Lions tour: Lions will strangle All Blacks and one try could be enough - Nick Evans
Lions winger George North flattens George Bridge of the Crusaders.
Former All Black Nick Evans believes the Lions will try and "strangle" the All Blacks and that one try could be enough to beat them.
The All Blacks sent a daunting message to the Lions after routing Samoa 78-0 at Eden Park on Friday.
Their next match on tour is against New Zealand Maori in Rotorua on Saturday after losing 23-22 to the Highlanders in Dunedin on Tuesday.
Lions surround David Havili in Christchurch,
The Lions' best result on was beating the Crusaders 12-3 in Christchurch last Saturday, with an executed gameplan built on solid defence, astute kicking and line speed that thwarted any attacks the Super Rugby leaders could string together.
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Evans, who played for Otago against the Lions in 2005, said implementing a similar strategy against the All Blacks could mean scoring one try might be enough.
"The general consensus is that if the Lions are going to beat the All Blacks they will need to score three or four tries but that is a myth," Evans wrote in the Guardian.
"They are in New Zealand to win test matches, they are not going to play a lot of rugby, they are not going to showcase many skills and they will 100 per cent try to strangle the All Blacks.
"If they execute the gameplan, built around a very solid defence, a very solid set-piece and a very accurate kicking game, then one try could be enough.
Nick Evans announced his retirement from rugby in April after 10 years of playing for Harlequins since leaving New Zealand.
"They shut down a good Crusaders side and they'll go into the tests with that kind of attitude. They'll try to choke the hell out of the All Blacks and force them to play in areas and in a way they're not used to."
Evans, an All Blacks first five-eighth who won 16 caps between 2004 and 2007, admitted the Lions have been making too many individual errors, though, and said stupid penalties they've conceded will be concerning coach Warren Gatland.
"That individual execution just isn't there yet and they cannot expect to get six or seven try-scoring opportunities against the All Blacks," he said.
3 June: NZ Barbarians v Lions - Toll Stadium, Whangarei
7 June: Blues v Lions - Eden Park, Auckland
10 June: Crusaders v Lions - AMI Stadium, Christchurch
13 June: Highlanders v Lions - Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
17 June: Māori All Blacks v Lions - Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
20 June: Chiefs v Lions - Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
24 June: All Blacks v Lions - Eden Park, Auckland
27 June: Hurricanes v Lions - Westpac Stadium, Wellington
1 July: All Blacks v Lions - Westpac Stadium, Wellington
8 July: All Blacks v Lions - Eden Park, Auckland
"They will get two or three and, on form, I can't see them nailing them."
Evans added that losing Owen Farrell wasn't terminal but believed it would be a huge blow after the playmaker was ruled out of playing against New Zealand Maori with a grade one quadriceps strain.
"Conor Murray is so important to their kicking game and Johnny Sexton showed some good form against the Crusaders – we saw the template in that match.
The Lions will pray Owen Farrell is fit for the All Blacks.
"They are going to try to turn New Zealand around and kick them out of the game.
"Gatland will select as many kickers as he can, attempt to win the territorial battle and marry that with a very strong, aggressive forward pack who will hope to take the All Blacks out of the game with the set piece."
- Stuff
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