Jack Nowell urges British and Irish Lions to go for New Zealand jugular

By James Dale

Image: Jack Nowell scored two tries in the Lions' win over the Chiefs

Jack Nowell has urged the British and Irish Lions to take their chances against a ball-playing New Zealand side.

England's Nowell ran in two tries in Tuesday's 34-6 win over the Chiefs in Hamilton to put himself into late contention for a role in the first All Blacks Test on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 1.

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George North, Anthony Watson and Elliot Daly stand in his way for a place on the wing, but Nowell insists the Lions must repeat the clinical touch they showed against the Chiefs when they face New Zealand.

Asked if the Lions must transfer the attacking display from the Chiefs into Saturday's Test opener, Nowell replied: "I think we've got to; if you let any New Zealand team, let alone the All Blacks, play rugby, they're going to really play.

"They're going to chuck the ball around a lot, they're going to try to get around you, they're going to try all sorts.

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"So a massive thing with what Andy Farrell does with us in our defence is about putting teams under massive pressure.

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"And then when we do get chances we've got to take them, they are very rare in these sorts of games, but when you get the opportunities you've got to take them."

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Nowell hailed Lions boss Warren Gatland's faith in handing his flair players free rein to attack where they see fit.

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All Blacks boss Steve Hansen has continually predicted a prosaic style from the Lions, but Nowell's revelations indicate how keen Gatland is for the tourists to find a fluent front-foot stride.

"Warren's a very respected man, he doesn't talk often but when he does everyone listens," said Nowell.

"The most pleasing thing is that Warren has said to me 'you've got free licence, we don't want you on the wing, go off and do whatever you want, do what you do for Exeter'.

"For a coach to say that for a winger like myself it's very pleasing to hear. It hasn't happened for me in the first two games, but it's happened against the Chiefs."

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