MacDonald warning to wounded Lions

Leon MacDonald has warned that New Zealand can improve on Saturday’s drubbing of the British and Irish Lions as the tourists look to bounce back from a 21-3 defeat.

The All Blacks comprehensively outplayed the Lions at Jade Stadium in Christchurch with a powerful forward display, especially from locks Chris Jack and Ali Williams in the lineouts which the Lions simply could not match.

MacDonald is well aware of the threat a wounded Lions side might pose in the second Test in Wellington, but believes the hosts also have room for improvement.

“I know if we had lost we would have a lot of resolve and would be putting in a lot of work to make sure we make amends for it. I don’t think [the Lions] will be any different,” the full-back said.

“They have had a bit of a look at us and have probably found a few areas where they think they can attack us now so it will be a totally different game next week.

“But we feel we’ve got a lot to improve on as well.”

Despite the bitterly cold and wet conditions the home side were not afraid to let the backs loose, resulting in a try for wing Sitiveni Sivivatu after Williams had earlier powered his way over after stealing a Lions throw into the lineout.

The Lions, in contrast, simply could not get a foothold in the game as they struggled to get quality ball, playmakers Stephen Jones and Jonny Wilkinson were closed down and the perceived strength at the set-piece was nullified by the All Blacks.

“It was such an important game for the series to win that first one and I suppose there was a lot of talk about what they wanted to show and I suppose the conditions didn’t allow them to do much,” MacDonald added.

“We still feel we’ve got a lot up our sleeve as well.

“We did everything we wanted to do. We wanted to get stuck in in the forwards and we did that and the backs wanted to use the ball and we felt we did that as well as we possibly could [given the conditions].”