Blues defeat was "great preparation" for Gatland

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A moment of brilliance from the hosts - the first of the five New Zealand Super Rugby franchises to take on the Lions - won the contest at Eden Park, as first Sonny Bill Williams then Ihaia West ripped through the midfield to dot down under the posts shortly after the Lions had taken the lead.

The 25-year-old is under pressure to turn around the Lions' fortunes after a shock 22-16 loss to the Auckland Blues on Wednesday.

For the visitors, No. 8 C.J. Stander scored a try with full-back Leigh Halfpenny slotting the conversion and three penalties for the Lions, who next face the seven-time Super Rugby champions Canterbury Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.

The other All Blacks in the selection are Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Owen Franks and Luke Romano. "Performance-wise it was a step in the right direction, but to concede the way we did having fought back twice was disappointing", he said. I'm looking forward to playing against him and having a go.

But they played with more endeavour than their opponents from the get-go and crossed the line first, with Rieko Ioane planting down on the left edge.

"He got them over the gain line".

Experienced lock Alun Wyn Jones will captain the British and Irish Lions in the third game of their tour of New Zealand, against the in-form Crusaders.

Unless they can rapidly improve, epecially in their ability to create try-scoring chances, the Lions face the prospect of more losses on a long tour. I think it's not an area of concern.

The Lions, who were sluggish in their first match and poorly disciplined in their second, were getting better, he said.

Buttler hits rapid 61 as England all out for 310 against NZ
I thought we were in a really good position to go and get 340 but we just seemed to lose wickets. With this comprehensive victory, England has moved on to the Semis of the Champions Trophy .

It was apparent at Eden Park, he said, that Warren Gatland's team had a default setting when the game was in the balance.

"Across the board they're a quality outfit and we know they can pull something out of nothing".

"If we have to throw the ball as well, we will".

"We have to make sure we control things that are in our control". "Our squad is working hard and we are seeing improvement in their performances both at training and in the games".

Hansen said the Lions' tough schedule was to blame, saying the All Blacks wouldn't even have attempted to play so soon after arriving for a tour.

Before their first test against the All Blacks, they take on Super Rugby franchises the Blues, Crusaders, Highlanders and Chiefs, as well as the New Zealand Maori. They'll only get better and better.

Robertson said that Saturday's match with the Lions will be a special moment in his players' professional careers, and that while the Lions have some of the best global players in world rugby, the Crusaders also have their own collection of world beaters.

Lions: Stuart Hogg, George North, Jonathan Davies, Ben Te'o, Liam Williams, Owen Farrell, Conor Murray; Taulupe Faletau, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony, George Kruis, Alun Wyn Jones (captain), Tadgh Furlong, Jamie George, Mako Vunipola.

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