Maro to rescue

LIONS captain Sam Warburton and Maro Itoje (right) are set to be recalled for next weekend’s do-or-die Second Test in Wellington.

Following Saturday’s 30-15 defeat to the All Blacks, coach Warren Gatland said: “We might have to shake it up a little bit. Someone like Maro

Itoje made an impact coming off the bench and was very physical.

“Sam Warburton was excellent as well at the breakdown when he came on.

“Sometimes, at the top level, it’s not about playing pretty rugby and we have seen the All Blacks be prepared to be pretty physical in the past.

“They were pretty brutal in that breakdown area and we need to match fire with fire if we’re going to do well on Saturday.”

Both players were restricted to secondhalf roles in the defeat at Eden Park.

Wing George North will also have the opportunity to win back his place after being named in the starting line-up for tomorrow’s game against the Hurricanes.

George Kruis is the one player from Saturday’s Test squad involved at the Westpac Stadium, the flanker named on the bench, which may indicate his place is at risk next weekend.

Kruis is the team’s primary line-out caller but Itoje did the job for England in his Saracens colleague’s absence during the Six Nations.

“He’s been doing that a lot in training and he’s been doing that when he’s come on and taken that role,” said Gatland.

Warburton could replace Sean O’Brien, who finished off a wonderful first-half try but struggled to make an impact at the breakdown.

A big performance from Courtney Lawes against the Hurricanes could also bring him into contention for the No.6 jersey.

Lawes has the defensive game to stop the All Blacks in their tracks if they deploy a direct approach again.