Rowntree predicts ‘massive reaction’ from New Zealand

Joe Schmidt called it poking the bear after his Ireland team came home victorious from Chicago last November and supporters will remember just how ferocious and grizzly it turned out to be when the All Blacks went gunning for revenge a fortnight later in Dublin.

The British & Irish Lions are bracing themselves for a similar response this Saturday at Eden Park following their narrow victory over the 14-man world champions in Wellington as the home side does little to conceal its hurt at losing on home soil for the first time since 2009.

“A reaction. A massive reaction,” was Lions scrum coach Graham Rowntree’s prediction of the All Blacks’ intentions after his side levelled the Test series with a 24-21 win.