SMILES BETTER FOR THE LIONS
Historic drawn Test as series finishes level
LIONS COACH Warren Gatland has backed proposals for a series decider against the All Blacks in November.
A fourth Test at Twickenham was suggested after the tour ended in a draw yesterday for the first time since 1955.
Having been mocked up by the Kiwi media as a clown, Gatland wore a red nose to his press conference and pushed English clubs to agree to the showdown Test.
‘You’ll have to ask (the clubs) if they’d release any of the players,’
said Gatland. ‘That’d be good, wouldn’t it?
‘I spoke to Steve Hansen and he said the draw feels a bit like kissing your sister.
‘But for us to come here and draw a series in New Zealand feels like some achievement, especially considering we were written off with the predictions for a 3-0 whitewash.’
The Mail on Sunday understands that the RFU would be happy to stage the fixture, which could generate around £10million.
The Test could potentially be held on November 4 — replacing the All Blacks v Barbarians match — and is backed by players from both camps.
‘It would be quite interesting to have another go at it,’ said All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock. ‘All the players have that weird feeling and the Lions feel the same way.’
Lions lock Maro Itoje echoed Whitelock’s calls, but acknowledged the logistical hurdles of fitting the high-profile fixture into a packed schedule. ‘I’d be very happy for that,’ said Itoje. ‘But looking at how hectic the schedule is, that’d be very unlikely. It goes against the nature of touring Lions teams, but if it did happen, we’re all competitive so we’d love that.’ The result also led to debate about whether the Eden Park tie should have gone to extra time — but Hansen (left) insisted the three- Test concept should remain for future tours.
‘Everyone’s a bit hollow but there was some really good rugby played and maybe a drawn series was fair,’ he said. ‘But it’s not a World Cup final, it is a three-match series so my own belief is probably leave it the way it is.’
Gatland, meanwhile, revealed that he bought the red nose ahead of the second Test in Wellington.
He was mocked at the start of the tour but succeeded in changing perceptions of northern hemisphere rugby and ensuring the future of Lions tours.