DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017: Ahead of the first Test match

The date 24 June 2017 has been circled in red on the calendars of rugby fans across the world. Now, it's finally here: the first Test match between the British & Irish Lions and New Zealand in the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017.

The match only comes around once every 12 years and the anticipation has been growing globally since the Lions left Eden Park - battered but unbowed - in July 2005 after a 38-19 defeat.

This time, the Lions arrive at the same Eden Park Stadium on Saturday on the back of an impressive run in the matches prior to the the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017.

The defeat to the Blues on 7 June which gave the Lions a few wobbles is but a distant memory, and the thousands of fans who have followed their side from Britain and Ireland can only think of convincing back-to-back victories against the Maori All Blacks and the Chiefs, which followed a win over the current Super Rugby leaders, the Crusaders.

The Lions picked up the final victory of that run with a convincing 34-6 win in Hamilton against the Chiefs on Tuesday.

Exeter’s Jack Nowell crossed for two tries to ensure the Chiefs – Super Rugby champions in 2012 and 2013 – were held tryless to end their seven-match winning streak on their home ground and ensure the Lions head to Auckland to take on the All Blacks with a spring in their step.

The four tries against the Chiefs will have obviously delighted Lions coach Warren Gatland, but so will another shut-out for the Lions, ensuring their opponents failed to score a try.

Playing the Lions' game

The reality is the Lions defence will need to be watertight this Saturday. As they have demonstrated on this tour, their strategy will start and possibly finish with an aggressive pack of forwards attempting to win the battle up front, as they would find it much harder to win if they take on New Zealand via the All Blacks’ strengths.

Leicester Tigers tighthead Dan Cole explained after the win over the Chiefs: “We understand to come down here you have to have a good forward pack, we want to dictate the play to the Kiwi sides and the forwards are an area of strength to us.

“Steve Borthwick is driving us hard and doing a great job and keeping the midweek team prepped hard and ready to play, and that showed.

“That is the plan, the New Zealand team is a step up from the franchises.

“They will have seen the Lions play and will try and counter that, but that’s the aim."

If you come down here and try and play like New Zealand, you are going to lose.

Leicester Tigers tighthead Dan Cole

“You have find a way of playing differently and play to your strengths and today that was our forward pack but we still have great players in the backs, and they lit up at times like the try from our own goal-line.”

The three recent victories put the Lions in perfect shape as they head back to Auckland for a Test match which will have the eyes of the world on it.

In years to come rugby fans and players will ask: where were you for the Test match on 24 June 2017? If the answer is Eden Park, you are one of the lucky ones. For millions around the world, it will be glued to a television set roaring on either the men in red or black.

Fair play

One thing is for certain: whichever way the match goes on Saturday mutual respect will be unbreakable between both sets of players and supporters.

A big feature of this tour is the way the players from every team the Lions have face have shown such respect to one another. The old tradition of players coming into the opposition dressing room to share a joke, a memory or a beer after the match has returned, and the rugby world will raise a glass to that.

Lions (34): L Williams (Wales); J Nowell (England), J Payne (Ireland), R Henshaw (Ireland), E Daly (England); D Biggar (Wales), G Laidlaw (Scotland); J Marler (England), R Best (Ireland), D Cole (England), I Henderson (Ireland), C Lawes (England), J Haskell (England), J Tipuric (Wales), C Stander (Ireland).

Replacements: K Dacey (Wales), A Dell (Scotland), T Francis (Wales), C Hill (Wales), AW Jones (Wales), G Davies (Wales), F Russell (Scotland), T Seymour (Scotland).

Tries: Nowell 2, penalty try*, Payne Cons: Biggar 3 Pens: Biggar 2

Chiefs (6): S Stevenson; T Pulu, T Nanai-Williams, J Fa'auli, S Alaimalo; S Donald (capt), F Christie, S Fisiihoi, L Polwart, N Laulala, D Bird, M Allardice, M Brown, L Boshier, T Sanders.

Replacements: H Elliot, A Ross, A Moli, L Messam, M Karpik, J Taumateine, L Laulala, C Tiatia.

Remaining fixtures

All kick offs 8:35 a.m. (UK and Ireland time)

Saturday 24 June – New Zealand (Auckland)

Tuesday 27 June – Hurricanes (Wellington)

Saturday 1 July – New Zealand (Wellington)

Saturday 8 July – New Zealand (Auckland)