GAT OVER YOUR SELFIE
Lions chief slams his critics after call-up row
WARREN GATLAND accused All Blacks boss Steve Hansen of running scared after a Lions win which sent alarm bells ringing throughout New Zealand.
Gatland, sick to the back teeth of Hansen’s mockery, blasted back as his team thrashed opponents that his opposite number had claimed would seriously trouble them.
He then turned on Eddie Jones, Sir Ian Mcgeechan and the other critics of his highly controversial decision to call B-listers into his squad and assured them: “I know what I’m doing.”
The Lions’ best performance on tour had come at a perfect time for their under-fire coach and he wasted no time cashing in on it.
He had kept quiet while Hansen made a fool of him by revealing Lions player call-ups, predicting a split in the tourists’ camp and suggesting his fellow New Zealander had nothing up his sleeve but his arm. But not yesterday, not after the Lions beat a Maori side Hansen had predicted would throw the kitchen sink at them, seven days out from the start of the Tests.
Gatland fumed: “We’ve been written off but far from it splitting us as Steve Hansen has said, it has brought us closer together as a group.
“There is no way we are divided and I’ve been surprised by Steve, who is normally pretty calm.
“Coming out with those comments about us is normally a sign of a man that is a little bit worried. We know we have got a big step up to play the All Blacks but maybe Steve is worried by potentially how good this team can be.”
The Lions romped to victory on the back of a perfect goal-kicking display by Leigh Halfpenny, who landed a magnificent seven-goal maximum.
Two third-quarter tries killed the contest and means the Saturday team has won the two toughest non-tests, against Crusaders and Maori, without conceding a single second-half point.
It failed to silence the criticism over Gatland calling up six players based on them being in the vicinity rather than good enough. Former Lions have branded the move a disgrace, arguing that it cheapens their own achievement.
Jones and ‘Lion king’ Mcgeechan agreed that merit should always trump geography.
Mcgeechan added: “If this was always part of his planning, then he could have been speaking to Eddie Jones for the England players to be released last week.”
Gatland responded: “Look, I understand the concerns but these guys are for bench cover and they understand that’s the way it is.
“My job is to win a Test series and I will do whatever it takes.”
Gatland now turns his attention to picking his Test team, with the vast majority drawn from yesterday’s heroes.
Owen Farrell is the big question mark but Gatland dispelled fears, saying: “We are hopeful Owen will be okay. It was precautionary leaving them out.
“At a pinch he probably could have played tonight, but it was important we didn’t take the risk and put him out there.”