Lions have ‘poked the bear’, says Gatland

WARREN Gatland says his British and Irish Lions “poked the bear” with their second Test win over the All Blacks and warned against riling up the world champions ahead of this weekend’s series decider.

But despite advising his players to mind their tongues, the coach could not resist his own dig at the world champions’ lack of running rugby in the first two Tests.

“Ironically, this is the best team in the world and, for two Test matches, they really haven’t stressed us,” he told British media. “They have squeezed us and made us give away penalties, but we haven’t seen the expansive rugby that the All Blacks are known for.

“We’ve coped with that and, if we can continue to improve in other areas, then we are going to see, hopefully, a great Test match.”

He expecteded a strong response from the All Blacks to the Lions’ 24-21 win over ver a 14-man New Zealand in Wellington. “Yes, we have pokeded the bear but hopefully lly the w o u n d e d L i o n from last week ek is still recoveringring a s wel l ,” he said.

Gatland saidid h i s p l a y e r s shou ld watchch what t hey s say ay about their oppopponents in t he buildup to t he t hirdrd Test i n Auc k l a nd on Saturday.

“Hopef u l l y we don’t give themem any ammunition this week and concentrate on ourselves because they will be usingu anything they can to mo motivate themselves,” he said. He belie believed there was room for the LionsL to improve as they ch chase a first series win in Ne New Zealand since 1971, particularly the 13 pena penalties conceded in Welli Wellington. “I’m happy we got ourselve selves out of a hole and show showed some real character anda courage, and I’m happy w with our physicality, but we’ve got to make sure we don’t give aw away stupid and soft penalties,” he said. “Key players were guilty of that.” Gatland (p (pictured, AFP) was relaxed about the Lions spending a few days in a South Island tourist spot to relax ahead of the Eden Park match.

‘True professionals’

Queenstown was the scene of the notorious dwarf-tossing bar-room antics that derailed England’s 2011 World Cup campaign, but Gatland said he did not envisage similar incidents involving the Lions.

“These players are true professionals. They’ll have a couple of quiet beers,” he said. “On the last two tours we’ve gone away somewhere, freshened them up and had a couple of light sessions later in the week. That’s worked really well for us.”

The scope for the Lions to get into trouble may be limited anyway as Altitude, the bar where the England players came unstuck, closed in 2013.