Evans: These backs can test my All Blacks

Harlequins fly-half Nick Evans never bets against the All Blacks, but the Kiwi strategist reckons he can name a British & Irish Lions backline combination capable of striking fear into his old side by sparking the power game to push them close.
With the countdown to Warren Gatland‘s squad announcement gathering pace, speculation rages over the type of game the Lions will play. However, Evans, who won 16 Test caps for the All Blacks, cuts through the fog by stating the Lions must play a territorial, direct game.
Evans, below, told The Rugby Paper: “We’ll not know how Gatland wants to play until we see the team, but you can’t beat New Zealand at New Zealand’s game; you’ve got to play a game that suits the British Lions, which is territorial, really powerful rugby early on.
“Personally, I would go Conor Murray, Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell at nine, 10 and 12. Farrell fits in perfectly at inside-centre for England and, with him being able to play at 10 as well, that opens up a spot on the bench.
“If you had a back-line of Murray, Sexton, Liam Williams, Farrell, Robbie Henshaw, Anthony Watson and Stuart Hogg, that’s a pretty solid unit, and you can then put somebody like Jonathan Joseph or Elliot Daly on the bench to mix things up.
“You could even go one back and put an extra forward on the bench, but the Lions will be a pretty strong team with the backs I’d choose.” Expanding on his reasoning, Evans added: “I like a 9/10 combination that play for the same team internationally. “Murray and Sexton being able to work well together helps enormously, both tactically and in terms of their kicking game.
“Farrell and Henshaw can work together, no problem at all, and you’ve got flyers out wide so when Henshaw’s battered the All Blacks midfield down you bring Joseph or Daly on to change up the game by going wider against tired opponents.
“With Sexton and Farrell you’ve got world-class kickers, so that’s covered, and they both warrant their positions. Sexton needs to stay fit but he’s cool under pressure, as he showed against England, and just dominates a game territorially.”
Evans believes the Lions can exploit weaknesses in New Zealand’s pack, saying: “The Lions will be powerful up front, with a very good set-piece and, as we’ve seen in Super Rugby this season, New Zealand sides aren’t mauling all that well.
“That’s an area New Zealand are going to need to look at very carefully in the build-up because the Lions will want to exploit their weapon.”
New Zealand hammered the Lions 3-0 in 2005, with a combined score of 107-40, but Evans reckons there is no danger of a repeat.
He added: “I’ll always back New Zealand but the series this time will be a lot closer than people there think. There’s a few injuries in New Zealand’s back three to guys like Israel Dagg and Waisake Naholo, while Ben Smith is probably not at the top end of his game, so you’ll probably see guys like Jordie Barrett coming in to their back-line.
“It’s not all rosy for the All Blacks but I know what they’ll do – they’ll get together early and make sure they’re nicely prepared for it.
“Also, the way the New Zealand teams are going in Super Rugby means their All Blacks will be tuned-up and battle hardened, which will be an advantage over the Lions. All in all, it’s going to be a hell of a series and one I can’t wait for.”
NEALE HARVEY