Graham Henry says Warren Gatland must ditch the conservative tactics and try to play some attacking rugby if the Lions are to have any chance of winning the series.
Speaking on The Breakdown on Monday, Henry described the series as “a hard watch”, with the two sides engaging in prolonged aerial battles.
And the former All Blacks, Wales and Lions coach believes if the Lions try the same approach again, they will get exactly the same result.
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“If the Lions don’t change the game plan and use the ball a lot more, I don’t think they’re going to get the result they need,” the 75-year-old said.
“They want to win, they’ve got to play. That’s fair. At the moment, it’s a hard watch for people that have been watching it.
“It’s a hard watch and both sides are playing similar football – kicking a lot, big defences. Somebody’s gotta find some attacking flair to win this game. The Springboks will win if the game continues the same way.
“I think the Lions have lost some momentum. The South Africans played better, obviously, and won convincingly,” he said.
“They’ve got a better scrum, the South Africans, and they’ve got a more astute kicking game, I think, and more guys who can kick astutely in the backline, so I think if the Lions get up from here, it’ll be amazing.”
Henry, of course, faced a series decider himself as Lions coach against Australia on the 2001 tour.
He watched his side lose the series at the end of a difficult tour that saw him clash with some players. It would ultimately lead to the end of his Wales tenure as well.
“I didn’t get it right. If you had your chance again, I think you’d use the players a lot more in leading the team,” Henry said.
“I led from the front, which was the wrong thing to do, when I had them. I look back on that, and that’s a learning experience.
“Warren’s done this the third time now, and I’m sure he’s doing that.
“I just think they need to play a lot more football if they’re to get a result, because the South Africans have probably got the wood on them up front, particularly at the scrum and their kicking game is better.”
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