Pressure now on Hansen as Lions, All Blacks eye third Test

AUCKLAND: Only a week ago, British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland was a man under pressure, facing a Test against the All Blacks that seemed likely not only to decide the three-match series, but to weigh heavily in any assessment of his own career.

Gatland had taken a number of gambles in shaping his lineup for the match at Wellington which the Lions had to win to avoid the fate of all but one of 12 their predecessors — a series defeat in New Zealand.

He was widely criticized for his selection of two playmakers — Johnny Sexton and flyhalf and Owen Farrell at inside center — in an untested combination which was seen as an undue risk in a match of onerous importance.

Gatland was vindicated when the Lions won a thrilling Test 24-21 — Farrell kicking the winning penalty three minutes from fulltime. While the outcome of the series is still in the balance, the pressure has lifted and Gatland now can’t lose.

He has beaten the All Blacks in a Test for the first time in his career as head coach of Ireland, Wales and the Lions and even if the Lions are beaten on Saturday at Auckland, the tour will be counted a success.

“I’m a happy clown,” Gatland said recently, in reference to a cartoon in a New Zealand newspaper which, after the first Test, depicted him in clown paint and costume.

Seven days later, it is All Blacks coach Steve Hansen who finds himself under pressure. The All Blacks’ loss in Wellington was their first to the Lions since 1993; they have records still to keep alive as they have never lost two Tests in succession to the Lions and have not loss a series