The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Lions told to get physical to match All Blacks power
Gatland urges tourists to toughen up after Eden Park defeat
Coach Warren Gatland will demand the British and Irish Lions fight fire with fire to avoid another New Zealand masterclass in physical domination.
The Lions head coach accepted his players were bettered in the collisions during a pulsating first Test in Auckland on Saturday, as New Zealand ran out crushing 30-15 winners.
It means the tourists now face a must-win encounter against the All Blacks on Saturday, otherwise the series will be over one game inside the distance.
But history is stacked against them as the Lions have only twice won a Test series after losing the opening game, in 1899 and 1989 and the manner of the defeat does not suggest a comeback is on.
Gatland will not announce his Test team until Thursday but changes in the pack are expected, with England lock Maro Itoje and tour captain Sam Warburton among those holding strong starting credentials.
“Sometimes it’s an attitude thing, getting off the line and winning collisions. It’s just a mental thing,” Gatland said.
“In fairness to New Zealand, they were pretty aggressive at the breakdown, came hard and won the collisions.
“It is as simple as mentally getting things right.
“We have to challenge the players for that physical challenge, and on Saturday that is one area they got the better of us.
“They were pretty brutal in that breakdown area, and we need to match fire with fire if we are going to do well on Saturday night.
“If I was playing on Saturday night and I felt that I was physically dominated, I would be disappointed and would be doing everything I could physically do the following week to make sure I fixed that area of the game.
“If I felt my pride was hurt a little bit, I would be wanting to fix that. That is what I would be doing as a player.”
New Zealand’s ferocity in the forward exchanges, based on a powerful scrum and the combined brilliance of lock Brodie Retallick, flanker Sam Cane and number eight Kieran Read left the Lions reeling.
Particular havoc was wreaked at the breakdown area as the All Blacks’ collision-based approach reaped a rich reward.
“We need to make sure we are a lot more physical in the contact area in both attack and defence,” Gatland added.
“I am not saying it was for the entire 80 minutes. There were times when we were excellent, times when the defence was good and times when we carried well. But overall, they got the better of us in that area and we need to improve.
“The players know it. This whole week is about fixing that and that whole mindset. The All Blacks were very direct in the way that they played, and again we may have to be the same in terms of doing that.
“We might have to shake it up a little bit. 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.”
“Were pretty brutal in that breakdown area, need to match fire with fire”