The much-anticipated first Test between New Zealand and the British and Irish Lions gets underway at Eden Park on Saturday morning, with the tourists knowing the mountain that they’ll have to overcome if they are to replicate the touring party of 1971.
As it stands, the All Blacks come into this match as double World Cup winners and having beaten Samoa 78-0 last weekend. On top of that, the first Test match takes place at Eden Park, a fortress for the All Blacks, as they haven’t lost there since 1994. Despite a number of big names retiring after the 2015 World Cup, New Zealand rugby has gone from strength to strength and they’re still producing outstanding players. Beauden Barrett is the best player of the current generation and he was rightfully named World Player of the Year in 2016. If the Lions have any hope of winning this series, they’ll have to stop Barrett at the earliest opportunity.
In response, the best of Britain and Ireland have travelled to the Land of the Long White Cloud in hope of winning their first tour since 1971. In their last tour to New Zealand in 2005, the Lions suffered a humiliating 3-0 “blackwash” defeat, which saw captain Brian O’Driscoll sidelined in the first minute of the first Test, following an altercation in a ruck with Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu. However, this year’s Lions have been tipped as one of the best touring sides to ever be selected and coach Warren Gatland has picked a number of in-form players ahead of his favoured Welsh personnel.
New Zealand vs. British and Irish Lions Predictions
Beating the All Blacks is one of the toughest challenges in sport, but this Lions team has genuine belief that they can do it. It’s going to be very difficult however, but if they win at Eden Park, they’ll put down a serious marker ahead of the second and third tests.
New Zealand vs. British and Irish Lions Betting Tips
- New Zealand to win: 4/19
- British and Irish Lions to win: 3/1
- New Zealand to win by 1-12 points: 33/20
- Rieko Ioane to score the first try: 15/2
Head to Head
- New Zealand haven’t lost a Test at Eden Park since 1994.
- New Zealand haven’t lost a Test at home since losing to France in 2009.
- The Lions series victory over Australia in 2013 was their first since beating South Africa in 1997.
- The Lions lost 38-19 in the Third Test at Eden Park in 2005.
- In their only previous encounter at Eden Park on this tour, the Lions lost to the Blues 22-16.
New Zealand Team News
New Zealand: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders, 61 caps), 14 Israel Dagg (Crusaders, 62 caps), 13 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders, 26 caps), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (Blues, 34 caps), 11 Rieko Ioane (Blues, 2 caps), 10 Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes, 50 caps), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders, 59 caps), 1 Joe Moody (Crusaders, 25 caps), 2 Codie Taylor (Crusaders, 16 caps), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders, 91 caps), 4 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs, 61 caps), Sam Whitelock (Crusaders, 85 caps), 6 Jerome Kaino (Blues, 78 caps), 7 Sam Cane (Chiefs, 41 caps), 8 Kieran Read (captain, Crusaders, 97 caps)
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris (Chiefs, 5 caps), 17 Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders, 59 caps), 18 Charlie Faumuina (Blues, 47 caps), 19 Scott Barrett (Crusaders, 5 caps), 20 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes, 13 caps), 21 TJ Perenara (Hurricanes, 30 caps) 22 Aaron Cruden/Lima Sopoaga, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs, 10 caps)
British and Irish Lions Team News
British Lions: 15 Liam Williams (Wales, 43 caps), 14 Anthony Watson (England, 26 caps), 13 Jonathan Davies (Wales, 64 caps), 12 Ben Te’o (England, 8 caps), 11 Elliot Daly (England, 13 caps), 10 Owen Farrell (England, 52 caps), 9 Conor Murray (Ireland, 57 caps), 1 Mako Vunipola (England, 42 caps), 2 Jamie George (England, 17 caps), 3 Tadhg Furlong (Ireland, 16 caps), 4 Alun Wyn Jones (Wales, 110 caps), 5 George Kruis (England, 20 caps), 6 Peter O’Mahony (captain, Ireland, 40 caps), 7 Sean O’Brien (Ireland, 49 caps), 8 Taulupe Faletau (Wales, 66 caps)
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens (Wales, 50 caps), 17 Jack McGrath (Ireland, 41 caps), 18 Kyle Sinckler (England, 8 caps), 19 Maro Itoje (England, 12 caps), 20 Sam Warburton (Wales, 73 caps), 21 Rhys Webb (Wales, 28 caps), 22 Jonathan Sexton (Ireland, 66 caps), 23 Leigh Halfpenny (Wales, 71 caps)
British and Irish Lions Tour Schedule
Provincial Barbarians, Toll Stadium, Whangarei (Won 13-7)
Blues, Eden Park, Auckland (Lost 16-22)
Crusaders, AMI Stadium, Christchurch (Won 12-3)
Highlanders, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (Lost 23-22)
Maori All Blacks, Rotorua International Stadium (Won 32-10)
Chiefs, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (Won 34-6)
New Zealand, Eden Park, Auckland (First Test)
Hurricanes, Westpac Stadium, Wellington
New Zealand, Westpac Stadium, Wellington (Second Test)
New Zealand, Eden Park, Auckland (Third Test)
