Lions must use wounded pride to out muscle All Blacks

Steve Hansen has been talking a good game throughout this British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand and the All Blacks coach is ensuring his team does not take tomorrow’s second Test as a foregone conclusion following their series-opening victory.

The bookmakers, pundits and, it seems, many among the vast army of Lions supporters spending small fortunes to watch this once-in-a-dozen-years’ odyssey believe the 2017 series will be over by the time their brethren back home start contemplating brunch tomorrow.

Hansen probably does too but on the few occasions he has presided over a losing All Blacks side, and of course the most recent experience was at the hands of Ireland in Chicago last November, he has seen the determination among the vanquished to right some wrongs and he is preparing his players for a Lions onslaught in Wellington after their 30-15 Eden Park win last Saturday.