Gatland to curb chat ahead of All Blacks Test

Speaking on Wednesday morning, the day after the Lions thrashed the Chiefs 34-6 in Hamilton, Rowntree said he'd been impressed with the unique way Gatland controls a big outfit like the Lions. They have been occasionally criticized in their first five tour matches for a lack of attacking enterprise but they showed against the Chiefs they can do the basics with total efficiency while still producing an expansive game.

"He's very good at saying the right thing".

There's been loads of flags and colour and it's been good to see the really positive engagement with our staff.

The All Blacks have the best replacements in world rugby and that should worry the Lions.

As well as the capacity crowd at FMG Stadium Waikato, around 1000 people, including a large number of families with young children, watched the game from the Fan Zone at the Claudelands Events Centre.

"If we stay clean on the penalty side of things, hopefully we can use their strength against them".

Strangled once already by the British and Irish Lions, All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock says discipline is the key to not letting it happen again in the first Test.

The back three players will accept his calls and attempt to help each other prepare for the great demands of the All Blacks. They have trained exceptionally hard. A few guys put their hands up (against the Chiefs), and that won't be ignored.

"I thought they were excellent", Donald said.

Head coach Steve Hansen will announce his starting line-up for the opening Lions clash at Eden Park later this week, and Read looks set to be in it.

"The team room, for example, is swept regularly and no one is allowed in there unless they are part of the squad, and if there is any suspicion at all they will do another sweep. Whoever gets the nod gets the nod and we'll help him". And the scrum, my department - they've been leading the charge for quite a long time now. Whichever team is going to play we're going to back them 100 per cent and there's a lot of talented boys in the squad. They're exceptionally well coached by Mike Cron; an honest team, an efficient, honest forward pack.

"At one point captain Rory Best went up to Garces and said, 'when we put those little dinks in behind them they're body checking.' The Lions are fed up with this sort of nonsense, as the whole of rugby should be, and have decided to make a concerted protest". "So do the All Blacks but we feel we need to keep improving, that's what we've been doing over the last couple of weeks", said Lions captain Rory Best.

It has been a whistle-stop tour around the country, but they have learned much on their travels.

The Farrell-Ben Te'o combination gets the Lions over the gain line early and also provides a defensive wall in the 10/12 channel that will be vital if the Lions are to stop Sonny Bill Williams from imposing himself on the game.

So, clearly, was Warren Gatland, who after watching his Wales team succumb to a limp defeat at the hands of the Chiefs 12 months ago, got the victory he was craving in front of family and friends.