (said no-one ever about Alan Wyn Jones) up against the best --front row to impress in the loose (which they're more than capable of) as well as set piece -the backs to score a couple of half decent tries Here's hoping.
Raymond Dickson
Roar Rookie
Gee Bob , you would have to say , its a no brainer selecting Itoje and Kruis as the Lions locks . There a part of the best club side in Europe . They have very abrasive playing styles and most of all , Retallick and Whitelock are the best 2 locks in the world by some distance . Launchbury should be there instead of Laws and for me Sexton was terrible a few weeks ago in the Pro 12 semi-final and he looks down on confidence . I think Murray and Farrell must be 9 and 10 because there just confident players . For me and Im a kiwi I actually think this game will either be close or the Crusaders who I hate purely on terms of provincial rivalry will blow them away . The under stated thing is where will the Lions score points because the Crusaders have a very good pack , and they defend immensly so its going to be hard . But for me Lions by 3
jonnyacidseed
Roar Rookie
No Neil, makes your point ignorant. Read all the posts in context before firing off dude. I was pointing out to Kuruki that the Lions and the Barbs were in the same boat, both teams having been freshly thrown together and the result was close (Kuruki appeared to be making excuses for the Lions because "they have to many parts that have come together on short notice" .)
jonnyacidseed
Roar Rookie
PeterK, consider that also the Crusaders had family & friends (as well as themselves!) affected by the earthquakes (yes -these knee tremblers were on-going and often several per day!) and so had lots of outside worries to deal with, all the while trying to win a Super comp! I had friends living in Ch Ch at the time and the most damage was psychological, due not to the original big shakes, but the on-going shakes and the total loss of value of the family home (all worthless weather damaged or not cos no-one wants to buy in an earthquake zone - go figure). Its easy to post whatever comes to mind from the comfort of your comfy laptop spot on the couch, but sometimes take a deeper look at the world, and maybe post something positive to balance things up a tad..... just sayin....
Not sure anything Allister Coetzee's side is going to throw out will be good rugby.
Xiedazhou
Guest
Did anyone take away from the Crusaders effort to make the final? My goodness some of you guys are precious.
Akari
Roar Rookie
Until I did a google, I had forgotten that the Saders didn't even manage to play at their official home ground in the 2011 season, RT. I also recall reading a report about SBW getting concerned about safety given the on-going aftershocks at the time.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Lot of good rugby on tonight too, Oz and Fiji shortly, SA vs France, Italy Scotland.
gumboot
Guest
Hello Everybody. Just saying
taylorman
Roar Guru
No one did though did they, we only saw the usual suspect taking away the Saders effort to make the final. So petty.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
The French are only good for 3 things, 'food, wine & fornication' :)
Clash
Roar Pro
Excellently Jibba. Especially when we've got another French ref. Referee: Mathieu Raynal Technical Bystander 1: Imoveable Object 1 Technical Bystander 2: self important git 2