The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
All Blacks coach’s broadsides ‘irrelevant’
The British and Irish Lions players think Steve Hansen’s mind-games are “irrelevant”, according to defence coach Andy Farrell.
New Zealand boss Hansen has fired a host of verbal volleys in the Lions’ direction ahead of the keenlyanticipated three-Test series, which begins in Auckland on Saturday.
Hansen has criticised the Lions’ style, tried to select Lions boss Warren Gatland’s team and poured scorn on the tourists’ demanding schedule.
Gatland responded by claiming Hansen was “worried” about his improving Lions, who swiped the Maori aside 32-10 and Farrell has now insisted the phoney war will not affect the Tests.
“The players don’t feel it at all. They think it is irrelevant,” Farrell said of Hansen’s verbal tactics. It’s not a distraction for us at all – we crack on. We won’t even reference it to the players at all.”
Hansen has said the All Blacks expect the Lions to pair Johnny Sexton at flyhalf and Owen Farrell at centre for the Tests. The home side claim in public that they consider the twin playmaker strategy the Lions’ long-held ace in the pack.
Hansen could not help but drop some wit in firing out “We’ll see if he (Gatland) has anything up his sleeve apart from his arm”, but, despite all the broadsides, the Lions are staying calm.
The Lions shut down the runaway Super Rugby leaders the Crusaders in a punishing 12-3 win in Christchurch, before limiting a potent Maori side to one try on Saturday.
Asked if it is possible that the Lions could repeat that defensive shut-out against New Zealand, Farrell replied: “Of course it is because it’s not just about defence; it’s about the whole game coming together.
“At the start of the tour, our discipline was letting the continuity down but we are solving that problem now.
“Our game is now flowing into one – set-piece into attack into breakdown into our kicking game, and on the reverse with the defensive stuff.
“It’s never about defence in isolation, it’s about the whole game coming together and I think we’re blending nicely.”