THE LIONS have arrived in the ‘adventure capital of the world’ — where adrenalin junkies get their kicks through extreme sports.
But nothing in sport could be quite as extreme as the challenge awaiting the tourists at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday, when they will go toe-to-toe with the All Blacks in a series decider.
And while even the most delirious Lions fans couldn’t deny their boys had got lucky when Sonny Bill Williams was sent off in the first half of Saturday’s Second Test, coach Warren Gatland is adamant he has the world champions where he wants them.
After facing his Waterloo in Wellington and emerging victorious, Gatland was asked whether the Lions could use their gripping 24-21 success as a springboard — or whether they have merely ‘poked the bear’.
And he insisted New Zealand have been effectively shackled over two Tests by a Lions side who have out-scored them by four tries to three in this series and shut them out on Saturday.
Gatland said: “The ironic thing is this is the best team in the world and, for two Test matches, they really haven’t stressed us. They have squeezed us, made us give away penalties and that has been our downfall at times.
“But we haven’t seen the expansive rugby the All Blacks are known for, which creates havoc.
“We’ve coped with that and if we can continue to cope with that and improve in other areas, then we are going to see, hopefully, a great Test match.
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“Yes, we have poked the bear, but hopefully the wounded Lion from last week is still recovering as well . . .
“Saturday was pretty massive. It was all or nothing.
“I think, for all of us, for everything, for the future of the Lions, it was massive to go 1-1.”
Saturday was New Zealand’s first defeat on home soil since 2009 and Gatland is aware that they tend to respond with controlled rage after suffering rare setbacks. He believes the fact that four of the All Blacks’ front five were beaten up by the Lions playing for the Crusaders earlier in the tour was a major motivation for an immense display by Steve Hansen’s pack in the First Test.
Similarly, Gatland fears a sense of revenge could fuel New Zealand up in the northern fortress where they are unbeaten since 1994.
Gatland said: “I don’t know about putting them under pressure. They love that.
“They don’t often get the opportunity to have pressure put on them and when they do, they thrive on it.
“Hopefully, we don’t give them any ammunition and concentrate on ourselves, because they will be using anything they can to motivate themselves.
“I think a big part of the First Test was four of their tight five played against us for Crusaders and they were probably pretty p***ed off with that and they were pretty motivated.
“We were disappointed how things went for us that night so we fronted up physically in the Second Test.
“There were still a lot of things I wasn’t happy about. I wasn’t happy about some of the penalties and the discipline.
“I am happy we got ourselves out of a hole and showed some real character and courage. I am happy with our physicality. But we’ve got to make sure we don’t give away stupid and soft penalties.
“Key players were guilty of that — so that needs to improve.”
While the back-packers indulge in bungee jumping, skydiving and hang-gliding around scenic Queenstown, the Lions are supposedly here for some rest and relaxation.
Although there has been mention of the four most terrifying words in the British sporting lexicon — ‘a few quiet beers’.
But Gatland is adamant his men will be professional in the town where England’s players went dwarf-tossing during the 2011 World Cup.
He is sure these Lions will not make the same mistakes as the British and Irish tourists of 1993, who let their hair down spectacularly after levelling their series and were tanked in the Auckland decider.
Gatland said: “This group of players is completely different. That was the amateur days. These players are true professionals, they’ll have a couple of quiet beers.
“The players will enjoy themselves for a night in Queenstown and then start focusing on Saturday.
“We freshened them up a bit and made training a little lighter before the Second Test.
“When we looked back at the tape of the First Test, our forwards were a bit heavy- legged.
“So we consciously lightened up. The last two Lions tours, we’ve gone away somewhere Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, freshened them up and had a couple of light sessions later in the week.
“That’s worked really well and hopefully it will again.”
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