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Iain Henderson: We got under New Zealand's skin

Lions lock Iain Henderson has revealed that his new teammates have mentioned Ireland's 40-29 vict...



Iain Henderson: We got under N...
Rugby

Iain Henderson: We got under New Zealand's skin

Lions lock Iain Henderson has revealed that his new teammates have mentioned Ireland's 40-29 victory in Chicago last November on a few occasions as the tourists prepare for next month's tour.

Some of the squad have assembled in Wales this week with their domestic and European campaigns over and the Ireland international has admitted the famous win is getting brought up occasionally.

Henderson wasn't in the squad for the game but speaking to WalesOnline, he doesn't expect that to be the end of the questions about it.

"It will get brought up more," he said, adding: "The boys over in Chicago got under the All Blacks skin. They made them cough up a loss, it was definitely a performance where the boys got in their faces, under their skin and disrupted them from their usual game.

"It will be what we’re looking to do out there, not beat them at their game but at our game."

The Ulsterman insists the All Blacks can be beaten in the series and the tourists will have to capatilise on any mistakes they make.  

"The All Blacks, as talented as they are, have their weaknesses which can be exposed," he added. 

Meanwhile, scrum coach for the tour, Graham Rowntree, is happy to get the preparation under way ahead of the trip south.

"We have trained them really hard with a double session," he said. "It's been very useful to get our calls and systems up and running.

"From lineout calls, to phase play, to how we defend, just getting everybody on the same page.

"We want to get the guys used to an intensity of how we train. Against the All Blacks the ball is on the field for a long time and we have trained them hard with that in mind. What we do, we have to do it immaculately," he added. 

The Lions kick off the tour on June 3rd against a Provincial Barbarians selection. 

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