IT’S NOT OVER YET

That old black magic returns... but Gatland vows...

WARREN GATLAND will spend the next 48 hours contemplating the team changes he is adamant can put the Lions back on track in New Zealand.

Gatland’s men in red were licking their wounds after a 30-15 defeat in the first Test at Eden Park.

But coach Gatland is confident his Lions will right the wrongs when they go head to head with Steve Hansen’s world champions again at Wellington on Saturday.

“I thought we created some great chances, played some lovely rugby and scored some nice tries,” maintained Gatland. “New Zealand haven’t played champagne rugby and thrown the ball about. So we need to fix a few things for next week, but they are fixable.”

Among the changes Gatland will consider are a return to the starting XV for Sam Warburton in place of Ireland’s Sean O’Brien, while Alun Wyn Jones could be left out for Maro Itoje.

Despite his brilliant break to set up O’Brien’s first-half wonder try, Liam Williams could also be left out with a fit again Leigh Halfpenny brought in.

Gatland will this morning name his team to face the Hurricanes in the Lions’ final warm-up game, insisting Test places are up for grabs.

He will reveal his hand for the Wellington Test on Wednesday evening.

New Zealand boss Steve Hansen was delighted with the way his team stood up to the Lions forwards, despite prematch claims Gatland’s men were expecting domination there.

“You don’t become the No 1 side in the world without having a quality tight five,” said Hansen. “I always find it amusing when people tell us they are going to beat us up in the tight five.”

He also had a dig at Gatland’s conservative tactics on the tour by saying of O’Brien’s score: “When they can score tries like that first one, you’re thinking they should probably do that more often.

“That was one of the best Test tries I’ve seen.”