# Rugby: Why you should watch the Lions v All Blacks game this weekend. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 20, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-why-you-should-watch-the-lions-v-all-blacks-game-this-weekend/789485 "2017-06-20T22:54:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-why-you-should-watch-the-lions-v-all-blacks-game-this-weekend/789485/1 "2017-06-20T22:54:40Z")
The British and Irish Lions are an invitational team that are formed every four years from best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They’re pretty much the best players in the Northern Hemisphere (sans France). This year they’re in New Zealand. The All Blacks are the reigning world champions and the best national team team in world rugby. The two teams play with quite different styles. The Lions employ a stifling defence, to knock back the opposition and use their immense forward power to control possession and grind out points by dominating the opposition. Last Saturday’s game [against New Zealand Maori](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAbFp-p_fJg)showed how effective this can be. The All Blacks have a backline stuffed full of players who can break defensive lines and can score from virtually anywhere on the field. Last Friday they ripped Samoa apart [like this.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZNCNnQcTXw) The first test in a three test series is played this weekend. It’s something like 3:35 AM Saturday morning for the US dopers, but it should be an absolutely epic clash. We’ll see a mammoth showdown between Northern power and Southern finesse. And I’m honestly not sure which will prevail. TL,DR Big rugby game on this weekend. Go watch. ---
**Author:** ![Krav\_Manga](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/krav_manga/32/3153_2.png) [@Krav\_Manga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krav_Manga)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-why-you-should-watch-the-lions-v-all-blacks-game-this-weekend/789485/2 "2017-06-21T02:30:42Z")
I’ll watch it, mainly to wash the taste of the preceding Aus v Italy clash, and so I can further bemoan the dire state of rugby in this country. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-why-you-should-watch-the-lions-v-all-blacks-game-this-weekend/789485/3 "2017-06-21T03:43:55Z")
Commiserations. Still if Fiji can beat them (albeit by a [last-minute drop goal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cVA0ykxm00)) surely Cheika’s boys can’t stuff this one up? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-why-you-should-watch-the-lions-v-all-blacks-game-this-weekend/789485/4 "2017-06-21T04:55:22Z")
I was at the Ireland - All Blacks match in Chicago last October (the first time that Ireland ever defeated New Zealand). I was there with a group of Irish immigrants, and it was incredible! If I can find a way to watch this match, I would definitely like to, as I’m becoming a rugby fan. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-why-you-should-watch-the-lions-v-all-blacks-game-this-weekend/789485/5 "2017-06-21T07:28:15Z")
The interesting thing about the lions is the degree to which their performances can ebb and flow. Bringing a disparate group together and getting them playing to a style and method reliably is a huge challenge, just understanding what your first team actually is ends up a major operation. That being the case we can see big swings in lion performances and whether they pull off a great result in the first test or get walloped it is entirely possible that we get a very different game the next time around. That’s one of the reasons these tours are so fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-why-you-should-watch-the-lions-v-all-blacks-game-this-weekend/789485/6 "2017-06-23T22:54:27Z")
A little over 8 hours to go. The wife’s got a couple of mates from Wales coming. We’ll spend the afternoon going around some wineries and then off to the pub for the game. It’s going to be awesome. ---
**Author:** ![HotDogWater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@HotDogWater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HotDogWater)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-why-you-should-watch-the-lions-v-all-blacks-game-this-weekend/789485/7 "2017-06-24T14:21:00Z")
I just watched the game on ESPN3 replay (10:18 am here, so about 6 hours or so after the live coverage). I will not spoil the result here, but it was the epic clash advertised. I was surprised by the Blacks game plan (especially in the first half), where they ran every ball right off the side of the breakdowns. Crash, crash, CRASH ball. Brode is the best lock in the game right now. CRASH. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-why-you-should-watch-the-lions-v-all-blacks-game-this-weekend/789485/8 "2017-06-24T20:14:58Z")
Hansen is using some sort of next level Sun Tzu stuff there. “Take your opponent’s strengths as your own”. ---
**Author:** ![HotDogWater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@HotDogWater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HotDogWater)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-why-you-should-watch-the-lions-v-all-blacks-game-this-weekend/789485/9 "2017-06-24T20:25:39Z")
Yessir. The Lions have been playing rush up defense the entire tour, what a great way to counter that. “I’ll just shove it in your face for 20 phases and see if you still rush up.” And then Smith goes wide on the quick penalty to make em pay for being tired. He looked right at Furlong, who was gasping for air after making tackle after tackle, and chucked the ball wide. I had the Blacks giving 10 points. Won that bet! ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-why-you-should-watch-the-lions-v-all-blacks-game-this-weekend/789485/10 "2017-07-02T09:33:39Z")
And now it’s one all - the decider is next Saturday in Auckland, and will be even more gripping. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-why-you-should-watch-the-lions-v-all-blacks-game-this-weekend/789485/11 "2017-07-03T12:40:37Z")
I like the way the thread title is still as relevant now as it was when first posted :). I think the hype about this Lions win is a little overdone - they played against 14 men for 65 minutes and still only just squeezed out a victory. They need to improve still further to stand a chance of taking the series. ---
**Author:** ![HotDogWater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@HotDogWater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HotDogWater)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-why-you-should-watch-the-lions-v-all-blacks-game-this-weekend/789485/12 "2017-07-03T14:02:52Z")
Agreed. But holding the blacks to penalty kicks only is an achievement in itself. I understand that the attacking options change when you are down a man (and it was odd that they sacrificed Kaino), but shutting NZ out of the try zone is rare. ---
**Author:** ![And\_his\_buzzer\_goes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/and_his_buzzer_goes/32/377_2.png) [@And\_his\_buzzer\_goes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/And_his_buzzer_goes)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-why-you-should-watch-the-lions-v-all-blacks-game-this-weekend/789485/13 "2017-07-04T09:04:32Z")
The records the All Blacks carry around are mind boggling… the first no-try game in 3 years…the first red card in 50 years, of only three in history. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-why-you-should-watch-the-lions-v-all-blacks-game-this-weekend/789485/14 "2017-07-04T20:39:12Z")
You forgot the most impressive one - first [home loss since 2009](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_New_Zealand_rugby_union_Test_matches#2010s) ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-why-you-should-watch-the-lions-v-all-blacks-game-this-weekend/789485/15 "2017-07-05T03:59:32Z")
14 penalty goals attempts in one game, off 21 penalties plus 13 scrums and 17 lineouts. Impressive that any play actually occurred. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-why-you-should-watch-the-lions-v-all-blacks-game-this-weekend/789485/16 "2017-07-05T22:10:08Z")
With a French ref and a rainy night flowing rugby wasn’t a high probability. And rain is forecast for Auckland this Saturday as well.