Courtney:We’lllaydownLawesinsecondtest

COURTNEY LAWES insists the Lions’ first Test loss to the All Blacks was not simply a failure of attitude.

The England lock came to the defence of his squad mates after boss Warren Gatland questioned the “mindset” and “attitude” which led them to be outmuscled at Eden Park.

Lawes is charged with getting the tour back on the front foot this morning when he starts for the Lions against Super Rugby champions Hurricanes in the final midweek match.

At stake for him is a place in the 23 here on Saturday, where the series will either conclude or be sent back to Auckland to be decided seven days later.

For the squad as a whole the mission is to send a defiant message that losing the opening skirmish has not broken the collective spirit.

Lawes said: “Saturday is a final, there’s no second chance for us, we need to front up. There will be a reaction. We’re not happy with a loss at all.”

Gatland has taken a calculated risk by getting stuck into his players in the hope of firing them up to a level of intensity even the world champions struggle to match.

He said: “You have to challenge the players mentally for that physical challenge. Sometimes it’s an attitude thing, getting off the line and winning collisions.”

Lawes gets Gats’s point but reckons the Lions need to show technical improvement as much as mental and physical. He said: “I’m not sure whether it’s to do with attitude.

“Everyone wants to get off the line and hit people, especially in that kind of game, but it’s about creating chances to make big hits.

“I don’t think it’s that we got dominated up front and they smashed us in the scrum. They have really good footwork and they hit good lines.”