British and Irish Lions prepare for best and worst of times
There are great expectations from England captain Sam Warburton and coach Warren Gatland
Wellington — Past and present All Blacks have swamped television advertisements for the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand with a succinct message. It is simply "the greatest series" and for once the claim is hardly marketing hyperbole. Never have a Lions side arrived in New Zealand with greater expectation. England, who have provided 15 of the 41 players, are currently ranked second in the world behind the All Blacks while coach Warren Gatland added 11 from Ireland, who are fourth and hammered the world champions for the first time in Chicago in 2016. Gatland also selected 12 Welsh players, including tour captain Sam Warburton, whom he knows well through his day job as coach of the Wales side. That familiarity will no doubt aid the former All Blacks hooker in gelling 41 players from four different countries with little preparation time. Because of club commitments at the end of the long European season, only 14 players attended a training camp in Cardiff two weeks ago whil...
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