We’ve earned respect
Gatland adamant Lions have won admiration from NZ fans
WARREN Gatland believes the performances of his 2017 squad have ‘secured the future of the Lions and that they will return home next week with the respect of the New Zealand public.
The Lions face a monumental third and decisive Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday, looking to win a series on Kiwi soil for the first time since 1971.
And, while Gatland says there’s no way his players will be content with just the one victory against the world champions, he also believes that, regardless of the outcome in the final match, everyone connected with the squad will be able to hold their heads high.
“I think we’ve played some good rugby. People expected us to come here and kick the leather off it, drive every single lineout, to try and scrummage people to death,” said Gatland.
“We haven’t done that. We’ve played a good brand and people have been surprised by that, almost reluctant to give us credit for that. SWANSEA City have completed the eagerly-awaited £11million signing of midfielder Roque Mesa from Las Palmas.
The 28-year-old midfielder has put pen to paper on a four-year deal at the Liberty Stadium and become the third-most expensive signing in the club’s 105-year history.
The fee is only surpassed by the £12.5 million the club paid for Wilfried Bony in 2013, and the £15.5 million forked out for Borja Baston less than a year ago.
Swansea will be hoping Mesa proves a more successful acquisition than Borja, who has returned to Spain on a season-long loan move to Malaga after scoring just one goal for the Welsh club.
Mesa had attracted interest from Sevilla, Roma and other Premier League clubs, while Atletico Madrid were reported to have made a late effort to sabotage’s Swansea’s move.
But the player jetted into South Wales earlier this week to complete the formalities of the deal and to go through his medical (pictured left).
More on Mesa: Pages 40&41
“We’ve scored four tries and they’ve been four great tries. The All Blacks have scored three tries: one was a tap, the other was a bounce that went through Liam Williams’ hands from a box kick and the other was a great bit of skill from Kieran Read where he has passed off the floor at a scrum and they’ve scored from that.
“We’ve played some excellent rugby.
“I’d like to think we leave here with some respect for the way we have played and will be reflected on Saturday. We’re confident we can improve again and that there is another level.
“They (New Zealand) look like they have picked a team initially to stop our defensive line-speed, maybe picked a team now to stop our 10-12 combination.
“They’ve changed their game plan and style. I see that as a massive sign of respect of them to us, them looking at us, negating out strengths.”
More Lions, including Gwyn Jones’ column, inside