Gatland reminisces about winning feeling with the Lions

Warren Gatland admits he will never forget that winning feeling as he saw his British & Irish Lions side run riot in the closing stages of the deciding Test against Australia in the summer. [more]

Gatland reminisces about winning feeling with the Lions

Warren Gatland admits he will never forget that winning feeling as he saw his British & Irish Lions side run riot in the closing stages of the deciding Test against Australia in the summer.

With the series hanging in the balance the Lions ran in three tries in 12 minutes as they defeated the Qantas Wallabies 41-16 and secured a first series win since the 1997 tour of South Africa.

And after cherishing such a great moment in his career, Gatland hopes the Tour itself is protected so that there are experiences similar in the future.

"There aren't many times and pressure competitions or series that you get a chance to enjoy the last 10 or 15 minutes, knowing that you're going to win," said Gatland. "You treasure those moments.

"The Lions is unique, it is special and it needs to be protected. We need to make sure going forward that we give it the best opportunity that we possibly can to make it successful.”

Gatland also revealed he believed the Australian side were not capable of reproducing their efforts in the second Test after seeing his side narrowly beaten 16-15 to level the series up at 1-1.

The emotion exhausted by their opponents was too much to replicate again for the decided in the eyes of the New Zealander.

"I think the biggest thing, I watched the reaction of the Australian players and I saw the emotion,” he added.

"I thought I'm not sure you can produce that sort of the emotion the following week. You get one chance and I think they gave it in that second Test."

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