Steve Hansen Has Begun His Mind Games With The British & Irish Lions

Here we go.

New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen has begun his mind games ahead of this summer’s Lions series, warning the touring side that expectation on them will be “massive”.

The Lions will take on The Al Blacks in a three-Test series this summer as part of a 10-game tour, with over 20,000 supporters set to make the long trip to New Zealand from Britain and Ireland.

Hansen has questioned whether or not the players will be able to cope with the extra pressure that brings.

“The Lions would be foolish to think that there’s not an expectation there for them to do well.” Hansen told the Daily Telegraph

“There will be a massive expectation on them. If you’re a Lions fan, you’d look at it and say, ‘We’ve got four countries going into one against the opposition, we should be able to beat these blokes’. That is an expectation to be dealt with.”

“We have our own expectations. People expect us to win, too. We don’t get to avoid it. But it’s something that we live with all the time. And have had to learn to deal with. And the Lions will have to learn to deal with it. And I’m not sure.”

“Each team has its own unique way of dealing with it. My point is that 20,000 will be coming out with a massive expectation. Yes, they want to see some good rugby but they also want to see the Lions win.”

What do you think? Does Hansen have a point?