SEXTON AND FARRELL CAN DO JOB - GATLAND
LIONS COACH SAYS TWIN PLAYMAKERS CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE AGAINST ALL BLACKS
British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland insists Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell can “do a job” on New Zealand battering ram Sonny Bill Williams in tomorrow’s second Test.
Gatland has paired Sexton and Farrell as twin playmakers in a bid to outflank New Zealand on the counterattack in Wellington.
Sam Warburton will captain the Lions, with last weekend’s skipper Peter O’Mahony omitted entirely from the match squad, while Alun Wyn Jones has been retained at lock to partner Maro Itoje.
England centre Ben Te’o bashed Williams into a quiet night in the Lions’ 30-15 first Test defeat in Auckland last weekend, but Gatland remains adamant Sexton and Farrell can handle the All Blacks talisman.
“Johnny and Owen haven’t started but have had quite a bit of time together,” said Gatland of fly-half Sexton and inside centre Farrell.
“It’s just given us two ball players and two kicking options at first and second receiver, so we’re happy with the mix.
“One concern we might have is that looking at the long-range weather forecast it doesn’t look too great.
“So we may have to change how we play tactically.
“And of course defensively we’ll have to do a job on Sonny Bill Williams, too.
“He came pretty direct at us and got away a couple of offloads, so it’s going to be important we shut him down.”
Asked if Sexton and Farrell’s slighter frames against the hulking Williams could cause problems, Gatland replied: “No, not at all.
“It is tough for Ben Te’o. He’s done really well, carried well for us, defended well, so it’s been a tough call for him but he will get some time off the bench.
“So we’ve made a call on the amount of possession and opportunities we’ve created. We think we did stress the All Blacks at times last week.
“They got pretty narrow, because they played that way in an attacking perspective, so it does open up some opportunities for us if we get the ball back to attack them as well. And that’s why we’ve gone with the combinations we have.”
Gatland kept faith with Jones at lock after the Wales star struggled in the first Test, but remains convinced the experienced campaigner will come good this weekend.
“It is a big game for Alun Wyn. He knows,” said Gatland.
“He was a bit disappointed last week in how it went, and he’s pretty focused and pretty motivated.
“He’s trained well this week.”
Maro Itoje has described plotting the downfall of New Zealand’s much-vaunted lineout stars Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock as “business as usual”.
“We’ve got a good challenge in front of us: it’s one we’ve prepared well for this week, and one we’ll rise to.
“We haven’t come here to be second-best, we’re going out to do a job, and to get the result we want.”
‘Jonny and Owen haven’t started but have had quite a bit of time together.’