Dubai: After a highly competitive Six Nations — won by England — there’s never been a better time for the British and Irish Lions to play New Zealand, according to Red Rose stars Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood and Kyle Sinckler.
The Lions — who tour as a collective of the best England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales players every four years — haven’t won a series in New Zealand since 1971 and their last single test win there was back in 1993.
But after last month’s Six Nations in which every side took points off one another, northern hemisphere rugby is thought to be in rude health heading into this summer’s Lions tour.
Warren Gatland’s Lions squad will be announced on April 19, while their three games against the All Blacks will be played on June 24, July 1 and July 8.
“I think we’ve got the best players there’s ever been in the Six Nations at the moment and we can pick a very good team to go down there and beat New Zealand,” said Lawes, who was speaking on the sidelines of a training session with the Dubai Hurricanes youth side at the Lapita Hotel in Dubai Parks and Resorts on Friday, along with England teammates Wood and Sinckler.
Lawes is likely to be picked for the touring squad and is a contender for a first XV place whereas Wood and Sinckler are outside bets for selection.
“The Six Nations was a hell of a contest with no team winning every game and most losing at least twice, so that just shows the strength of every team,” added the 28-year-old Northampton Saints lock.
Fellow Northampton flanker, Wood, 30, said: “They will go down and be confident whoever they pick as they’ve got lots of players to choose from and a strong coaching outfit.
“But they are up against the world’s best and have to put a team together within a couple of months to compete with a side that’s been together and winning for a long time, so it’s a big challenge, but you’ve got to be excited and I do think they have a real chance.”
As well as Lions players being on a roll, Wood also said New Zealand were off colour.
“I don’t think New Zealand are at their best at the minute, they are slightly more vulnerable than usual since having lost to Ireland last November.
“There’s been a transition of new guys coming in to replace the old guard retiring. There’s no Ritchie McCaw or Dan Carter or guys like that who have been absolute staple for them over the past 10 years. But they’ve still got quality players and I don’t mean they are weak but they are a bit unsettled compared to how they’ve been.”
Harlequins tighthead prop, Sinckler, 24, agreed: “Looking at the competitiveness of the Six Nations and the health of northern hemisphere rugby, I think this is one of the best chances for the Lions to beat New Zealand in a long time.
“You can never tell until you get out there though and I think that first test will be crucial.”
