Saturday 17 June 2017 10:40, UK
Pat Lam says the Lions forwards will have a "big part to play" if the tourists are to beat New Zealand in their upcoming Test series, live on Sky Sports.
Lam was speaking on Sky Sports in the wake of New Zealand's 78-0 thrashing of Samoa at Eden Park, in which fly-half Beauden Barrett scored 24 points through two tries and seven conversions.
While Lam felt Barrett showed his class, he believes the Lions will be able to limit the half-back's influence on the game during the Tests if they are able to dominate the forward exchanges.
"I think the forwards have got a big part to play in this if they are going to shut down Beauden Barrett," said the Bristol coach.
"The quality of their set piece - putting pressure on the All Blacks to ensure that they can get front foot - and the quality of their work at the breakdown.
"If they can get there and slow that ball down they can get themselves set, and get up and put some pressure on Barrett.
"They will probably have Sonny Bill [Williams] on the outside and then you've got all the other guys on the inside, so slowing the ball down will go a long way."
Former British and Irish Lions Ieuan Evans echoed the thoughts of Lam - when asked how the tourists can stop the All Blacks, he said restricting them out wide would be vital.
"Not allowing New Zealand to get to those 15-metres channels," said Evans. "That's where they can throw the killer punch.
"It's really important that they slow down the ball, but also maintain that line speed and cut down the speed [of play].
"Conditioning won't be an issue for the Lions, particularly in the first two Tests.
"It might be for the third Test as you get more tired, but certainly in the first two Test you expect conditioning to allow the line speed to be maintained throughout the series."
The conditioning will be particularly key as New Zealand's depth allows them to bring on lethal replacements late in the game.
"The potency of the bench to unlock tiring defences," said Evans. "That's where New Zealand come to the fore.
"They score so many points in the final quarter of a game because of that very reason."
Lam was impressed by the performance of No 8 Ardie Savea, who started in the absence of All Blacks captain Kieran Read, who is expected back next week.
"I thought he did really well," said Lam of the younger Savea brother. "You see his quality when the game does open up, but he's also good in the tight.
"I believe Kieran Read will start next week, and this was a chance to give Ardie a hit-out at No 8 so if Kieran Read is struggling in the 40 minutes or 50 minutes, Ardie can come in with a good 80 minutes behind him."
