Keep the aggression levels high

The only way you earn the All Blacks’ respect is by showing them precisely no respect on the pitch.

Last week the Lions were far too deferential and basically they got their heads kicked in. In Wellington we witnessed their collective refusal to be bullied again. Their attitude was ‘you know what we are going to give you a taste of your own medicine’. I loved it.

They were properly getting into the All Blacks’ faces, standing over them, ruffling their heads. Maro Itoje epitomised their snarling attitude, Mako Vunipola and Sean O’Brien were not far behind. Yes the discipline could have been a lot better. Conceding 13 penalties is not in the manual of how to win a Test match. But the point was the Lions were prepared to play right on the edge rather than let the All Blacks march all over them.