The All Blacks believe they’ve cracked the code to beating the British and Irish Lions rushed defence, with coach Steve Hansen saying Thursday they have plans to outsmart their lightning line speed. Hansen also dismissed claims by his Lions counterpart Warren Gatland that he was “worried” ahead of the long-awaited first Test between the world … Read more
British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has backed his newly anointed Test captain Peter O’Mahony to inspire a “courageous” first Test performance and attack the All Blacks in their own backyard. O’Mahony was handed leadership duties for Saturday’s clash at the All Blacks’ fortress of Eden Park despite only skippering Ireland three times, relegating … Read more
The British and Irish Lions warned they’re “not here for second place” as they set up this weekend’s first Test against the All Blacks with a thumping 34-6 win over the Waikato Chiefs on Tuesday. Jack Nowell’s sparkling try double was the highlight as the Lions scored four tries and kept the Chiefs from crossing … Read more
The British and Irish Lions gained a confidence-boosting win as their power told against the Maori All Blacks in wet conditions in Rotorua. Leigh Halfpenny – who landed 20 points in all – kicked them into a 15-10 half-time lead, with Liam Messam crossing for the hosts’ try. The Lions forwards dominated the second half … Read more
The British and Irish Lions stumbled to a 23-22 defeat to the Otago Highlanders on Tuesday as they suffered the second loss of their tour ahead of next week’s first Test against the All Blacks. The Lions finally found their attacking mojo, scoring three tries to two — more than doubling their try tally so … Read more
All Blacks great John Kirwan has dismissed claims that British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland is one-dimensional, saying his former team-mate brings an “X-factor” to the touring squad. Gatland’s critics say his teams play “Warrenball”, using big centres who burst into opposition territory and draw in defenders to create space for the backs. But … Read more
The composer of the Auckland Blues’ haka defended the war dance Thursday after critics complained it included a throat-slitting gesture that was offensive to victims of the London terror attacks. The Super Rugby team unveiled their new haka in front of a 40,000-plus crowd at Eden Park on Wednesday night before posting an upset 22-16 … Read more
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen on Thursday said he was expecting the “kitchen sink” from the British and Irish Lions — but scoffed at suggestions the All Blacks weren’t much better than a Super Rugby team. Hansen played down the Lions’ lacklustre start to their tour, after their narrow victory over the New Zealand Provincial … Read more
The British and Irish Lions won’t panic after losing to the Auckland Blues but understand more than ever the need to stop “monster” centre Sonny Bill Williams, scrum-half Rhys Webb said. Williams inspired the Blues to a 22-16 win over the Lions at Eden Park on Wednesday but the tourists were vastly improved on the … Read more
The British and Irish Lions slumped to a 22-16 defeat against the Auckland Blues on Wednesday after conceding a spectacular late try to replacement fly-half Ihaia West. The tourists were much improved on their lacklustre opening display against the Provincial Barbarians but again struggled with the speed of the New Zealanders’ game. Coach Warren Gatland’s … Read more
The Auckland Blues will unleash their own version of the haka against the British and Irish Lions Wednesday, as New Zealand’s Super Rugby teams ramp up pressure on Warren Gatland’s tourists. The fearsome Maori war dance is traditionally reserved for the world champion All Blacks but New Zealand’s five Super Rugby sides all plan to … Read more
Coach Warren Gatland has given the British and Irish Lions free rein to express themselves under new captain Ken Owens as he seeks a much improved performance against the Auckland Blues on Wednesday. Gatland was not impressed by what he saw during the Lions’ first fixture, a 13-7 win over a team of relatively unknown … Read more
British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland says maintaining team harmony is a priority as he seeks to engineer a historic Test series win over the world champion All Blacks. Gatland, who organised choir practice to help players bond before they set off for New Zealand, said he needed to avoid internal divisions in his … Read more
The British and Irish Lions have thrown captain Sam Warburton straight into the fray as they look to make a winning start to their tour of New Zealand. Warburton, who is returning from a knee injury that sidelined him in April, will lead a powerful line-up against a Provincial Barbarians XV in Whangarei on Saturday. … Read more
The British and Irish Lions received a traditional Maori welcome on Wednesday as they arrived in New Zealand for the “ultimate challenge” of a Test series against the world champion All Blacks. Players from the composite team of English, Welsh, Irish and Scottish players wore suits and red ties as they flew in at the … Read more
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has said he is likely to step down after the next World Cup in 2019, according to a report on Friday. “I think, without committing to it 100 percent, I can’t see myself extending beyond the World Cup,” the New Zealand Herald quoted Hansen as saying. Hansen, who is preparing … Read more
All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster re-signed with New Zealand Rugby on Tuesday, boosting his chances of being the next head coach of the world champion All Blacks. Foster and forwards coach Mike Cron both extended their commitment through to the 2019 World Cup in Japan. The announcement came just four days after defence coach … Read more
British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland is “clutching at straws” by using Ireland’s upset win over the All Blacks as motivation, his opposite number Steve Hansen said Thursday. Unveiling his 41-man touring squad in London, Gatland said his players took confidence from Ireland’s 40-29 victory in Chicago last November, which showed the world champions … Read more
Choir practice and film nights will form part of the British and Irish Lions preparations for their Test series against the All Blacks as coach Warren Gatland tries to make sure they are comfortable with the culture of New Zealand. Gatland, a New Zealander who played for Waikato against the Lions, is convinced that too … Read more
Sam Warburton has never savoured victory over New Zealand but says he is relishing scaling the “pinnacle of my career” when he captains the British and Irish Lions against the world champions. The Wales back-row was named skipper when Lions coach Warren Gatland announced a 41-man squad Wednesday for the three-Test series in June and … Read more