GATLAND IS OUT TO WIN WAR OF WORDS

WARREN Gatland’s comments on New Zealand running illegal blocking lines is a classic example of what Willie John McBride used to call ‘ getting your retaliation in first’. All power to him for that.

Gatland and the Lions are going to have all sorts thrown at them from the New Zealand media over the next fortnight as we get to the sharp end of this tour. So I see his comments largely as an attempt to get on the front foot and set the agenda right from the start.

Throughout his career, Gatland has demonstrated he is never frightened of a war of words and he has no intention of losing this one. Steve Hansen appeared to start it last week after the Highlanders match but Gatland has been on the front foot ever since.

The Lions squad will love him for that. Players don’t like it when coaches go into diplomatic mode in press conferences, they need to know the backroom staff are fighting as hard as they are for success.

However, I don’t see their blocking tactic as a huge issue. There has been obvious blocking in the game for 20 years now with guys running ahead of the ball carrier with the sole purpose of disrupting and distracting the defence, even if they don’t physically make contact with the defenders.

You also see the more subtle easing of support runners and would-be tacklers out of the way with players cleverly — or ‘accidentally’ — changing their angle.

This was started by Australian coach Rod Macqueen in the late 1990s. It came from Australian rugby league and helped Macqueen’s Wallabies win the World Cup in 1999 and the 2001 series against the Lions. I stamped my feet quite a bit at the time, but the International Rugby Board sided with the southern hemisphere and it’s been in the game ever since.

Eddie Jones took it to another level with the Brumbies and then Australia and it simply became the same for all international coaches — if you can’t beat them join them!

So it is not just the All Blacks who do this. No top professional team is innocent — indeed the blocking of runners ahead of the ball carrier is meticulously coached by most sides, even though technically it is a penalty.

It seems to me Gatland is indicating to Saturday’s referee Jaco Peyper and the entire team of officials for the three Tests that he wants to see the games strictly and precisely refereed. The Lions, who are banking on a strong performance from their pack and a tight, well- organised and disciplined defence, don’t want too much laissez-faire refereeing.

They want the refs to take a firm hand and be aware of all transgressions and to reward Lions pressure with penalties which will give their excellent goal-kickers an opportunity to build a score.

I doubt it will change Peyper’s approach to block running — it’s very difficult to call unless it’s blatant — but the subliminal message that the Lions want the officials to be vigilant on everything at all times is the most important facet of this.