Tuesday 1 November 2016 19:27, UK
British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland says nothing less than an 80-minute performance will be good enough to beat New Zealand next summer.
Gatland led the Lions to a series win in Australia in 2013 and has now been handed the daunting task of masterminding a victory against the reigning world champions.
Since lifting the World Cup last year the All Blacks have set a new world record for successive tier-one Test victories, making it 18 in a row against Australia last month.
Steve Hansen's side will be looking to extend that run when they face Ireland (twice), Italy and France this month, before hosting the Lions in June and July next year.
And Gatland, who represented New Zealand at non-international level, is fully aware of how difficult his side are likely to find the tour.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: "I hope Ireland do well in the two games they play against them but, after this autumn, New Zealand could have four games potentially added on to that record.
"I was involved with the All Blacks, and went on the old tours - I think we went 50-odd matches undefeated over three or four years.
"They are an outstanding side and I think they have taken the game to a new level.
"Teams like Wales, Argentina, Australia, were in games for 60 minutes but the All Blacks are relentless, they go for 80 minutes.
"You have got to be able to play for 80 minutes against them and that is going to be the challenge for the Lions down in New Zealand next year."
New Zealand have been dominating their southern hemisphere rivals of late but Gatland is optimistic his Lions team will provide them with more of a test.
"Argentina are definitely improving," he added. "But I'd say it is probably not the strongest South Africa team at the moment.
"Australia, probably the best game they played in the Championship was the last game against the All Blacks, where they were a little bit unlucky and perhaps the scoreline flattered the All Blacks a little bit.
"I'm pretty pumped about this at the moment, pretty excited about the potential squad."
Gatland was speaking at the launch of the British & Irish Lions shirt ahead of the tour next year and an image of it was projected onto the side of City Hall in London on Tuesday evening.
The coach is a big fan of the jersey and said: "I think the shirt is outstanding. It is a new shirt, so as a supporter you have got to be pretty excited.
"It is a little bit different to what has been on the two or three previous tours, a new sponsor, a new shirt-maker, and I think they have done an outstanding job.
"When people get a chance to look at it up close, I think they are going to be pretty happy with it."
