Losing to the fifth best team in New Zealand isn’t exactly ideal preparation for three Tests against the All Blacks.
The Blues are currently dead last in the New Zealand conference of Super Rugby, but the best selection of players from Ireland, Wales, England and Scotland were second best to Sonny Bill Williams and the boys in Auckland on Wednesday morning.
Fans would have been hoping for Warren Gatland’s men to improve on their 13-7 victory over the Provincial Barbarians in their tour opener, but instead, they tuned in to see their rugby heroes get bested 22-16 by statistically the worst Super Rugby team the Kiwis have to offer.
Next up for the Lions is a more daunting task against the Crusaders, who are top of the overall Super Rugby standings and, lest we forget, they still have to play the bloody All Blacks three times. It doesn’t exactly bode well.
The game did have some positives, at least from an Irish standpoint. Although he wasn’t given many attacking opportunities, Jack McGrath performed quite well in the scrum, and CJ Stander had one hell of a debut.
BLU 5-5 BIL
Try for the Lions! A textbook rolling maul sees CJ Stander over the line!
Follow #BLUvBIL live: https://t.co/NOVuxhVSks pic.twitter.com/CKJq4TUqdk
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 7, 2017
Despite the try, which didn’t actually do much to earn a result, the Munster man really showcased his patented work rate against the Kiwis.
Stander led the Lions carries with 19 and clocked up an impressive 36 metres ran. He also put in a great shift defensively, not missing any of the 13 tackles he connected with.
He did concede a turnover early and his performance wasn’t without its errors, but it wasn’t a bad return for his first time playing in a Lions jersey. Fans will be hoping this is just the beginning and Stander will improve as the tour continues. If he builds on this, he will have put himself in a good position to start the first test game at number eight ahead of Taulupe Faletau of Wales.
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