INTERVIEW: 'I can't see them beating the All Blacks' - Lee Byrne

Former British and Irish Lions full back Lee Byrne says he just can’t see any way that the men in red can emerge from the forthcoming tour to New Zealand with a series win under their belt.

The 36-year-old, who started the first test defeat to South Africa in 2009, thinks his former coach Warren Gatland has picked a strong squad that could win a series anywhere else in the world but that the All Blacks will have too much and the tour schedule and quality of provincial sides may also take its toll.

“It’s a very good squad and I’d say they’d have a very good chance anywhere else in the world but it’s a difficult task playing New Zealand in their own back yard and I can’t see them beating the All Blacks unfortunately,” he told Rugby Pass.

“Gatland wanted a hard tour but each game is going to be like a test match, so it is going to be tough. It’s not going to be like going to South Africa or Australia where there might be a bit of a soft underbelly with the midweek teams. Every game is going to be like a test match.”

The Lions haven’t beaten New Zealand in a test series for over 45 years since 1971 and have won just six of the 38 tests they have played against them in total, sobering statistics that suggest Byrne is not just being overly pessimistic.
And, if they are to be competitive, he is clear about what kind of tactics they will employ.
“There’s only one way the Lions can beat New Zealand and that’s up front. There’s no point playing open rugby against New Zealand because their game is far quicker than Northern Hemisphere rugby and in terms of speed and intensity we are not used to playing at that level,” he said.

“There is no way we can match them for speed, turnovers and the way they can get from one end of the field to the other and score tries, so we have got to take them on up front.”

The man wearing his old number 15 jersey may not see much of the ball if Byrne is correct in his predictions but he firmly believes Liam Williams should be the man given the job of being the last line of defence against the All Blacks in the coming weeks.
“I’d go for Liam Williams at full back. I think that’s his best position, he plays his best rugby there and never lets anyone down. For me, he’s an out-and-out 15 but he’s versatile and coaches like that. If I was him, I’d like to play at full back but he has shown that he can play wing or full back.” he said.

“If you are looking at goal-kicking, then you’d go for Leigh Halfpenny and he offers solidity as well but Liam Williams and Stuart Hogg offer the flair.”

And, Byrne is also tipping Ben Te’o, who has just one test start for England to his name, to play a starring role in the series.
“Another long shot for the test side would be Ben Te’o in the centres because he’s played over there in the Southern Hemisphere, knows what it’s about and is big and tough. It is just a question of whether he has enough international experience.

“He looks very good though and I think he could be one of the stars of the tour given the chance.”

The Lions face the New Zealand Barbarians in Whangarei on Saturday before going on to play the Blues (June 7), Crusaders (June 10), Highlanders (June 13), New Zealand Maori (June 17) and Chiefs (June 20) ahead of the first of three tests against the All Blacks on June 24.

Lee Byrne took part in the Fiat Fullback Challenge. For more information on the new Fiat Fullback Pick-up visit: https://www.fiatprofessional.co.uk/uk/Models/fullback-pick-up. To view the full video click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES9B07PRmsc.