Murray Kinsella reports from Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
THE LIONS LOOKED to be in control with a 22-13 lead and just over a quarter of the game left, but they managed to lose to the Highlanders and head coach Warren Gatland bemoaned their lack of control, poor discipline and scrum issues after the 23-22 defeat.
The loss in Dunedin means the Lions have won just two of their first four games on the tour of New Zealand.
Gatland’s squad travel to Rotorua tomorrow, where they will take on the Maori All Blacks on Saturday, eager to get some momentum back after defeat against the Highlanders.
“The unfortunate thing is we probably shot ourselves in the foot with some turnovers and some penalties towards the end of the game and we have allowed them the opportunity to sneak it from us,” said Gatland.
“We are disappointed but there were some big moments, some key moments we need to work on and improve and make sure that we are better next time that we take the field.
“The big lesson about New Zealand sides is that they keep playing for 80 minutes and they keep going for the full 80 minutes and that’s probably the big learning some of the players got from tonight.”
The Lions’ discipline went out the window in the closing quarter as they allowed the superb Highlanders to claw their way to a victory that was secured by Marty Banks’ 74th-minute penalty.
That penalty came from a monstrous Highlanders scrum that saw them demolish the Lions pack and Gatland admitted that that area had caused some concern for the Lions.
“It has,” said Gatland when asked if the scrum had cost them. “I thought in the first half there were one or two scrums where we put them under pressure. I disagree with the interpretation on the first penalty in their 22 but, yes, they’ve got on top of us.
“We need to adapt to that and make sure we work really hard over the next couple of weeks to rectify an issue, if there is one, at scrum time. And that’s what it’s about.
“Sometimes with New Zealand teams, our message to the players is about staying alive and about every moment. You can switch off for a fraction of a second and if you do switch off they take advantage of that.
“It’s about every moment of every minute and we’ve just been caught on one or two occasions.
“I think the players will learn from that experience and it’s great for us that we’re playing against the quality of sides that we’re up against because that’s what prepares you for the next challenge and the next challenge for us is the Maori on Saturday.”
The Lions will field something close to their Test side against the Maori All Blacks in Rotorua and one talking point to emerge tonight in Dunedin was the apparent difference in quality between those frontliners and the midweek team.
Many of the players involved in the defeat to the Highlanders will not be in the Test matchday squad, but Gatland rejected the idea that there is a clear gulf.
“No, I think it was tough on these guys in that there has been a quick turnaround for them in terms of playing Wednesday [against the Blues] and then travelling Thursday, so they haven’t had a lot of time together and this being a Tuesday fixture.
“There hasn’t been a lot of training time for that group with the guys, whereas the Crusaders have had a bit of time together.
“The thing is every team’s different about the way that they play and I thought we probably learned a little bit tonight in terms of how I thought our kicking game was excellent on Saturday and then the Highlanders’ kicking strategy stressed us a little bit.
“Some of guys are normally excellent in the air, we didn’t retain possession or we would give possession back and they seemed to have a lot more success from their kicking strategy than we did tonight, so we need to look at that and we need to change things up and get better and improve from that experience.
“From a game point of view, it is another big step up for us and another big learning opportunity and as I said it is about building for a couple of weeks and that first Test match and so we will have got a lot from tonight.”
Meanwhile, Gatland confirmed that Courtney Lawes had failed his HIA after a head injury and will now go through the return-to-play protocols, while Rhys Webb suffered a bruised glute.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
The organisers have ruined this competition. I’m delighted a French team have been given the same treatment as Leinster but it still doesn’t make it right.
Happy for Connacht though.
@Clark: what would you do though? Or what exactly can be done, considering the pandemic
@Andrew Taz Donohoe: play the feckin tie with players that have tested negative today. Same as should have been done with Leinster, we had a negative match day ready to go. These outbreaks will come and go, those players that are vaccinated and also negative on the day should be allowed play on.
You mean Testdemic.
@Clark: Agrred. These 28 :0 wins were never any good in situations where no one is at fault. Whoever came up with that should be fired on the spot! 1D10TS
@Andrew Taz Donohoe: think the point is, some games 28-0 and others 0-0.. how can that be‽?
@Eoin Roche: where you saying the same when Toulon had a match day 23 all test negative, yet the game was awarded to Leinster?
@Karl Mc Cauley: Thats easy, some games were cancalled due to covid outbreaks (which EPRC legistrates for) and awarded 28-0, and some were cancelled due to travel restrictions (which isnt legislatiled for) so were given as draws.
I didn’t see LNR say anything about it being a scandalous decision when Montpellier were handed a 28-0 win against Leinster
Well deserved, a justification for the brand of rugby they promote.
It’s a total anticlimax of a way for us to make the knockouts, but reaching the knockouts this year, is not near the same as reaching it when there’s only 8 teams, and there’s been a fair and equal group stage. However it’s still great to make it to the last 16, the aim now has to be to make sure we can put our best foot forward, and target further progression in the competition. Have to say I always liked Toulouse, but it’s totally hilarious to see the reaction from both Toulouse and the LNR. One thing to note is how the URC never came in to back Scarlets, Ospreys or Leinster when they got shafted.
@Patrick Breen: good point re the URC… And regarding getting through, its a topsy turvy year, take what you can get, and I bet there will be a great buzz in Connacht now going into this last game regardless.
@SPQH: enjoy it. Get to a semi snd earn the buzz
There’ll be no easy games in the last 16 but I’d like to avoid Racing and Leinster, Exeter and Le Rochelle also if I’m making wish-list
@mike ryan: I think they will be hoping to avoid us as well. A good win tomorrow should give us a home draw, which means we should avoid the likes of the teams you’re talking about.
@Donal McCarthy: actually, just had another look at the table, we need Scarlets to beat Bristol for that to happen. Unlikely
Castres will regret no going full guns last week, but then again they didn’t seem to be too bothered
@Scott Crossfield: I don’t think they give a daam, they’ve always been a bit of a disappointment in Europe, a bit like Montpellier.
@Scott Crossfield: if castres and wasps win toulouse go out.
@Scott Crossfield: Castes have been absolutley ridden by the Mike Addission and his team. The officals have a lot to answer for forward passes by quinns sealing off penalties not given. The last 20 miniutes of reffing was a disgrace
I had my doubts about this years H Cup when I first saw the format. But now………….. meh.
Leicester given a walkover too.
All done in trying to justify the unfair treatment of Leinster. 2 wrongs don’t make a right
More 28 nil BS.