MX23RW : Friday, August 6 14:06:20| >> :120:8535:8535:

Warren Gatland calls on Lions to nullify "get-out-of-jail card"

Warren Gatland calls on Lions to nullify
© Reuters
The Lions emerged 22-17 winners from a tense first Test.

Warren Gatland has urged his British and Irish Lions to make their get-out-of-jail card redundant by completing a series victory over South Africa on Saturday.

The Lions emerged 22-17 winners from a tense first Test and know that another successful evening at Cape Town Stadium would seal a first triumph against the Springboks since 1997.

Gatland has made three changes to give his side more power in defence and structure in anticipation of a backlash from the world champions, giving starts to scrum-half Conor Murray, centre Chris Harris and prop Mako Vunipola.

A defeat for the Lions would usher in a decider on the final weekend of the tour, but Gatland wants the contest settled at the earliest available opportunity.

"South Africa are going to be desperate. They're desperate to stay in the series and we've got a chance of winning the series on Saturday," Gatland said.

"We've spoken to the players about that, making sure that they're mentally right because you don't want to be using your get-out-of-jail card, which is going to the third Test.

"You want to make the most of the opportunity we've created by winning the first Test and hopefully seal the series on Saturday."

Gatland has adjusted his starting XV in response to the tactics used by South Africa in the opener – direct running, a kicking barrage, forcing penalties and building scoreboard pressure.

Out goes Elliot Daly, whose attacking skills found no outlet in the Cape Town trenches, and in comes the "incredibly direct" Harris, a pre-tour bolter who has become one of the stars of the trip.

Harris will stiffen the midfield and by swapping Ali Price for Murray, Gatland is signalling that the Lions will limit their ambition until later in the game when the Scotland scrum-half's energy and enterprise can make an impact.

Completing the changes is Vunipola's promotion at loosehead prop ahead of Rory Sutherland as reward for the impression he made from the bench when he successfully addressed concerns over his scrummaging.

Daly, Price and Sutherland feature among the replacements, where number eight Toby Faletau makes an appearance at the expense of Hamish Watson.

"There won't be a lot of space, particularly in that first 20 or 30 minutes. We saw how aggressive South Africa were – in the first opportunity we had to attack, Elliot Daly was hit in contact," Gatland said.

Chris Harris will bring greater solidity to the Lions' midfield
Chris Harris will bring greater solidity to the Lions' midfield (David Davies/PA)

"They're going to be incredibly aggressive and they'll run hard, so it's about staying in that arm wrestle.

"They play very little rugby in their own half so it's a territory battle and we've got to make sure that if we're 6-6 at 30 minutes or 9-6 ahead going into half-time, then that puts us in a pretty good place.

"Our focus is on us starting well in the game and making sure the game management is really good.

"We have been happy with the way we have finished in the second half of both the South Africa 'A' game and first Test. We felt strong. Potentially the game might then open up."

Gatland has made it clear that if the Lions fail to clinch the series on Saturday, then more radical surgery to the team will be needed.

"If we are four or five per cent off mentally, then it's going to be a long day for us," the Kiwi said.

"If we get it mentally right then we have a chance of winning this series, but if we're not and we lose the second Test, then you'll probably see a number of changes going into the third Test."

ID:457107: cacheID:457107:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9527:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Finn Russell pictured for Scotland in October 2019
Read Next:
Finn Russell potentially in contention for second South Africa Test
>

rhs 2.0
Olympic medal table header
CountryGold medalSilver MedalBronze MedalT
ChinaChina34241775
United StatesUnited States30352893
JapanJapan22101547
Great BritainGreat Britain18182056
Olympics flagRussian Olympic Committee17232262
Today's Olympic highlights header

Friday's key events


HOCKEY
· Great Britain's women aim to secure their place on the podium as they face India in the bronze medal match (2.30am)
· Netherlands - silver medallists five years ago - and Argentina battle for the gold medal in the women's final (11am)

BEACH VOLLEYBALL
· The women's gold medal will be decided as Australia and USA go head to head (3.30am)

BOXING
· Lauren Price will be looking to add to Team GB's success in the ring when she takes on Nouchka Fontijn of Netherlands in the women's middleweight semi-final (6am)

DIVING
· Tom Daley already has one Olympic gold to his name in Tokyo, and he begins his bid for second in the men's 10m platform. Teammate Noah Williams is also involved in the preliminary round (7am)

CYCLING
· Jason Kenny's reign as sprint king may be over, but Jack Carlin looked strong in his bid to succeed his compatriot. He takes on Harrie Lavreysen in his sprint semi-final (8.10am), with the final taking place later in the day (10.35am)
· The women's madison makes its Olympic debut at the velodrome as Team GB duo Katie Archibald and Laura Kenny look to add another medal to their collections (9.15am)

FOOTBALL
· Hosts Japan will look to get themselves on the podium as they face Mexico in the men's bronze medal match (10am)
· The women's champions will be crowned as both Sweden and Canada aim to win Olympic gold for the very first time (1pm)

ATHLETICS
· The men's 5000m final includes Great Britain's Andrew Butchart, but most eyes will be on Ugandan world record holder Joshua Cheptegei (1pm)
· Team GB's Jodie Williams will hope to get on the podium in the women's 400m final, but defending champ Shaunae Miller-Uibo is favourite for gold while Stephenie Ann McPherson should challenge and Allyson Felix is bidding to become the most decorated female track and field athlete of all time (1.35pm)
· Netherlands' Sifan Hassan takes on leg two of her ambitious attempt at a Tokyo treble in a women's 1500m final which also includes Great Britain's Laura Muir and Faith Kipyegon of Kenya (1.50pm)
· A star-studded women's 4x100m relay final will see a Team GB quartet including Dina Asher-Smith look to upset defending champions USA and favourites Jamaica, who boast Elaine Thompson-Herah as she goes for her third gold of the Games (2.30pm)
· Great Britain and Jamaica will also be going for gold in the men's 4x100m relay final, and their medal hopes have been boosted by USA's failure to qualify (2.50pm)

> Today's schedule in full
Todays Game Header Right

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!