New Zealand vs British & Irish Lions

Lore & Background

Wales coach Warren Gatland was head coach of the Lions, having also led the Lions to victory in the 2013 series against Australia. Former Wales captain Sam Warburton was appointed as tour captain, a role he also held on the 2013 tour. The Lions squad voted Jonathan Davies their player of the series.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Eden Park hangs heavy with humidity and history. It is the third test, the series hanging by a thread. The All Blacks players stand in their huddle, black jerseys stark against the green turf, murmuring a chant that has echoed since 1905. Across the field, the Lions, a patchwork of four different crests on one jersey, lock shoulders, knowing they are outnumbered but united by a singular purpose. The referee blows the whistle, and the collision is not just of bodies, but of eras. A scrum forms at the center line, a tangle of boots and mud, as the world holds its breath to see if the invincibility will hold or if the Lions will finally break through.

Reader's Guide

The ten-match schedule was announced on 9 July 2015, and included matches against New Zealand Super Rugby teams for the first time. Previously in New Zealand, the Lions had played provincial sides or combined provincial selections. However, this was the first tour to New Zealand where the visit fell in the middle of the Super Rugby season. Initially, the Lions proposed a match in the United States against the U.S. national team to open the tour, much like the Barbarians match in Hong Kong in 2013. However, on 6 July 2015, the idea was dropped because of the unavailability of key American players due to club commitments. The opening match of the tour was originally planned to be against a Provincial Union XV, but this was changed to the New Zealand Barbarians in March 2016, following their win over the Māori All Blacks. Christchurch was initially planned to host a test match but, due to the 2011 Christchurch earthquake which damaged Lancaster Park beyond repair, it was deemed that the remaining stadiums in the South Island were too small to host a test match.

Did You Know?

• The Lions squad included 16 players from England, 12 from Wales, 11 from Ireland and 2 from Scotland.
• Ben Youngs withdrew from the squad on 6 May for personal reasons; Billy Vunipola withdrew on 21 May after a shoulder injury.
• Six players – Kristian Dacey, Gareth Davies, Allan Dell, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill and Finn Russell – were added on 17 June as cover, nicknamed the 'Geography Six'.
• Ross Moriarty was ruled out after an injury against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians; Robbie Henshaw and George North were ruled out after injuries against the Hurricanes; Jared Payne was ruled out of the final game
• The Lions' first win over New Zealand in the professional era came in the second test, ending New Zealand's 47-match home winning streak.