AliN
Live Update Team
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could be the 5th loss on tour ? (3rd test is in the bag)
hope joe rocokoko has a blinder.
Auckland coach Pat Lam doesn't need to be reminded his team is playing for the pride of New Zealand provincial rugby when they host the British and Irish Lions in their penultimate tour match at Eden Park on Tuesday night.
It would be fair to say that Lam is hearing it from several quarters that the pressure is on the Auks to take a Lions scalp on behalf of New Zealand's 26 provinces.
On a tour that has plunged into ignominy the Lions have at least managed to keep their perfect record intact against the provinces, with Southland coming the closest to upsetting the tourists in their 16-26 defeat in Invercargill.
"I've been reminded about that a few times that we're the last chance," said Lam in the leadup to the match. "We know it's going to be hard because it's the last chance for those guys.
"Their guys playing against us, if they're not up for test spots they'll know this could be the last time they ever play in the Lions jersey.
"We're expecting them to come pretty fired up."
Lam has named a strong side containing plenty of experience and excitement, though he has had less than a week to shape them into a competitive outfit. He has kept things simple and admits he'll rely on the players' previous experiences playing together.
Auckland skipper Justin Collins, whose presence on the blindside flank forces last year's All Black tourist Jerome Kaino on to the bench, is banking on a massive challenge from a touring team desperate to get a positive result on the board.
"The way things panned out they were always going to have a lot of pride there with guys missing out on test selection.
"I watched last week's game and they would have got a lot of confidence out of the Manawatu game with combinations.
"They would have bound together as a pretty tight unit and we're expecting some fired up characters. I thnk she'll be a big one."
All Blacks coach Graham Henry has already put the acid on Joe Rokocoko, among others in the Auckland lineup, saying that the national selectors will be watching the match closely with a view to their squad makeup for the Tri Nations.
Lam has a talented backline and useful pack capable of taking the game to the Lions. What they don't have is any form to speak of, which could be the problem against the Ian McGeechan-coached midweeekers who look to be coming into some useful form themselves. Last week they ran up a century against an outmatched Manawatu side.
Auckland have beaten the Lions the last two times they have faced them and if they can win enough ball for Rokocoko, Isa Nacewa, Ben Atiga and Sam Tuitupou to run on to they could make it a hat-trick.
On the other side of the coin, McGeechan will remind his midweekers that they can at least walk away from this tour with their heads held high if they finish the business in their toughest encounter at a sold-out Eden Park.
AUCKLAND: 15 Brent Ward, 14 Isa Nacewa, 13 Ben Atiga or Gavin Williams, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Joe Rokocoko or Tony Koonwaiyou, 10 Tasesa Lavea, 9 Steve Devine, 8 Angus MacDonald, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Justin Collins (c), 5 Bryce Williams, 4 Brad Mika, 3 John Afoa, 2 Semisi Telefoni, 1 Saimone Taumoepeau or Chris Heard. Reserves: 16 John Fonokalafi, 17 Heard or Nick White, 18 Kurtis Haiu, 19 Jerome Kaino, 20 Taniela Moa, 21 Isais Toe'ava, 22 Williams or Atiga.
LIONS: 15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Will Greenwood, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Denis Hickie, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Matt Dawson; 8 Michael Owen, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Jason White, 5 Simon Shaw, 4 Ben Kay, 3 John Hayes, 2 Gordon Bulloch (c), 1 Graham Rountree. Reserves: 16 Andy Titterrell, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Brent Cockbain, 19 Martin Corry, 20 Chris Cusiter, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Shane Horgan.
hope joe rocokoko has a blinder.
Auckland coach Pat Lam doesn't need to be reminded his team is playing for the pride of New Zealand provincial rugby when they host the British and Irish Lions in their penultimate tour match at Eden Park on Tuesday night.
It would be fair to say that Lam is hearing it from several quarters that the pressure is on the Auks to take a Lions scalp on behalf of New Zealand's 26 provinces.
On a tour that has plunged into ignominy the Lions have at least managed to keep their perfect record intact against the provinces, with Southland coming the closest to upsetting the tourists in their 16-26 defeat in Invercargill.
"I've been reminded about that a few times that we're the last chance," said Lam in the leadup to the match. "We know it's going to be hard because it's the last chance for those guys.
"Their guys playing against us, if they're not up for test spots they'll know this could be the last time they ever play in the Lions jersey.
"We're expecting them to come pretty fired up."
Lam has named a strong side containing plenty of experience and excitement, though he has had less than a week to shape them into a competitive outfit. He has kept things simple and admits he'll rely on the players' previous experiences playing together.
Auckland skipper Justin Collins, whose presence on the blindside flank forces last year's All Black tourist Jerome Kaino on to the bench, is banking on a massive challenge from a touring team desperate to get a positive result on the board.
"The way things panned out they were always going to have a lot of pride there with guys missing out on test selection.
"I watched last week's game and they would have got a lot of confidence out of the Manawatu game with combinations.
"They would have bound together as a pretty tight unit and we're expecting some fired up characters. I thnk she'll be a big one."
All Blacks coach Graham Henry has already put the acid on Joe Rokocoko, among others in the Auckland lineup, saying that the national selectors will be watching the match closely with a view to their squad makeup for the Tri Nations.
Lam has a talented backline and useful pack capable of taking the game to the Lions. What they don't have is any form to speak of, which could be the problem against the Ian McGeechan-coached midweeekers who look to be coming into some useful form themselves. Last week they ran up a century against an outmatched Manawatu side.
Auckland have beaten the Lions the last two times they have faced them and if they can win enough ball for Rokocoko, Isa Nacewa, Ben Atiga and Sam Tuitupou to run on to they could make it a hat-trick.
On the other side of the coin, McGeechan will remind his midweekers that they can at least walk away from this tour with their heads held high if they finish the business in their toughest encounter at a sold-out Eden Park.
AUCKLAND: 15 Brent Ward, 14 Isa Nacewa, 13 Ben Atiga or Gavin Williams, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Joe Rokocoko or Tony Koonwaiyou, 10 Tasesa Lavea, 9 Steve Devine, 8 Angus MacDonald, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Justin Collins (c), 5 Bryce Williams, 4 Brad Mika, 3 John Afoa, 2 Semisi Telefoni, 1 Saimone Taumoepeau or Chris Heard. Reserves: 16 John Fonokalafi, 17 Heard or Nick White, 18 Kurtis Haiu, 19 Jerome Kaino, 20 Taniela Moa, 21 Isais Toe'ava, 22 Williams or Atiga.
LIONS: 15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Will Greenwood, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Denis Hickie, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Matt Dawson; 8 Michael Owen, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Jason White, 5 Simon Shaw, 4 Ben Kay, 3 John Hayes, 2 Gordon Bulloch (c), 1 Graham Rountree. Reserves: 16 Andy Titterrell, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Brent Cockbain, 19 Martin Corry, 20 Chris Cusiter, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Shane Horgan.
