Gatland: Lions remind me of the All Blacks

WARREN GATLAND has paid Paul O’Connell’s British & Irish Lions players the ultimate accolade by comparing them to the All Blacks.

The former Ireland, London Wasps and now Wales coach played for the New Zealand side 17 times without getting a Test appearance, but he toured with them across the world and brought their high standards to the northern hemisphere with him when he came to coach in Galway.

Now he hopes those same high standards will provide O’Connell and co with a chance of winning next week’s first Test against the world champions to set up the chance to match the historic triumph of 1997.