The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
O’Brien cleared as Lions are issued warning over indiscipline
Coach expects inquests into ‘stupid penalties’
Warren Gatland will wield the axe in selection if the Lions do not cut out their indiscipline, Graham Rowntree has warned.
The Lions edged past 14-man New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday to square the three-Test series at one win apiece.
The All Blacks had to do without Sonny Bill Williams for almost an hour after the Blues centre was sent off for a head-high shoulder-charge tackle on Anthony Watson.
The Lions were almost hamstrung by conceding 13 penalties at the Westpac Stadium though, leaving assistant coach Rowntree to predict a lengthy inquest on discipline in the build-up to Saturday’s series decider in Auckland.
“We’ve got to sort it out, as coaches we’ve got to show the players,” said Rowntree of the Lions’ second Test indiscipline.
“We show them every day. We sit there and show them that we can’t be doing this.
“It’s all about what you do under fatigue in the heat of the battle. All we can do is keep reiterating that to the players.
“You’ve got to sit down and look at it in the cold light of day.
“We can’t lose a Test series on the back of some stupid penalties. That would be unacceptable. How would you live with that for the rest of your life?”
Asked if the second Test indiscipline could lead to selection changes for the series decider at Eden Park, Rowntree replied: “Potentially, if that’s what it takes. Because I think Gats has shown he’s not afraid to do that.
“We’ll just be very frank about that with the players. The pictures are undeniable, some of them.”
The Lions now head to Queenstown to recuperate after two bruising Test matches, with Rowntree backing that decision.
Gatland’s men must end the hosts’ 39-match unbeaten streak at Eden Park to claim just the Lions’ second Test series win in New Zealand.
The Lions fuelled the underdog fire to edge past the All Blacks in the second Test as they squared the series after admitting being outmuscled in their 30-15 first Test defeat.
But now Rowntree insists the Lions can raise their levels again and that their best rugby is yet to come.
“We’re not playing at our best yet, there’s so much more left in us,” said Rowntree. “That will drive us on.”
Asked how the Lions summon the same mental fight without the underdogs tag, Rowntree continued: “Because there’s a series in the balance.
“How many of these guys have won a Lions series in New Zealand? And what excites the guys is that there’s more to come in our game.
“After the first Test they were down, hurting. But now they’ve had a taste of it and they want to get the job done. So let’s raise our game again and get into it.”
Williams, one of the biggest names in world rugby, received his marching orders from French referee Jerome Garces after just 25 minutes of a titanic tussle for his dangerous shoulder charge.
He was the first All Blacks player to be sent off in a Test match since Colin Meads against Scotland 50 years ago, only the third All Black of all-time and first in New Zealand, and the home side were eventually floored by a 77th-minute Owen Farrell penalty to set up a series decider.
It was New Zealand’s first home defeat since South Africa beat them in 2009, and their first against the Lions for 24 years.
Despite their one-man advantage, though, the Lions were almost made to pay for poor discipline, with All Blacks fly-half Beauden Barrett kicking seven penalties from 10 attempts, but second-half tries by No 8 Taulupe Faletau and scrum-half Conor Murray – plus 14 points from Farrell – saw them home.