Former Lions coach Ian McGeechan said Gatland's decision to add six players to his touring party "strikes the wrong note".
Full-back Leigh Halfpenny kicked 20 points as Itoje crossed the line to ensure the Lions chalked up their third win from five tour matches and avoided a similar setback to 12 years ago when the Maori stunned their visitors 19-13.
Hansen has been firing barbs of his own in the lead-up to the Test, accusing Gatland of having only one style of play and claiming inside knowledge of the Lions reinforcements.
Farrell admitted he feels the Lions have been penalised for offside "a little harshly" in several matches on tour - but challenged his players to time their blitz defence to perfection.
The Lions sauntered to their most straightforward win of the tour this far this morning: strangling the life out of the challenge of the Maori All Blacks 32-10 in terrible conditions in Rotorua.
New Zealand commentators have condemned the Lions as boring and have criticized the one-dimensional nature of their game plan. "We felt very comfortable there", said George.
Many of the Lions team that started the game in Rotorua played themselves into contention to start the first Test against the All Blacks on Saturday, June 24, 2017.
Speaking to talkSPORT following the game, the head coach said: "I'm really pleased with the performance".
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While Fleetwood acknowledged that winning on Sunday at Erin Hills would be life-changing, he didn't want to get too far ahead. The No. 2-ranked McIlroy and the third-ranked Day also failed to advance to move after struggling for a second straight day.
The Test series is going to be the struggle everyone expected it to be.
"Before a match he does put us under pressure". He did something similar in 2013 for the Brumbies game before the first Test, when Shane Williams flew in from Japan at short notice. The harmony and the boys singing in the changing rooms from the guys who weren't involved tonight and what it means to them in terms of the whole squad, we're very, very close. "I can't describe what it is going to be like on Saturday, but I know it is going to be pretty intense and there will be a lot of pressure".
The All Blacks will likely have been impressed with the efficiency of the Lions' display after a few minor hiccups in the first half. "In a couple of games we haven't been able to get up in the air because there has been that interference".
World Cup victor Stephen Donald will pull the strings at fly half and keep an eye out for Tim Nanai-Williams - who started for Samoa last Friday. We found it hard the first 10 days when we were here in terms of jetlag and tiredness and stuff.
Masking his disappointment, the Ireland skipper has revealed how his Lions team-mates have reacted with typical humour to him being named in last weekend's Queen's Birthday Honours list.
"I'd say from 70-30 (in favour of the All Blacks) it's gone to about 55-45 now".
British and Irish Lions team to face the Chiefs on Tuesday: L Williams (Wales); J Nowell (England), J Payne, R Henshaw (both Ireland), E Daly (England); D Biggar (Wales), G Laidlaw (Scotland); J Marler (England), R Best (Ireland, capt), D Cole (England), I Henderson (Ireland), C Lawes (England), J Haskell (England), J Tipuric (Wales), CJ Stander (Ireland).
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