The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Duo can handle Williams
Warren Gatland confident that Sexton and Farrell have the tools for second Test
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 counter-attack 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 for Saturday night. 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.
“We allowed Sonny Bill too much time on the ball last week. I can’t remember Sonny Bill passing the ball in the game, but he got some good gainline for them, got a couple of good offloads away and got them some front-foot ball.
“So we just need to make sure that our line speed, that’s important for us, to stop him being as effective as he was. And we’ve been working pretty hard on that.”
Gatland admitted the Lions bosses talked long and hard about potentially loading their replacements bench with six forwards and just two backs.
Ireland lock Iain Henderson would most likely have made the bench had the management opted for the pack-heavy option.
The Lions boss revealed it was the past injury profiles of the likes of Sexton, however, that swayed their thinking to name three backline replacements, in Te’o, Rhys Webb and England’s Jack Nowell.
Gatland has 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.
“It’s potentially a one-on-one challenge with him and his opposition.
“Normally in the past when he’s had those challenges, he’s really fronted the next game.
“He’s trained well this week and I think he’s looking forward to Saturday night.
“We had a long debate about a six-two split on the bench.
“And in the end it was just too much of a risk, if we lost a couple of backs.”
Gatland admitted Henderson’s yellow card in Tuesday’s 31-31 Hurricanes draw hindered his cause for second Test selection – but has told the Ulster lock to keep fighting for a place in the third and final All Blacks showdown.