Lions take comments from Gats seriously

LIONS boss Warren Gatland challenging his players in the media is nothing new.

The Kiwi has often used it as a tactic to get the best out of his charges and former players have revealed that the mind games have worked in the past.

It’s a strategy Gatland rolled out again this week in New Zealand, but instead of choosing individuals, he issued a challenge to his entire squad, without saying it explicitly.

“If I was playing on Saturday and I felt that I was physically dominated, I’d be a little bit disappointed in myself,” he said.

“And I’d be doing everything I could physically the following week to make sure I fixed that area of the game.”

On the surface, it appears a relatively harmless quote but it has a deeper meaning and his players know it.

The All Blacks took the Lions on in the tight during their 30-15 Auckland victory and they steamrolled the tourists where they were perceived to be strong. Where they backed themselves.

It destabilized their entire gameplan and Gatland wants that put right before the Series gets away from them in Wellington.

Lions prop Mako Vunipola, who started that first Test, admits Gatland’s comments hit him on a personal level.

When asked if he was stung by his coach’s words, he said: “Yeah, massively. As a person and as a player. We are all very competitive and he has laid the gauntlet down for us. It is now up to us whether we take it on or shy away from it.

“I know personally that when he said that, I wanted the opportunity to go out there again and prove him wrong. I don’t know whether he meant to say it like that, but that’s the way I took it.

“It’s up to us as a forward pack to prove him wrong and put a statement out there.”

He added: “We are going into it wounded. A bit of pride on the line after what Gats said.

“Hopefully that gives us the edge. I know we will be ready for it – we have to be.”

It’s risky from Gatland. Rugby players are a proud bunch and telling them they made the wrong decision is one thing but saying they were ‘physically dominated’ is a whole different ball game.

But it would seem that Gatland’s words have had the desired effect, leaving his players in no doubt when it comes to what is expected of them.