Hansen’s All Blacks ran in 12 tries in a 78-0 demolition job of Samoa at Eden Park on Friday night, but then Lions head coach Gatland was able to respond with a 32-10 victory over powerful Maori All Blacks side in what was described as a fourth test in Rotorua the next day.
Those two victories and performances have set up a fascinating three-match series between the reigning world champions and a Lions side seeking to win back-to-back series’ for the first time since 1971 and 1974.
“It has been all about ourselves and improving from game to game. Every match is up against quality opposition and we have been learning from those experiences and benefitting from the opposition,” said Gatland.
“It was another step up tonight and it was a really good performance. In terms of the All Blacks, we’ll start thinking about them a little bit more this week.
“Steve Hansen is normally pretty calm and he has been doing a lot of press conferences and I can only take that as a sign of respect in that he is a little bit worried by potentially how good this team can be. They arranged a pretty quick game against Samoa and, if you saw the first 20-30 minutes, they needed that.
“We know we have got a big step up to play the All Blacks, but all I can say is that this could be a great series with some fantastic rugby. Wherever we’ve been in New Zealand, the welcome has been brilliant – I can’t speak more highly of that – and the off-field stuff is just something you have to deal with and move on.”
