Editorial: All Blacks rugby in great heart

SMASHED HIM: Sam Cane cleans up Owen Farrell in the best tackle of the second test. PHOTO/photosport

It is a shame in many ways the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour will come to an end after tonight's eagerly anticipated third and deciding test at Eden Park.

Not since the 2011 Rugby World Cup has there been such widespread interest in a home rugby event and not since the final against France have the All Blacks looked so vulnerable.

What the British and Irish Lions have shown in the opening two tests is the value of a game plan designed specifically to the skill set of their players. They do not waver from it even up against 14 players in Wellington.

The Lions do not play the New Zealand style of attack-focused rugby, although surprisingly in the two tests played have looked more lively than the strangely out of sorts All Blacks backline.

The British lads are tough and uncompromising. They are brought up on a win-by-penalties mindset and are the very best in the world at creating mayhem around the tackled ball area to milk penalties.

Tonight's game at Eden Park may come down to how well debut boy Jordie Barrett plays at fullback and kicks the goals. He is a wonderful talent and, like older brother Beauden, plays instinctively with a smile on his face.

Bay of Plenty fans will be hoping for another big game from outstanding flanker Sam Cane and more game time for reserve hooker Nathan Harris.

They first came to prominence together in a very good Tauranga Boys' College First XV in 2009.

That season they helped beat Hamilton Boys' High School to win back The Boot trophy, one of legendary All Black fullback Don Clarke's massive square-toed boots from the 1950s.

Some say there is still a dent in the grass over the sideline in the corner where Cane smashed out the flying Hamilton winger in the final play to win the game.

That was the last time Tauranga beat Hamilton but the class of 2017 have a big chance to right that wrong in a key Super 8 game at Nicholson Field from 2.35pm today.

SKY TV is covering the game live on the Rugby Channel with replays to come on SKY Sport 1 beginning on Tuesday at 5pm.

Tauranga have shown the ability to fight back from deficits this season but will need to get ahead early against Hamilton. They are third on the Super 8 standings behind unbeaten Hamilton and Hastings Boys' after four games.

It is hard to imagine how a school with rugby pedigree like Palmerston North Boys' could lose 100-0 to Hastings Boys' this season but they did. Hastings also beat Rotorua Boys' 53-0 and Gisborne Boys' 68-0 in two other astounding results.

It is worth watching tomorrow's future stars at the Super 8 game today and also the Tai Mitchell finals for 11 to 12-year-olds at Blake Park tomorrow morning.

To have rugby played with such extraordinary skill levels by such young players is a huge point of difference between New Zealand and the rest of the rugby nations.

It is why we rule the world in rugby and will always do so - no matter what happens at Eden Park tonight.