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Private Notes
The New Zealand All Blacks face the formidable British and Irish Lions - a matchup that happens only once every 12 years. It’s a bruising test that sees one of the team’s veterans sidelined by concussion testing. With the pressure on and the game in the balance, the hopes of a nation soon fall on the inexperienced shoulders of a young player, barely out of high school.
The British and Irish Lions accuse the All Blacks of dirty play targeting one of the team’s venerated leaders, Jerome Kaino. But it’s the controversial play of another All Blacks superstar, Sonny Bill Williams, that leaves the second game against the Lions in jeopardy and the unforgiving New Zealand fans baying for blood.
Amid uproar over the drawn Lions Series, Coach Steve Hansen must pick a new squad for the next challenge - the Rugby Championship featuring the team’s fiercest rivals from around the Southern Hemisphere. With arch enemies Australia up first, Hansen makes a bold call in selecting fresh-faced Damian McKenzie. The selection is critical as there is big news about the future of Vice-captain Ben Smith.
With Vice-captain Ben Smith on sabbatical, star player Beauden Barrett steps into this coveted leadership position in a game against Argentina, taking place in Barrett’s hometown. Will Argentina’s formidable scrum and the pressure of being a hometown hero prove too much for the All Blacks and the best rugby player in the world?
The All Blacks kick off game four of the Rugby Championship in an intensely physical match against South Africa. The game marks the return of a beloved player and a gruelling travel schedule ahead. While Captain Kieran Read soaks up much needed family time, another All Black prepares for the journey of parenthood.
The All Blacks legacy is at stake in a season where the team has had to dig deeper than ever before. As the Rugby Championship draws to an end, the All Blacks must rise to the occasion to bring home the trophy, defend their nation and cement a century-long tradition of dominance.
