Warburton plans physical approach to combat NZ

British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton is determined to make an impact in tomorrow’s crucial second Test against New Zealand.

The Lions’ biggest challenge in Wellington will undoubtedly be to vastly improve their physical presence after being outgunned in that department by the All Blacks at Eden Park last weekend.

The selections of Warburton and England lock Maro Itoje should help considerably, though. “Being physical doesn’t mean beating people up,” said Warburton.

“It means your scrum is dominant, your lineout is dominant, your breakdown is dominant and that is the majority of the game, really, apart from the kicking side.

“That has to improve this weekend. I think the guys that have been brought in can add a bit of strength to that. You all play the game because you enjoy the physical side of sport. I used to play football and I got too many yellow cards, so I started playing rugby.

“I love the physical side of it and when you come off second-best it does hurt.”

Warburton will lead a side highlighted by the combination of Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell at fly-half and inside centre, and their work alongside scrum-half Conor Murray could prove crucial.

“It (Sexton-Farrell partnership) worked well against the Crusaders,” Warburton said.

“From a forward’s perspective, it’s great when you get up from working hard at a scrum or a lineout and that ball has been sent forward 30-40 metres and you are playing the territory game well – which should go well for us.

“That is obviously going to be part of the tactic. You’ve probably got three of the best players at game-management in the world in Conor, Owen and Johnny.”

Should the Lions lose – they have not beaten New Zealand since 1993 – then the debate about the viability of future tours will undoubtedly resurface.

Yet Warburton said: “I don’t understand the politics and the finances of it, but, from the playing point of view, it has been the absolute pinnacle of my career.

“Without sounding too strong, I’d be gutted, devastated, if the Lions was ever lost.”