Colin Meads: There's more than just a Lions tour on the line

From a New Zealand perspective, this year's Super 12 has one aim - to come up with an All Black team to beat the Lions.

The focal point of the year has to be the Lions and it's imperative that we beat them for the sake of the future of New Zealand rugby and the game itself.

The Lions are bringing far too many management staff and if they win, other countries will follow suit simply because that's what the Lions did.

This tour is the incentive rugby needs. It will inspire any kids playing rugby and inject everyone with a renewed enthusiasm.

For this generation of top-level players it's a once in a lifetime challenge. At one point we used to play the Lions every five or six years. I played them in '59, '66 and '71. But it's been 12 years since the Lions were here so, for current players, the Super 12 will take on a new meaning.

Whether they're young, old or indifferent it doesn't really matter - we're not picking for the future. It will be picked on a balance of form, loyalty to the team that demolished the French and belief in a player's capability, although I don't think there is much room to experiment.

We've never had a band of tourists this size - team and supporters - in the history of any sport in New Zealand. It will be infectious. 
 
While that performance against France was the best the All Blacks have produced for six or seven years, it's another year and the selectors will be looking with different eyes.

Incredibly, half our players seem to be injured. I just can't fathom that, they've had their break. That's time to get right. I don't know whether that's the training. No way did we ever start the season with an injury. They've got to look at the training programmes they've got them on.

There's still an opening there for a lock when you consider Norm Maxwell's injury problems.

The opposition detest Maxwell which is always a good sign in a forward but he can only last 60 minutes so if they stick with his experience, there's a spot there for someone to get that last 20 minutes.

So, and I'm not saying this because I'm an old lock, that position looms as the most crucial in this Super 12.

I'll be watching Ross Kennedy at the Hurricanes and Keith Robinson at the Chiefs with a lot of interest.

I was disappointed in what Justin Marshall said about being bored with the Super 12. It's all very well to say it's monotonous playing the same people but if they know them so bloody well why don't they win every game?

He might be bored but there's a fair few other halfbacks who aren't, so just give them the opportunity.

And while we all say it's madness to play in the heat of summer, come next Friday night we'll all be watching and that tells a story.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY