B&I Lions 2017
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All Blacks to play warm-up match ahead of British & Irish Lions series
New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew has confirmed the All Blacks will play at least one match before this year's Test series against the British & Irish Lions. The multi-nation Test team will take on the world champions in three Tests in June and July, as well as seven other matches against Super Rugby clubs, the Maori All Blacks and a provincial Barbarians outfit. It will be the first time the Lions have toured New Zealand since 2005. Tew confirmed on Thursday that the All Blacks, who have not played together since November last year, would have a chance to shake out the cobwebs before their first Test in Auckland on June 24. The union was yet to decide if that match would be against a Test side, such as a Pacific Islands nation, or a Kiwi selection. An internal All Blacks vs All Blacks match, with extra players called in to make up the numbers, may also be on the cards. "We know they'll always have some form of hit-out at some stage when we get into these short lead-ups," Tew said. "We're still giving it a little thought and the coaches have reflected on that over the past few weeks."The All Blacks have also previously taken part in friendly "game of three halves" tournaments with two provincial Kiwi outfits. Last year's game was held in Pukekohe with Counties Manukau and Northland.
All Blacks set for warm-up ahead of Lions
New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew has confirmed the All Blacks will play at least one match before this year's Test series against the British & Irish Lions.
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@Chris-B. I'd rather watch paint dry ...
I think we should extend the invite to Georgia. That would be a classic c**t move after the way they were just told to f off from 6N. Probably piss of the PI nations a bit, but such is life.
Play the game in the Naki (as not getting a lions match), revenue share to fund their trip ... job done.
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@MajorRage I reckon it would be very interesting, but each to their own.
We could invite Georgia and Cyprus....
Though I think we might need a slightly more substantive hitout....
Maybe we could invite the Wallabies?
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@Chris-B. said in B&I Lions 2017:
@MajorRage I reckon it would be very interesting, but each to their own.
We could invite Georgia and Cyprus....
Though I think we might need a slightly more substantive hitout....
Maybe we could invite the Wallabies?
Maybe the wobs can put up a trophy? Where is that DHL cup?
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It's going to be the French invasion for the Lions tour. Throw in Peyper and Gardner as well.
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Very underhwelming options available with the retirement of Joubert.
Garces is fine. The other two can single-handedly ruin a game, but Peyper sometimes surprises you and gets out of his own way.
There wasn't much else out there another two Frenchmen in Raynal and Guazare - plus Gardner. So likely the best they could do.
Ayoub will TMO all three tests.
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@rotated said in B&I Lions 2017:
Very underhwelming options available with the retirement of Joubert.
Garces is fine. The other two can single-handedly ruin a game, but Peyper sometimes surprises you and gets out of his own way.
There wasn't much else out there another two Frenchmen in Raynal and Guazare - plus Gardner. So likely the best they could do.
Ayoub will TMO all three tests.
Gardner is probably the best ref going around at the moment. I wonder why he didn't get a starting gig
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@Hooroo Because the games Gardner referees tends to be quite well flowing, well communicated and free of pedantic ridiculous penalties.
The NH press boys wouldn't have stood for this, and there would be a thousand tweets a second going towards Gosper & Pichot of the red nosed gin brigade.
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I stilll remember the vitriol Pollock faced after he dared penalise O'Driscoll in test 1 of 2013. It was personal, unfounded, unfair and for the most part, bullshit.
I think everybody agreed test 1 was a cracking test match - Pollock had a lot to do with that, but then he got absolutely slated by the entire NH who effectively did what NZ did to Barnes.
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Speaking of refs, I watched the Maori-Lions game from the 2005 tour last night. I went to the game and probably haven't seen a replay since shortly after that time.
Steve Walsh was at his arrogant, condescending best. The scrums were a mess, the breakdown a free-for-all and I don't think either side would have happy after the game. OK, the Maori would have been slightly more happy.
And Mex was commentating. How times have changed.
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@Stargazer Which is exactly why the journo's up north love him. I think there is a strong expectation that there are going to be at least 2-3 Yellows and probably a red against the AB's in each test, as they are finally "refereed properly".
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@MajorRage I think you should qualify that "journos up north" though. A lot of Frenchies I talk to, dislike the guy with a vengeance. If you're right, it's "journos in the UK & Ireland".
