Sunday 2 July 2017 08:01, UK
British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland admits some of the personal criticism of him has been "tough to take".
But Gatland urged his detractors to keep on mocking him - to help the Lions chase a Test series win over the All Blacks.
Owen Farrell's last-gasp penalty sunk 14-man New Zealand 24-21 in Wellington, with the Lions levelling the three-Test series at one win apiece with their first victory in the country since 1993.
Sonny Bill Williams' red card hamstrung the hosts, but the tourists secured the win through tries from Taulupe Faletau and Conor Murray.
Prior to the game, the New Zealand Herald caricatured Gatland as a clown, topping what the Lions boss had dubbed a "targeted campaign" against him.
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And now the tourists' head coach has revealed that flak helped the Lions build a siege mentality that proved crucial to their second Test triumph.
"There's no doubt the last couple of weeks in terms of criticism and personal attacks has been a little tough to take," said Gatland.
"That's not so much for myself but for family members and things. But ironically, Kiwis are probably the fairest people and the Kiwi public have shown me a lot of support.
"So whoever has been doing that, they have no idea how much that's galvanised us as a group.
"The amount of support from Kiwis, ex-All Blacks contacting me to say that they think the personal stuff was over the top, it's been a lot.
"There's a huge proportion of Lions fans and Kiwis wanting us to do well because they think some of it has been unfair.
"It's not working because it's actually been great for us. So whoever's been doing that, please continue.
"Certain factions have tried to divide us but they haven't managed it. We've just kept pushing each other, and urging each other on.
"You don't get that special kind of bond and celebration of a win unless you're a group of guys proud of what they've done."
