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Gauging the motivation levels of the Super Rugby sides playing the Lions
By
Jamie Wall
Just how fired up will each of New Zealand’s Super Rugby sides be for their meeting with the British & Irish Lions next month? Jamie Wall takes a look.
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Much has been of the British & Irish Lions exceptionally difficult tour schedule starting next weekend. Much has been made also of the reason why it’ll be such a challenge – the almost ridiculous level of superiority that the NZ Super Rugby sides are enjoying these days.
It’s not too much of a stretch to think that any of the five teams would be a dominant test playing entity if it were possible, just look at what the Chiefs did to Wales last year. But exactly how fired up are they for this interruption in their plans to win the Super Rugby title this year?
Blues
This game could be a very violent way for the Blues to express their rage at the perceived unfairness of the way Super Rugby works. The draw with the Chiefs over the weekend effectively extinguished any meagre playoff hopes the Blues had, so this match is very much a way of salvaging something from their season. That said, they have still won half their games this year and put lesser teams to the sword. They also have more competition points than any non-New Zealand team, bar the (South African) Lions, and will be at full strength at a packed Eden Park. Hardly an easy introduction for the tourists.
Crusaders
Perfect season. The 2002 Crusaders are the only Super Rugby side to be able to boast about that feat, so this fixture has historical motivation surrounding it. Right now the present-day Crusaders are 12-0, although they need to get past the Chiefs next weekend to keep that record intact when the Lions arrive a few days later. Like the Blues, they’ll be at full strength – although they’ve had such large and successful squad rotation this season that a whole bunch of combinations could be considered first-choice.
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Highlanders
Dunedin hasn’t hosted a Lions test since 1983, and this tour features no internationals in the South Island at all. So that perceived slight can motivate the Highlanders. The team is quite delicately placed at fourth on the NZ Conference standings, though, and a few results here and there could see them move right up into second, so it’s fair to say they’re probably more concerned with the crucial tail end of their season than this game against the Lions. Former Highlanders bench player James Haskell may find himself lining up against his old side, so hopefully he didn’t annoy too many old teammates with his banter.
Chiefs
By the time this one gets played we should have a much better idea of what this tour really is – either a triumphant statement by Northern Hemisphere rugby or another long, embarrassing debacle. If it’s the former, the Chiefs may have a tough night because they’ll be missing quite a few key men. Most important of those will be Aaron Cruden and Sam Cane, who have been sharing captaincy duties. If it’s the latter, it’s fair to say that it won’t matter how the Chiefs go about this game because they’ll win regardless. One thing is for sure though: this could be yet another chance for Stephen Donald to enhance his reputation as New Zealand rugby’s biggest cult hero.
Hurricanes
The Canes have played their best rugby this season when they don’t care. So mental preparation for this game should be relatively non-existent, save for maybe Vince Aso agonising over whether he continues with the dab as his try celebration.
