Warren Gatland: Training ground 'niggle' shows Lions won't take a backward step

'It is about being on the edge but making sure that they are controlled with that'

Tadhg Beirne and head coach Warren Gatland. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Warren Gatland has urged his British & Irish Lions not to take a step back against the Springboks in Saturday’s first Test and if the niggle his players have shown in training is any guide, the head coach will not be disappointed.

The New Zealander, who was an assistant coach to Ian McGeechan on the 2009 tour to South Africa, said that summer’s tourists had drawn a line in the sand after a fiery second Test at Loftus Versfeld and said ‘enough is enough’ but he wanted his 2021 Lions to not give an inch from the off.