So, I didn’t quite get in score right and maybe I was overly ambitious in my hopes to see an expansive game. But was it not great to see the Auckland Blues play some good footy! And I know it’s all you are going to hear for the next few days, but on current form, they are the poorest playing New Zealand franchise.

Before we look at the teams separately and pick out some of the key players, I want to talk about the game as a whole. The heavens opened during the warm up, most would have thought this would have played into the lion’s hands. Both teams would likely narrow things a bit and play “Warrenball” in other words, up the guts and fairly boring to watch.

However, the worst of the down pour was over by kick-off and both teams tried to throw the ball about and go coast to coast when it was on offer. The teams defended similarly, both with decent line speed, both making decent hits but the difference was numbers committed to each tackle and subsequent ruck. Lions trying to force things too often, Blues accepting when the ball was lost. Again, the attack was fairly similar, using big ball carriers up the 10 channel, kicking the corners and looking for off loads. This is where the blues won the game, their off loads had players running onto the ball where as the lions took them standing or walking.

Onto the teams, Auckland Blues. It’s easy to see their coach expressing his style of rugby through their game plan. Play hard, play fast and have fun throwing the ball around. Tana Umaga was instrumental when the lions toured in 2005 and it’s great to see a class players giving back to the game at the top level. I lost count of how many off loads the Blues threw and it was the telling of the game. It shifted the point of contact and set the pace too fast for the brits to keep up with. Sonny Bill had a cracking game! Obviously, he made numerous trade mark off loads and ran some good lines. But he put an awesome shift in defence, weather he was turning ball over in rucks or making cover tackles in the wider channels. Was always going to be an option to play in the test matches but has certainly put the pressure on the other 12s to perform in the club games. The Ioane brothers played well, Rieko saw a lot more of the ball and scored one of a possible three tries. While Akira was doing the hard yards up front and making his presences felt at the break down. Last for me, Ihaia West. I have been singing his praises since he won the ITM championship for Hawkes Bay four years ago and I have been waiting for him to make the same impression the next step up the ladder. His turn of pace to score the decisive try against some tired looking lions legs made the difference and I am sure he will making a second appearance on the tour but this time for the Maori All Blacks.

British and Irish Lions. Much improved from Saturday but still a stride behind… the pack were able to out muscle the Blues in the close quarters and Rhys Webb added the injection of pace which was lacking from the previous game. Sorry Greig. I think the all Irish midfield looked strong and had a sense of composure but with Biggar only getting half an hour of game time and Sexton not looking flash, they didn’t get enough ball. Going forward, I would like to see the second and back row get around the paddock more in attack not just defence. Guys like Tipuric and Itoje are handy with ball in hand but just didn’t get a chance to show it off. Farrell needs to start the next game at 10 and add the variety in attack they are desperately lacking.

Saturday’s game, Crusaders at AMI Stadium. This is an odd place to go for rugby, the one eyed cantabrians love their rugby more than most but have a unique way of showing it. in 2014, I went to watch the Crusaders vs the Sharks in the quarter final of the Super 15. It was a sell-out match and the pregame atmosphere was great. Come kick-off though, it all went quiet. It didn’t seem to matter whether the team was playing well or not, it stayed quiet. The fellas explained to me that the fans in Canterbury love their rugby so much that they are more interested in how the players perform than anything else. Everybody noticed the little mistakes or touches of class and reacted by explaining what they saw to their mates instead of cheering.

My prediction is the Lions are going to lose again, I think we are going to see something closer to a full test team however I think an undefeated Crusaders will be too strong. I am hoping for better weather and a dry track, which would provide us with a more flowing game.
Score Crusaders 30 – 18 Lions.

John Mann, Community and Rugby Development.