Coach laughs off clown jibe

Rugby union: Gatland refuses to rise to bait after Lions let win slip away

“Having a rugby international game at the Broch is a big occasion”

Warren Gatland has insisted he “couldn’t give a toss” about the New Zealand’s daily paper mocking him up as a cartoon clown.

The British and Irish Lions head coach laughed off the paper publishing a second clown caricature of him in six months.

Gatland admitted he was nonplussed by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen calling a radio station to object to the Lions chief criticising New Zealand’s “dangerous” targeting of scrumhalf Conor Murray.

The Lions threw away a commanding position in a 31-31 draw with the Hurricanes in Wellington yesterday – their final tour midweek fixture – then Gatland offered his latest riposte to Hansen and the New Zealand media.

“I haven’t read anything of Steve Hansen’s quotes,” said Gatland, when quizzed on the clown cartoon.

“The only thing I heard was that he had rung up a radio station. I thought that was quite unusual for an international coach. But I’m not worried about that, or what any newspaper quick tries after Henderson’s yellow card – allowing the Hurricanes to level and share the honours.

Callum Gibbins, Ngani Laumape, Wes Goosen and Vaea Fifita all crossed for the hosts, with Scot Tommy Seymour grabbing a brace and George North also touching down for the Lions.

George North finished one try but botched another by putting a foot in touch and was forced to shift from wing to centre after Henshaw’s injury.

“Iain Henderson carried fantastically well,” said Gatland, with Henderson sin-binned for a dangerous cleanout on Jordie Barrett.

“It was a big moment in the game, the yellow card.

“It’s a penalty to us which ends up being a penalty reversed and a yellow card, and that’s the game. It’s disappointing because you’re in so much control of it.

“It was a massive swing in the game.

“I thought Courtney Lawes carried well as well in the first half. It’s a position right from the start where we knew we had a lot of strength. It’s a toss-up in terms of selection (at lock for the second Test).

“We’ll meet tomorrow evening and look at selecting the side before we announce it to the players on Thursday.

“Henderson and Lawes had really strong games tonight to give us some real food for thought.”

The Lions refused to use their mid-tour replacements who were on the bench, aside from as a result of injuries.

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