Clive Woodward: Sneaky trickster Warren Gatland wants penalty-fest test series

All Blacks loose forward Jerome Kaino celebrates a try. Photo / Brett Phibbs

From the believe it or not files: Sir Clive Woodward has come rushing to the All Blacks' defence in the pre-test war of words.

But he also claimed that Lions coach Warren Gatland is operating a subliminal campaign aimed at the referees, in an effort to turn the test series into penalty-fest.

Gatland has highlighted what he says are illegal blocking tactics by the All Blacks.

Woodward - the 2005 Lions coach and World Cup winner with England - told his Daily Mail column readers: "I don't see their blocking tactic as a huge issue.

"There has been obvious blocking in the game for 20 years now with guys running ahead of the ball carrier with the sole purpose of disrupting and distracting the defence, even if they don't physically make contact with the defenders.

"This was started by Australian coach Rod Macqueen in the late 1990s. It came from Australian rugby league and helped Macqueen's Wallabies win the World Cup in 1999 and the 2001 series against the Lions.

"I stamped my feet quite a bit at the time, but the International Rugby Board sided with the southern hemisphere and it's been in the game ever since.

"No top professional team is innocent...(blocking) is meticulously coached by most sides, even though technically it is a penalty."

But Woodward said Gatland's real motive is to encourage a penalty deluge from South African Jaco Peyper and the subsequent French whistlers, playing into the Lions' goal kicking strengths.

"He wants to see the games strictly and precisely refereed," Woodward said.

"The Lions, who are banking on a strong performance from their pack and a tight, well-organised and disciplined defence, don't want too much laissez-faire refereeing.

"They want the refs to take a firm hand and be aware of all transgressions and to reward Lions pressure with penalties which will give their excellent goal-kickers an opportunity to build a score.

"I doubt it will change Peyper's approach to block running - it's very difficult to call unless it's blatant - but the subliminal message that the Lions want the officials to be vigilant on everything at all times is the most important facet of this.

Woodward said the Lions players would "love" Gatland for getting on the front foot media wise, and that players don't like coaches going into "diplomatic mode".

He claimed that "all sorts" would be hurled at the Lions by the New Zealand media, ironical given that his column was spiked with anti-All Blacks graphics.

One was headlined 'All Blacks Dirty Tricks', while the other suggested they got favourable treatment from match officials.

The 'dirty tricks' included All Blacks prop Wyatt Crockett giving "Owen Farrell a taste of what to expect in the Crusaders game...the giant prop flew into the fly-half moments after he kicked".

The other graphic pointed out that Colin Meads was the last test All Black sent off, in 1967, and All Blacks receive the fewest red cards of top rugby nations.