The All Blacks are just one win away from denying the British and Irish Lions another Test series triumph in New Zealand, downing them 30-15 in an absorbing opening Test at Eden Park.
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Final score
All Blacks 30
British and Irish Lions 15
Finally the first test has rolled around on the 2017 Lions tour as the British and Irish side line up against the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland with kick off from 5.35pm AEST.
Warming up to tonight’s Test both sides have bought solid form into the fixture, the All Blacks comfortably beating Samoa at the same venue last Friday while the Lions come off a couple of strong victories, over the Maori and Chiefs in their fixtures and signalling they have built some solid momentum for tonight’s test match.
Both sides have named strong line-ups for this match and both have sprung a surprise or two in the selections.
For the All Blacks, Julian Savea has been dropped from the left wing and replaced with young Blues star Reiko Ioane, his better form earning him this massive opportunity in one of the biggest Test matches in recent memory and the debate around the midfield has been settled with Ryan Crotty handed the 13 jersey, returning from injury which sees Anton Lienert-Brown drop to the reserve bench.
As expected, Kieran Read will return to captain the side from No.8, despite his lengthy lay off from injury and Ardie Savea will take his place on the reserves which covers off all of the changes from the match day 23 against Samoa.
The Lions too left some pundits in shock, the inclusion of Liam Williams and Elliot Daly in the back three coming as somewhat of a surprise however strong performances against the Chiefs midweek seems to have propelled them into the limelight.
Owen Farrell has been presented with the first five jersey with Jonny Sexton to warm the bench, ending speculation whether the two of them would line up together this evening.
The Irishman Peter O’Mahoney has earned the honour of captaining the side from blindside while Alun Wyn Jones has beat out Maro Itoje for the locking berth, Itoje providing cover on the bench. Widely tipped to start, it now seems Jones’ greater experience has perhaps won over the Lions coaches.
This match has widely been tipped as a ‘clash of styles’ with the expected forward orientated game of the Lions matching up against the attacking skills of the All Blacks.
This is the first Test in an eagerly anticipated series and in terms of approach, I am expecting this will turn out to be a real arm wrestle tonight, built around pressure and execution and should be absorbing viewing as finally, finally the first Test is upon us in what has been one of the most keenly anticipated tours in recent memory.
Prediction
I suspect the key difference tonight will be in the last twenty minutes and I suspect the All Blacks have more to offer from the bench in those closing stages than the Lions tonight.
All Blacks by 5.
Join me here on The Roar for kick off from 5:35pm AEST as we take in all of the action live and don’t forget to leave your thoughts on the match as they unfold.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Yep definitely more optimistic than last year Tman. Hope we can challenge your boys and come away with a win :-)
JimmyB
Guest
Haha, that's a new one.
Chinmay Hejmadi
Roar Guru
Actually he has a really good pass too. Watch the Chicago match, and you can see what I'm talking about. I guess today with his pack going backwards it was always going to be tough for him, but he was a bit off colour.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Good to have that confidence back again Rhino?, Boks looking good and really great to watch. Waiting for the match now...
double agent
Guest
Connor Murray??? WTF?
EastsFootyFan
Roar Guru
Lions were good, but the All Blacks looked a class above when all was said and done. The try on the siren flattered them in the end.
Dave
Guest
Should have stopped at 'what a game.' instead of going on with your drivel, wazzock
Goatee
Guest
A fantastic test match. Many congratulations to the AB's, who apart from the lineout, seized control of every other facet of the game. Brilliantly coached by Hansen, and in a team with so many stand-out performances, I thought that Retallick and particularly Read were superb. As a collective, the AB pack were immense. On the evidence of this game, both Itoje and Teo will need to start and remain on the pitch for the full 80, with Lawes and Joseph coming off the bench for impact. Plus's were that Williams and Watson caused the AB's all kinds of problems in broken-field. Uphill from here, I'm afraid but not impossible.
Dave
Guest
Good to see your posts fit your name, wazzock
The darkness fan
Guest
Can we please put to rest the argument that the lions can beat the blacks? They were lucky to beat Kieran Reid ( who has not played in 6 weeks) which resulted in their only try. He even shrugs his shoulders in a "my bad" moment. The lions were lucky to be that close tbh
Sammy the Tank
Guest
Correct Rebel.
ebop
Guest
He box kicks and that's about it. Over rated one trick pony.
Jokerman
Roar Guru
I understand, look how we felt at the 50 min mark ! I'm actually surprised how good the Lions were. Their backs surprised me.
Fionn
Guest
Jokerman, woodart, Space Jam 2 ft. the All Blacks??
Jokerman
Roar Guru
I was saying Tragic...I was just say bro !
Jokerman
Roar Guru
They're out there, Woodard. Just check out the human junk DNA :))) !
rebel
Guest
Yeah, if you watch QI Alan Davies is pronounced the same. Took me a while to get it at first.
Kane
Guest
We heard you the first time.
Misha
Guest
Peyper was pretty awesome - no complaints here..
Chinmay Hejmadi
Roar Guru
His service was surprisingly slow from the base of the ruck today. Kicking was fine.