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Neil Jenkins tips Lions' fantastic four to stick boot into All Blacks

Neil Jenkins tips Lions' fantastic four to stick boot into All Blacks

Neil Jenkins believes the British and Irish Lions boast a quartet of world-class kickers who can give them the edge over the All Blacks during this summer’s tour.

Lions kicking coach Jenkins, who made 87 appearances for Wales, stands third in the all-time Test points scoring list on 1,090 behind Dan Carter and Jonny Wilkinson and the former outside-half cannot hide his excitement about working with Leigh Halfpenny, Johnny Sexton, Owen Farrell and Dan Biggar.

The Lions, who begin their 10-match tour on June 3 when they take on the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians, will not have a clear advantage in many areas over the world champions and that is why their kickers must show their pedigree at the top level.

Jenkins’s verdict on the quartet is based on hard facts. The Lions boast the most potent points-accumulating force ever assembled by the most famous touring team in the world and it is supplemented by the long-range kicking skills of Stuart Hogg, Elliot Daly and Conor Murray.

Jenkins said: "This is the best group of kickers I’ve taken on a Lions tour.

"Johnny, Leigh and Owen were with me in Australia in 2013 along with Conor and Stuart, who were doing a bit of kicking. With Dan and Elliot coming into the squad, we now have a range of outstanding kickers.

"Owen, Leigh, Johnny and Dan are four or the best five kickers in the world."

That fifth spot does not go to New Zealand’s Beauden Barrett, world rugby’s player of the year, but is reserved for Argentina’s Nicolas Sanchez, who has amassed 494 Test points.

Jenkins, the former Lions No10 who helped win the Test series against South Africa in 1997, added: "Kicking is an area where we have an edge over the All Blacks and those four kickers are world class.

Lions' quartet of kickers

Test points

Leigh Halfpenny 668
Johnny Sexton 617
Owen Farrell 603
Dan Biggar 295

Leading All Blacks kicker
Beauden Barrett 297

"We don’t have a pecking order and it could be that two those four will be in the same team and we will try to give them all a chance early on.

"There were tough conversations in Australia which will probably happen this time as well, as players stake a claim to be the kicker at Test-match time."

The message from Jenkins to the All Blacks is loud and clear — concede penalties anywhere in your own half and expect to be punished, while that could be extended to around 55 metres from their posts if Daly, Hogg or Murray is handed the ball.

"In Australia, it was Leigh who started really well on the tour," said Jenkins. "I am sure Jonny was thinking ‘this boy is good’ and Leigh was outstanding and a big part of winning the series.

"Kicking will also be a big part of this series and while Beauden is a ridiculously good player, maybe we can exert pressure on him as a kicker."

Jenkins has been particularly impressed with the kicking form of Farrell, who was part of the series triumph in Australia and has been central to England’s recent success and Saracens’ domination of Europe.

He added: "Owen is an incredibly dedicated player and wants to be the best in the world."