The likely reduction of tour matches for the trip to South Africa in 2021 sets a dangerous precedent and overlooks the impact Lions series have both at home and abroadWhen Warren Gatland submits his report on the tied Lions series in New Zealand to the four home unions, he will repeat the plea made four years ago for more preparation time. Heads will nod in agreement but all that is set to change by 2021, when the Lions will be in South Africa, is that two matches are cut from the schedule to give the players and management an extra week together.It would be, as the former Lions wing and manager Gerald Davies said, the death of the Lions by...
The sides had grown obsessed with winning the physical contest and in the series decider it produced the most brutal match in recent memoryWhen it was all over, Sam Warburton had one word left in him: “Wow.” It echoed around the ground, the crowd quiet until they realised that Warburton did not know what else to say, and his pause was overwhelmed by raucous applause. Warburton stood silent a moment longer, then added: “What a Test match.”Soon afterwards, Kieran Read was called up from the other side of the presentation stage. The two men took the little silver trophy between them, each with one hand on one handle, and raised it together. When they brought it back down, Warburton tugged...
Critics attack his teams for playing Warrenball but as the only unbeaten Lions coach of the professional era Gatland has shown yet again he gets resultsHe would not rule it out, but nor was he chomping at the bit for another shot. Warren Gatland refused to be drawn on the prospect of another Lions tour. “I don’t know,” he said. “There’s been a lot of water under the bridge.” For now, obviously, he is just thinking about Wales, the autumn and preparing for the World Cup in two years’ time. Whether he is in position to take on another Lions tour in 2021 remains to be seen.It is a scarcely guarded secret that he has his eye on the All...
There has been an edge to New Zealand’s training this week, which is a sign the team are focused on the job in hand against the LionsAll Blacks supporters will not even be contemplating defeat on Saturday. I have been involved in similar circumstances, when we lost to France at the 2007 World Cup when no one saw it coming, and just like back then, there would be a period of national morning and the inquest would start.But there has been an edge to New Zealand this week. Steve Hansen’s selection is bold and while Jordie Barrett and Ngani Laumape are making their first international starts, there is a huge amount of experience around them, particularly in the pack. The...
The Lions head coach has picked an unchanged side against the All Blacks who are looking a little uncertain with their three changes for the Eden Park decider For a glimpse of what might lie ahead for the British & Irish Lions in the closing 80 minutes of their New Zealand tour, it is worth recalling the final act of their previous series win here in 1971. The Lions were 2-1 up going into the fourth and final Test and the All Blacks kicked off like men possessed. “For the first 20 minutes the New Zealanders played as if they’d drunk an energy potion,” the great fly‑half Barry John recalled. “I thought we were going to be stuffed.” Related: Steve...