Itoje and Warburton poised to start in second Test
Warren Gatland has indicated he will make changes to the forward pack who were “bullied” at the breakdown on Saturday, with Maro Itoje and Sam Warburton expected to step up to the starting line-up.
The pair came off the bench at Eden Park and acquitted themselves well in a losing cause. There are other contenders too, vying for a Test spot as the Lions attempt to keep the series alive at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium, with second-row Courtney Lawes on parade tomorrow against the Hurricanes alongside Iain Henderson, and looking to produce the sort of high-energy performance that enabled Liam Williams to go from the midweek side into the team for the first Test.
The Lions head coach was dismayed by the manner in which the
forwards allowed the All Blacks to dominate in and around the base, and Itoje and Warburton are being lined up to bring some devil as well as canniness to the collision area.
“We might have to shake [selection] up a little bit,” said Gatland. “Someone like Maro Itoje made an impact coming off the bench and was very physical. Sam Warburton was excellent as well at the breakdown when he came on.
“The disappointing thing is we were dominated in the collisions in attack and defence. They were pretty aggressive at the breakdown, came hard and won the collisions. If I was playing on Saturday night and I felt that I was physically dominated, I’d be a little bit disappointed in myself and I’d be doing everything I could physically do the following week to make sure I fixed that area of the game.”
England lock George Kruis is on bench duty against the Hurricanes among the gang of six replacements who were summoned to enable the Test squad to prepare unencumbered by midweek match duties. Alun Wyn Jones filled that role against the Chiefs in Hamilton last week, seeing a few minutes of action as Lawes went off for a head injury assessment, but he looked off the pace in the first Test.
Apart from Lawes and Henderson, the presence of Jack Nowell at full-back suggests that another clever, whole-hearted showing could propel him on to the bench for the Test. The six replacements summoned, four from Wales and two from Scotland, will leave the tour party after tomorrow’s game.
All Blacks backs Jordie Barrett, Julian Savea and Ngani Laumape have been released to play for the Hurricanes, the Super Rugby champions. Back-rower Vaea Fifita, who made his debut against Samoa last week, has also been released.