All Blacks Wyatt Crockett, Kieran Read and Ardie Savea, during their 15-15 all draw with the Lions, during the 3rd and final test match between the All Blacks and Lions. Photo / Brett Phibbs.
All Blacks Wyatt Crockett, Kieran Read and Ardie Savea, during their 15-15 all draw with the Lions, during the 3rd and final test match between the All Blacks and Lions. Photo / Brett Phibbs.
The dust has started to settle on the All Blacks epic tied series with the British and Irish Lions and the UK scribes have had a chance to sit back and reflect on one of the great Lions tours.
Here are six of their most interesting observations:
Gatland says his Kiwi background was the secret to 'success' The Guardian Gatland said he initially thought he was on "a hiding to nothing" on Lions tour but believes his inside knowledge of the Kiwi psyche made a difference to the outcome. "I think if anyone else had been doing it we might not have drawn the series," he said.
"If you have some understanding of the culture you're going to, it gives you a massive advantage. In the past people have come to New Zealand and haven't been quite prepared. We made sure that we prepared properly. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses; there are strengths in New Zealand as a nation, in terms of the isolation and galvanising themselves to have a go at anything, but there can be cracks at times as well."
Warren Gatland hints he could be tempted to lead Lions on third tour UK Telegraph "For three golden minutes of a three-Test series the Lions were ahead on the scoreboard. At the end of a six-week tour they were level with the All Blacks. These achievements - much bigger than they sound - have tempted Warren Gatland to put his name forward again in 2021, after John Spencer, the manager of this trip called him "the best head coach in the world".
"At the team hotel the morning after the night before, Gatland made a startling revelation: "My wife asked me about three weeks into it, 'how are you enjoying the tour?' - and I said 'I'm hating it'." The hostility picked up by Gatland's family was souring his experience of travelling round his homeland. But all the while the man who led the victorious tour of Australia four years ago was also detecting signs of vulnerability in the All Blacks. "Hating it" turned to hope, then to one hell of a series."
All Blacks loose forward Jerome Kaino in action, during their 15-15 all draw with the Lions, during the 3rd and final test match between the All Blacks and the Lions. Photo / Brett Phibbs.
All Blacks are running the risk of flatlining Guardian "The All Blacks are used to flattening everything in their path, but are they flatlining? The Rugby Championship has become uncompetitive - New Zealand scored 135 points in their three away matches last year while conceding 40 - and they are not used to the thorough examination by the British & Irish Lions. Similarly, their Super Rugby sides tend to have it their own way until they face each other, and then it is very much like against like. The tours to Europe this year and next, culminating in the Twickenham Test with England, will be more meaningful as a pointer to the 2019 World Cup, the rugby world turning on its head."
Sam Warburton was Lions brightest star The Guardian "Whatever the rights and wrongs of Poite's accidental offside ruling - and footage of Read a yard in front of Beauden Barrett's all-important restart further emphasises how hard it is for match officials to spot every significant offence - there was no bigger U-turn on this trip than New Zealand's failure to clinch the series from 1-0 ahead with two to play. If Gatland deserves credit for edging his battle of coaching wits with Steve Hansen, his best call may have been the reappointment of Warburton.
"I read a great quote from Michael Johnson which stuck with me," said Warburton, his on-field labours finally over. "He said: 'Pressure is just the shadow of great opportunity.' That's how I see it. Don't be afraid of what you could lose. Be excited about what you could achieve. You've got to be brave, take chances and make things happen. When you get in the real big games, you don't want occasions to blur for players. You still want them to have a go, play with freedom and instinct."
Kieran Read (C) of the All Blacks and his team perform the Haka prior to kickoff during the third test match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Lions. Photo / Getty Images.
The North is rising - and the All Blacks need a new way to fight it UK Telegraph - By Sir Graham Henry "The greatest challenge to the All Blacks as world champions is currently coming from the northern hemisphere.
"The southern hemisphere has gone backwards while the Lions have shown just what is on offer in the home unions. The 2017 Six Nations was the best there has been for a number of years and now we have seen the challenge that the Lions have laid down for the All Blacks.
"Over the next couple of years the signs are that the All Blacks will face more competition from the northern hemisphere countries than they will experience here in the Rugby Championship. Australia and South Africa in particular have tailed off and that is a bit of a negative for the All Blacks."
All Blacks not the force of old By Sir Clive Woodward for the Daily Mail "Beauden Barrett is a very fine player but he is not Dan Carter yet and neither is Sam Cane a Richie McCaw. Replacing those two iconic players was never going to be simple.
"The All Blacks had injuries and suspensions at centre but none of the newcomers is a Conrad Smith or a Ma'a Nonu, the other two big retirees since 2015.
"The other thing that struck me is how the pressure got to New Zealand, including red and yellow cards. Especially in the final minutes of the last two Tests, this suggests a vulnerability we haven't seen for a while.
"I have no idea why they didn't look for a dropped goal in the final three or four minutes to close out Saturday's game -especially on the last play."
