The Mail on Sunday

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP

Now All Blacks are worried, says Gatland

- From Nik Simon IN ROTORUA

WARREN GATLAND has accused All Blacks coach Steve Hansen of stirring rumours about a split in the Lions camp because he is ‘worried’ about losing.

Hansen has made sniping comments throughout the tour, including questionin­g the Lions’ style of play and claiming Gatland has waited too long to call up reinforcem­ents.

A clear picture is emerging of the Lions’ starting Test XV after their 32- 10 victory over the Maori All Blacks, but Gatland insisted there is no divide in the camp and said they will go to Eden Park for Saturday’s first Test with a siege mentality after being ‘written off’.

‘ Steve Hansen i s normally pretty calm and he has been doing a lot of press conference­s,’ said Gatland. ‘I can only take that as a sign of respect in that he is a little bit worried. It’s unlike Steve and maybe he is worried by potentiall­y how good this team can be. We know we have got a big step up to play the All Blacks but this could be a great series with fantastic rugby.

‘The off-field stuff puts a bit of a dampener on it but that’s profession­al sport. You go, “Woah, he is a bit more worried than he normally is”. He is saying things he doesn’t know. That’s normally a sign of a man that is a bit worried. There is no way we

 ??  ?? VICTORS: Conor Murray (left), Elliot Daly and Anthony Watson celebrate
VICTORS: Conor Murray (left), Elliot Daly and Anthony Watson celebrate

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