Matt Dawson: Beaten by the better side but we believe in ourselves

Matt Dawson

Don't write off the Lions.

As far as we're concerned, we've just got to win two now, and we're going up to Wellington with the sole purpose of winning that game. We are disappointed, very disappointed as a group, but fortunately for us there is only way to go - up.

So where did it go wrong for the Lions?

The most costly area was our set piece. Our lineout was pretty poor to say the least. The homework the All Blacks had done was second to none - they put us to the sword.

They competed superbly well, turned us over and punished us territorially.

It was very calm at halftime. We'd identified our set piece wasn't good enough and went out to try and better that but giving them an early try in those conditions and a 20-point haul was nigh on impossible to get back against these guys. Sometimes at the end of the game you just have to put you hand up and say the better team won. No excuses.

Tactically the team who got it right were always going to come out on top in this test and it was definitely New Zealand. We started fantastically well but kept giving away cheap possession. New Zealand kept hold of the ball superbly well. They didn't make mistakes but we made plenty.

Justin Marshall, considering the flak he's been getting in recent weeks, also showed why he should be starting.

I thought referee Joel Jutge was outstanding. So we're looking at ourselves - we're not looking outside our camp.

However, it was a blow to lose Brian O'Driscoll and potentially Richard Hill, with all their experience, so early. But I thought Will Greenwood and Ryan Jones who came on were fantastic but Hilly and Brian were there for a reason.

As I said earlier, we can come back from this loss. It's not a place I've been before. I've got to sit down and assess it and see what I can bring to the party. I've been fortunate enough to be on two previous Lions' tours and in both we won the first test.

Myself and the more experienced players and coaches can hopefully get ourselves back up and prepared for what's going to be an even bigger effort.

There's no question whoever won today is in the prime position but whichever team lost would always still fancy their chances. Our backs are against the wall and we have nothing to lose, so there's no holding back.

Before Wellington we've got to make sure we get our tactics right. We've got a bit of video evidence there of New Zealand and we've got to do some work on them. If conditions are any better than they were today and New Zealand play as well as that, we could be in trouble.

The strength of the British and Irish Lions is the way we've stuck together through all the distractions. The media at home and over here have always been going on. We're a very close-knit community and we need that to come to the fore. I know some of the rugby writers have been into us over the selection for the first test but that's nothing new!

But there's not even been a sniff of any disharmony in our camp - we've been massively strong, regardless of what's been going on outside.

It's a mountain to climb but if any side can do it, we can.

Finally, I must say the NZRU and Canterbury put on a superb show at Jade. I loved the way that they mixed the support so it was a mixture of red and black all the way through the stadium. It was a real proper test environment, and everyone, players, officials, and everyone around, just really soaked it up.

And to those great Lions supporters - have faith. I know that they do but they will get whatever we can possibly give them next Saturday.


- HERALD ON SUNDAY