GATLAND WARNING ON KIWI CHEATING
WARREN GATLAND has raised the stakes ahead of Saturday’s opening Test by accusing the All Blacks of cheating. The Lions coach has made his concerns clear to referee Jaco Peyper about New Zealand using illegal ‘blocking’ tactics. The underhand strategy involves deploying static players to obstruct runners from chasing down kicks. ‘The frustrating thing for us is the amount of blocking that’s going on,’ said Gatland, whose comments will increase tension between the camps. ‘It makes it difficult to complete attacking opportunities and situations because there is so much happening off the ball in terms of holding players. We have raised it with the ref already.’ Gatland will hold an official meeting with Peyper in Auckland on Friday. The Lions have prepared by using their extensive team of
support staff to study recent All Blacks footage and highlighted instances during Ireland’s 40-29 victory in Chicago last year. ‘It is for referees to pick up because it tends to happen away from the ball,’ said Gatland. ‘We clipped a lot of the situations. ‘If the referees are aware of it, that would be good. If you look back at the kick-off in Chicago, the All Blacks were penalised for interference and blocking. ‘All I am asking is the officials are aware of it.’ Gatland will need every decision to go his way at Eden Park on Saturday. The All Blacks thrashed Samoa 78-0 in their first Test of 2017, with star No 10 Beauden Barrett scoring 24 points. The Kiwis are expecting a far sterner test from the Lions this weekend and Barrett claimed the hosts will have a trick up their sleeve to deal with Andy Farrell’s rush defence. ‘We know what’s coming,’ said Barrett. ‘It is a different beast round the corner and we know we have to be better. I don’t think we are as clinical as we need to be. At times against Samoa we were a bit sloppy. ‘There was some good skill at times but it won’t be good enough going forward. ‘It’s obvious they are bringing a bit of line-speed, so teams have to adapt to that. ‘It is a different style of defence to what we are used to. It works for them. ‘I enjoy a challenge and there are different areas of the game where there will be a challenge. ‘So it’s exciting and I’m looking forward to it.’