Carpe diem, lads.
Warren Gatland has thrown down the gauntlet to his British and Irish Lions troops, saying Saturday’s Test series decider against the All Blacks is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity they can’t let slip.
Fresh from a four-day stint in Queenstown, the Lions arrived in Auckland on Wednesday night and have named the same side that scraped over the line 24-21 in Wellington last weekend.
In what is almost certainly his last match at the Lions helm, Gatland insisted neither he nor his players considered the Test career-defining.
Yet he seemed to backtrack when pressed, admitting there was plenty of pressure on all parties to perform given the team is in a position to do what none of their forebears have done since 1971 – win a series on Kiwi soil.
“It’s a pressure you relish and it’s why you do all those hours of training and preparation, because you want those moments, those big moments in sport – sometimes they don’t come around that often,” Gatland said.
“That’s pressure about the match, not about the future.
“We have a chance to do something special and (when) you get those moments in your life, you don’t want those moments to pass you by.”
Gatland’s persistence with his matchday squad contrasts with the All Blacks who have promoted one-Test rookies Jordie Barrett and Ngani Laumape.
It’s the first time any Lions Test team have been unchanged since the 1993 decider at Eden Park, when the circumstances were remarkably similar – and the All Blacks claimed the spoils with a 30-13 win.
Gatland expressed some surprise that rampaging 53-Test winger Julian Savea was given the nod over an ill Rieko Ioane, who scored a first-Test double.
But in light of Barrett and Laumape’s promotions, it was understandable.
“Obviously he’s called back in because of his experience,” Gatland said.
“We expect the All Blacks to defensively be much more aggressive, expect Savea to play a lot more frontline, shut us down from a defensive point of view, and I think that’s the reason the decision’s been made.”
Beelzebub
Guest
Too many derogatory comments here from Trolls and AB haters, the simple fact is the AB's could of/should of won last weeks test. Start your crowing on Sunday morning that's if we have fifteen man teams and the Frog referee decides he's not the rock star of the game.
Scrumma
Guest
Cut it out, you's base our arrogance on the minority who post on social media sites, also those who use magnifying glasses to find the smallest crime the referee, his touch judges, the TMO has missed to highlight in your match summary of wrongs. It's not the brothers fault if those five set of eyes including the camera has missed whatever it is you've raised your tone at the box ?. Grow up will Yous ?
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
It is a risk with Test start debutants, but in the end, this Test will most likely be a forward battle royale. If the AB's can dominate the pack war, they will most likely feed on that and prosper. However, if the Lions get the upper hand, they could get exposed because their defense - both organized and scramble - are not tried and tested at this level, and the Lions has shown that they can play really good attacking rugby several times the last few weeks.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Hello T-man HHB Heard an excellent interview with Wayne Smith on BBC. And I have to say, Smithy sure knows his Sun Tzu. No direct quotes, but lots of thoughts on strategy and tactics that correlate directly to the old Chinese General. So if the Lions gonna win tomorrow, they better have something else as a trump card ;) Heard another great interview on BBC with Keven Mealamu. He shared a really funny story from the inside of the AB's camp. It was pretty common that rookies roomed with Richie McCaw, so they got on the right page from the start. But not all rookies liked that because they had so much respect for McCaw so they did not feel comfortable to stay alone with him. When Fekitoa made his AB's debut, he was so intimidated by rooming with the captain, that he pretty much stayed in the team room from early morning to late night and only went to the room when McCaw had fallen asleep and made sure he woke up before McCaw in the morning.
Old Bugger
Guest
Not quite. JB ran on against Samoa and NL ran on last weekend. First cap each, in the bag so now, its all on tomorrow night.....rookie starters but I'd say, no worries there!!
piru
Roar Rookie
They're All Black rookies I'd expect them to be playing out of their shells in their first games in the silver fern
Old Bugger
Guest
Too right Kane and god forbid, that they both have a test cap each, which now makes them test players and not rookies. Anybody would think, they'd suffer under the pressure of a series deciding match......doh!!!
taylorman
Guest
Aaah, but where are your shoes? And your wallet, your shirt and your undie*s? :-) What Confuscious say bout that?
R2D2
Guest
The BBB three way scissors and the Saveas double around would make a nice backline move with a prop to finish off with a try .
stainlesssteve
Guest
Training?.....I'd rather walk
dontcallmeshirley
Guest
Before you criticise someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes. - Confuciuos 2017
soapit
Guest
but whether to spring the trap now or pretend to be weak for another 12 years when their arrogance will be even greater!
Kane
Guest
With two rookies in the backline the Lions should win this.
taylorman
Roar Guru
'Jetboating? Id rather train'. Jerome Kaino, July 2017. Sums it up for me.
Jethro
Guest
The NH hemisphere is equal to a 14-man All Black ream. Oh yeah..
Galatzo
Guest
Now that there's a BBB in the team - Beauden Barrett's Brother - Nisbo and Justin are probably practising their delivery to accommodate that fact. It would have been even harder for them had Scot or Kane Barrett been selected. Then they would have had to talk about BBBOB - Beauden Barrett's Brother's Other Brother. Nisbo and Justin earn their money. Somebody else who'll be earning his money on Saturday is Julian Savea. Murray and Sexton will be high bombing him all night and testing neophyte BBB the same way. But then Liam Williams is no steady rock under the high ball either so Smith and BB will be testing him. So it won't be a case of who blinks first but who drops first.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Unfortunately however the All Blacks weren't around in Tzu's days. He would have altered that if they were to add an exception?
Henry honey balls
Guest
If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him, pretend to be weak so that he may grow arrogant. -Sun Tzu
Jock Cornet
Guest
Well done Gatland you have proven yourself as a coach but why would you go to Queenstown? Great tour and you shut down a lot of arrogance. The NH is now equal to SH.