Gatland: ABs’ record at Eden Park is there to be broken
Just as Auckland is undergoing a huge makeover with pop- up stalls and temporary bars as it readies itself for the first test tonight, so the Lions have been transformed from a scratch, underwhelming outfit into a tight- knit team who have been encouraged to be “bold and courageous”, as they look to end the All Blacks’ 23- year winning streak at Eden Park.
As head coach Warren Gatland put it: “Those sort of records are there to be broken.”
The significant upturn in energy as thousands pour into the city in anticipation of a contest that will have edge and zeal, shafts of light and bareknuckle dark, reflects the mood in the respective camps. They have both named teams that contain surprises – Liam Williams in at fullback for the Lions instead of Leigh Halfpenny, rookie Rieko Ioane for Julian Savea ( 46 tries in 53 tests). But these were choices based on form, an indication the t wo teams are reacting to the mood of the moment, buoyant and self- assured.
It took a 100- minute selection meeting on Wednesday, the longest Gatland has presided over, for the management to make up their mind. The Lions head coach was true to his word in giving every player a chance to prove themselves, promoting Williams as well as Elliot Daly from the Tuesday team who caused the Chiefs such misery in Hamilton.
The Lions now have a blend of forward heft and zip from the rear, living up to Gatland’s belief that if they are to topple the All Blacks by smashing the Eden Park hoodoo, then they will have to offer more than just clout up front.
“It is not going to be enough to play set- piece and try to grind them into the ground,” Gatland said. “We have got to score tries, play with flair, be bold and courageous, take some risks, and that is why the selection is the way that it is. The test will be a step up from anything we have experienced before. We have got to be alive for 80 minutes.
“We know there are periods when the All Blacks appear to lull, then they get one opportunity and just ignite. That is when they are at their most dangerous. But we are ready. We have been tested every step of the way. We have got better and will need to continue getting better. But we have stayed incredibly tight as a group and haven’t let anything external have an impact on us. We haven’t had any issues. We are in a good place.”
That i s true. And even though Steve Hansen had a last pop at Gatland in suggesting the Lions had been trying to “bully” South Africa referee Jaco Peyper, by highlighting i ssues of “blocking”, Gatland has decided it is time for such tit- for- tat offerings to come to an end, albeit after one final barb.
“If I’m getting up his [ Hansen’s] nose, that’s a nice position to be in,” Gatland said. “But let’s allow the rugby to do the talking. There has been enough thrash talking.”
Can they deliver the knockout blow against the All Blacks?
It is quite a question. No wonder Auckland is at fever pitch. the contact areas and set piece.
But he is also experienced enough to know the Lions could bring the unexpected.
The set- piece pressure and line speed from the men in red goes without saying, and the All Blacks will attempt to counter that by doing the basics well.
Their kicking game is likely to be used early in order to place the pressure back on the Lions.
“It will probably come down to doing the simple things well,” Read said. “Playing at the right end of the field will help and obviously our setpiece is pretty crucial.”
Of the Lions’ attempts to presumably slow the All Blacks’ ball, he said: “It’s the nature of the game, you want to slow down the opposition’s ball. We’ll be expecting that. Whoever dominates that set- piece, ruck area, will have a strong chance of winning the game. It’s something we’ll be aware of but we’ll be looking at what we can do ourselves to quicken that ball up and obviously slow down their ball as well.
“It comes down to a few moments, it comes down to which teams win those tough moments in test matches – the set- piece, getting off the line, ensuring we win a dominant battle. If you look at the Lions they’ve got a team that can do that so we’re going to have to be pretty physical ourselves and look to create opportunities.”
Read added: “They’re bloody good players in their own right and they play in their own style. As I said, this test match will come down to who wants to put their body on the line for the longest – for 80 minutes or 80- plus. From our point of view we’re happy to go there if it ends up at that point.”
The challenge has been accepted. As for the Lions, they’re confident they have the game to stretch the All Blacks’ defence too.
Assistant coach Rob Howley said: “We are where we want to be. I think if you look at how many times we’ve been held up over the try- line, it’s been eight times. I think we’re in a good place, if we weren’t creating line breaks I’d be a worried man.”
Kieran Read