Good squad but pressure on Lions: Hansen

The former All Blacks captain finishes with a word of caution to both test sides.

Lions legend Ian McLauchlan has lambasted Warren Gatland after he named just two Scots in his squad to tour New Zealand this summer – accusing the coach of “not liking people from Scotland”.

While Warburton isn’t interested in dwelling on the past, there’s a strong sense that history may repeat itself as the Lions face the prospect of running into an All Blacks fly-half at the peak of his powers.

“But that also fires myself up and hopefully gives the players and the team the motivation to go out there and perform”.

Te’o, who was part of the South Sydney team that won the 2014 NRL premiership, made his rugby union Test debut for England against South Africa last November, having qualified for his adopted country via his English-born mother.

I’m convinced that final Six Nations game between Ireland and England in Dublin sealed a number of selection decisions.

“I will speak to the coaches, speak to the players and see what they’re expecting from me”. And then there was a build, and he got his spot right at the last moment. “It’s under pressure which counts, not the ones in front”. He is expecting Gatland’s side to play an uncomplicated game in the test series in keeping with Gatland’s standard operating procedure. It’s going to be incredibly tough but it’s a challenge I’m hugely excited by.

Hansen said there were no major surprises in Gatland’s squad with its “big ball-carriers” in middle of the pack and “grunty forwards” but said England captain Dylan Hartley, who was omitted, would have been an asset.

Launchbury was one of England’s best players in the Six Nations title triumph over February and March but three compatriots – Courtney Lawes, George Kruis and Maro Itoje – were picked ahead of him.

One month after England were crowned RBS 6 Nations champions for a second successive year, they were rewarded by supplying the largest portion of the Lions squad numbering 16 players.

The only other thing which was slightly disappointing, and it’s the romantic in me, is there was no total wildcard. “It won’t really affect how Scotland play in the future and we can look to the future with with a fair amount of optimism”. They might be drinking water or orange juice, but it’s the perception of being out until that time. “How they deal with that will be interesting to see”.

“I think the fact that me and Tommy are going is down to our team mates, whether that’s at Glasgow or Scotland”.

“Quite a lot of them have got a big weekend coming up”, Farrell added. “They’ll have to do that well”, said Hansen.

“Our job is to make sure we keep a good eye on what they do in the games they play prior to us and try to get a read”, Hansen said.

“A lot of teams arrive in New Zealand and, I saw this in 2011 (at the World Cup), they weren’t prepared for the stuff off the field”.