British and Irish Lions 2017: Warren Gatland starts to fear Super Rugby threat but remains focused on All Blacks
Back-to-back defeats would be 'disappointing' for the Lions head coach, but he remains adamant that he will take warm-up defeats if it means winning the first Test
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Your support makes all the difference.Warren Gatland has always been content to suffer one or two defeats along the way if it meant that a first Test series victory for the British and Irish Lions over New Zealand in 46 years followed, but Saturday’s surprise loss to the Blues may just have changed his outlook on the rest of the tour.
Having edged their way past the Provincial Barbarians in the first match of the tour, the Lions came unstuck at Eden Park after conceding a late try in the 22-16 defeat by the Blues, the lowest-ranked of the five Super Rugby sides that Gatland’s team will face.
With tough games against the Crusaders, Chiefs and Highlanders left ahead of the first Test, not to mention a clash with the dangerous New Zealand Maori, Gatland has now admitted that suffering a second consecutive defeat this weekend at AMI Stadium would prove a big blow to his plans.
“It would be disappointing if that was the case,” Gatland said after naming his squad for the third match of the tour. “Look, we are well aware how tough it is out here in terms of the opposition. That’s why the challenge for us is to come together as quick as we can.
“These Super Rugby sides have been together for seven months and you would expect they would have a certain amount of cohesion. They have got All Blacks in their ranks so you know the quality of the sides
“We have learned a lot from the first two games and we are conscious as well we are trying to keep a few things back behind closed doors and make sure we are right for that first Test.”
Those tucked away secrets may come to the public domain this weekend after Gatland named his strongest side yet of the tour, and also one that looks like it could resemble something of the matchday 23 for the first meeting with the All Blacks.
Alun Wyn Jones will captain the side, again standing in for Sam Warburton as he did in the decisive third Test victory over Australia four years ago, with Gatland confirming that the flanker was purposely left out of selection due to a sore ankle picked up in last Saturday’s opener in Whangarei.
“Sam Warburton had a little bit of slight ankle strain after the first game,” added the Kiwi. “He was a bit sore, so he’s been resting that and just needs a few more days.
“We are pretty good actually. There are a couple of knocks and that, but nothing too serious from last night. Everyone is in pretty good health right now.
He has got probably the skinniest calves in world rugby. He hasn't played a lot of rugby so it was goot to get him on the field
“Obviously Dan Biggar has a six day turnaround. That’s just the protocol, so he wasn’t available for consideration. Ross Moriarty had a back spasm from the first game, but he’s come back and is recovering well.
“With Jared Payne, it was his good calf that tightened up last night. He has got probably the skinniest calves in world rugby. He hasn’t played a lot of rugby, so it was good to get him on the field. Hopefully he will recover and get some more game time.”
Along with Jones, Sean O’Brien, Conor Murray, Jonathan Davies and George North all start against the unbeaten Crusaders, meaning the Gatland has lived up to his word of giving every player in his squad a start in the first three matches of the tour. Owen Farrell makes his first start at fly-half, while England midfielder Ben Te’o returns having impressed in the win over the Provincial Barbarians.
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