Dubai: Saturday’s Test series decider between the All Blacks and the Lions is expected to be a humdinger and most fans in the UAE can’t wait to see the contest get under way.
The excitement was clearly palpable in the tone of All Blacks supporter Peter Kelly, ICC Academy’s strength and conditioning coach and high performance manager for the UAE cricket Team.
“I’m really looking forward to it and eager to see the contest; obviously, in the first Test match the All Blacks’ pace and aggression in the game really nullified the rest of the things for the Lions. Then the last match was a bit of a leveller, particularly with the exit of the great Sonny Bill Williams. This game will be a good series decider,” the New Zealander, who will be heading to BidiBondi on the Palm Jumeirah to watch the action, said.
Kelly said the All Blacks did well despite being down to 14 and were in the match till the last 25 minutes. “We had our chances and so heading into this match and playing at Eden Park where the All Blacks are undefeated for nearly a quarter century, I think that will play a big part,” he said.
“As you see, last year when All Blacks lost to Ireland in the second match, they came back really strongly and I think probably it will be the same case. Not to disregard the Lions, they have the momentum coming into the clash. But it is definitely a good thing for the Lions supporters who have come to watch them,” said Kelly, who added that even if the All Blacks end up on the losing side you cannot term it embarrassing due to the quality the Lions have.
As for Lions’ fans, Lucas Britt, key account and relationship manager, Onside Sports, feels
a Lions’ victory in Saturday’s clash against the All Blacks would be huge and they have the side that can make that dream come true.
“We haven’t won in a Test series for long so it is very important for the Lions to show some passion and energy for the third and final Test with an unchanged side from the last clash. Hope that the boys can gather the energy that they got last week coming off the field to Auckland on Saturday,” said Britt, who plans to catch the action at BidiBondi on Palm Jumeirah too.
Britt, from Basingstoke in the south of England, is of the view that the key to the Lions’ success will be the form of Englishman Maro Itoje — and, if he can come good one more time, there will be no stopping his side from winning.
“The main player for me is Itoje as he has come off a great, great performance last week. The maturity that he’s got as a 22-year-old was phenomenal and he can bring it in the position he plays lock. He will be able to run the line out and has a lot of passion. He will be a key player for me,” said Britt, who also was of the view that Liam Williams will be another player who can make a big difference.
“Williams, who has injury concerns, has the ability to get up and under to provide the thrust going forward. These two players — Williams and Itoje — are going to have a huge impact on the match.”
He also hailed Lions boss Warren Gatland’s move to have Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrwell at 10 and 12 in the last match, but is unsure if that will click this time if the heavens don’t open up.
“It was a great move last time in wet conditions and maybe that was the reason, as that put pressure on the All Blacks and maybe that’s why he played Ben Te’o from the bench. It was a good combination and hopefully it will work this time as well,” said Britt, who added that the pressure will be on the All Blacks after the shock defeat last week, giving the Lions a very good chance of winning.
