British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland before the tour match at Eden Park, Auckland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday June 7, 2017. See PA story RUGBYU Lions. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use or obscuring of sponsor logos.
Warren Gatland remains ‘bullish’ despite British & Irish Lions defeat to SA ‘A’
Warren Gatland insisted his British & Irish Lions players left Cape Town Stadium with renewed conviction of their ability to win the Test series against the Springboks.
British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland before the tour match at Eden Park, Auckland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday June 7, 2017. See PA story RUGBYU Lions. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use or obscuring of sponsor logos.
Warren Gatland insisted his British & Irish Lions players left Cape Town Stadium with renewed conviction of their ability to win the Test series despite a 17-13 defeat to South Africa ‘A’.
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A powerful shadow Springbok squad containing 11 Rugby World Cup winners from 2019 and packed with 522 caps started ominously as they ran into a 17-3 half-time lead, but the British & Irish Lions fought back through a Wyn Jones try and the boot of Owen Farrell.
While it appears South Africa have landed a psychological blow ahead of the series that starts on Saturday week, Gatland said his tourists are feeling “bullish” following a game billed as the unofficial fourth Test.
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“We needed that tough hit out. I was pleased with how strong we looked in the second half,” Warren Gatland said.
“We’ll take a lot out of that and it will be good for us with 10 days building into that first Test. South Africa started very well and were physical at the breakdown, but we came to terms with that and I’m proud that the boys came back from 17-3 down.
“It shows that the Test matches are going to be a real arm wrestle and that’s as close to a Test match as you’re going to get.
“Considering they were pretty much at full-strength and we got a good feeling for how it was, the players are pretty bullish in the changing room. They’re pretty confident we can handle whatever they throw at us going forward.
“The players are pretty positive about that performance and knowing that we can still improve a lot.
“I think it’s going to be an incredibly exciting Test series and one we can go into with a lot of confidence.”
Meanwhile, Warren Gatland revealed that prop Wyn Jones suffered a stinger injury only and should recover quickly, but utility back Liam Williams must follow the return-to-play protocols for concussion after failing an HIA.
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