The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Gatland tasks dynamic duo with vital mission
Rugby union: Farrell and Sexton must outperform Williams
British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland insists Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell can do a job on New Zealand battering ram Sonny Bill Williams in tomorrow’s second Test.
Gatland has paired Sexton and Farrell as twin playmakers in a bid to outflank New Zealand on the counter-attack in Wellington.
Sam Warburton will captain the Lions, with last weekend’s skipper Peter O’Mahony omitted entirely from the match squad, while Alun Wyn Jones has been retained at lock to partner Maro Itoje.
England centre Ben Te’o bashed Williams into a quiet night in the Lions’ 3015 first Test defeat in Auckland last weekend but Gatland remains adamant Sexton and Farrell can handle the All Blacks talisman.
“Johnny and Owen haven’t started but have had a bit of time together,” said Gatland. “It’s just given us two ball players and two kicking options at first and second receiver, so we’re happy with the mix.
“One concern we might have is that, looking at the long-range weather forecast, it doesn’t look too great for Saturday night.
“So we may have to change how we play tactically. And, of course, defensively we’ll have to do a job on Sonny Bill Williams, too. He came pretty direct at us and got away a couple of offloads, so it’s be important we shut him down.”
Asked if Sexton and Farrell’s slighter frames against the hulking Williams could cause problems, Gatland replied: “No, not at all. It is tough for Ben. He’s done well, carried well for us, defended well, so it’s been a tough call for him but he will get some time off the bench.
“We’ve made a call on the amount of possession and opportunities we’ve created. We think we stressed the All Blacks last week.
“They got pretty narrow, because they played that way in an attacking perspective, so it does open up some opportunities for us if we get the ball back to attack them as well. And that’s why we’ve gone with the combinations we have.”
Gatland conceded the Lions officials talked long and hard about potentially loading their replacements bench with six forwards and just two backs.
Ireland lock Iain Henderson would most likely have made the bench had the management opted for the pack-heavy bench.
The Lions coach revealed it was the past injury profiles of the likes of Sexton, however, that swayed their thinking to name three backline replacements, in Te’o, Rhys Webb and England’s Jack Nowell.
Gatland has kept faith with Jones at lock after the Wales player struggled in the first Test, but remains convinced the experienced campaigner will come good this weekend.
“It is a big game for Alun Wyn. He knows,” said Gatland.
“He was a bit disappointed last week in how it went, and he’s pretty focused and pretty motivated.”