Lions coach Warren Gatland speaks after his team's hard fought victory at the Cake Tin
The Lions are hunting an historic test series triumph against the All Blacks today as the ideal riposte to the "disgraceful" treatment of Warren Gatland on this tour, reports the Daily Mail.
On the eve of the series decider at Eden Park, the ill-feeling within the four-nation squad was laid bare. They believe their Kiwi head coach has been repeatedly abused and vilified by local media.
According to the Daily Mail, the Herald's depiction of Gatland as a cartoon clown was the low point in a sustained campaign and the Lions have been incensed by the coverage.
The Herald's depiction of Warren Gatland as a clown.
"The way Warren Gatland has been treated has been an absolute disgrace," said Rob Howley, assistant to the former Waikato hooker both here and with Wales.
"You can be critical of technical or tactical elements but when that becomes personal criticism, it steps over the mark. That's happened over the last four weeks of the tour. It's disgraceful.
"It's not nice in terms of your family. I've had some element of that when I've stepped up as head coach (of Wales) but it's not for me to comment on that. What we're commenting on is the way Warren Gatland has been treated by the New Zealand media - his own media really. He's a Kiwi."
There is a definite sense that the man in charge of the Lions for a second successive tour is not given due credit by his compatriots because his career achievements have largely occurred in Europe.
But Howley - who expressed the conviction that Gatland will one day coach the All Blacks - delivered an emphatic rebuttal of any lingering scepticism here.
"You have to applaud what he has achieved as a Kiwi in the northern hemisphere - and I've no doubt what he'll achieve when he comes back to New Zealand as well," he said.
"He's probably one of the best coaches in world rugby and his achievement last Saturday night counted for quite a bit.
"Look at his success and what he's won. I've learned hugely from him. He's been unbelievable. I learned more as a player when I was coached by Warren Gatland at the age of 31, than I had from any other coach - and I've had a lot of coaches.
"He understands the game, he understands players and I think that's his biggest asset. Whenever he makes a decision, he always remembers when he was a player. His time behind Sean Fitzpatrick on the bench served him well in terms of what he's able now to talk to players about."
Despite the storm of negativity which has raged around him, Gatland has not lost his composure. He has even fired a few shots of his own in response to some of the jibes from the Kiwi media and his counterpart, Steve Hansen, but Howley insisted that he has taken the strife in stride.
(L-R) The Lions coach teaming of Andy Farrell, defence coach, Warren Gatland, head coach, Graham Rowntree, scrum coach and Rob Howley backs coach. Photo / AP
"He's just been relaxed and chilled," he said. "I'm sure there have been moments away from us when he's had conversations with Trudi (Gatland's wife), but his image to the players has never changed. He's always been in control and known what he's wanted. Hopefully, we'll see the benefit of that on Saturday evening."
Howley acknowledged the irony of Gatland facing frequent barbs about his so-called "Warren-ball" approach - using power runners to play a direct game, when that is what the All Blacks are seemingly shaping up to do in the third test.
In contrast, the Lions are aiming to once again utilise the creative axis of Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell to ignite their attacking play and maintain a pattern which has seen the visitors make more line-breaks and score more tries than their acclaimed opponents.
While the British and Irish squad finalised their preparations on Friday in Auckland, the All Blacks chose a surprising time to engage in commercial activities. Several players made appearances on behalf of their kit supplier, while another group spent time aboard an America's Cup yacht to promote another sponsor.
These eve-of-test jaunts came just days after figures in the New Zealand camp cast doubt on the wisdom of the Lions' decision to enjoy two days' rest and relaxation in Queenstown earlier this week.
The All Blacks were similarly diverted by commercial duties the day before they slumped to a shock defeat against Ireland in Chicago last November, but evidently they still prioritise demands from their financial backers.
