Rugby: Lions coach Warren Gatland hits back at All Blacks counterpart Steve Hansen

Lions coach Warren Gatland was a happy man after his team's efforts in Rotorua. Photo / Alan Gibson

Warren Gatland has responded for the first time to Steve Hansen's digs regarding the Lions' ever-growing squad, saying it could be the result of the All Blacks coach being worried about what the visitors could do in the test series which starts at Eden Park next Saturday.

Hansen alerted the media about Gatland's plans to bring in several reinforcements during the week, suggesting the Lions coach could be in danger of dividing the squad into a test team and a squad of mid-weekers.

It was confirmed tonight that Gatland would bring in Scots Allan Dell and Finn Russell, and Welshmen Cory Hill, Kristian Dacey, Gareth Davies and Tomas Francis.

Two players, Ross Moriarty and Stuart Hogg, have left the tour with injury, so with Gatland's additions the tour party now numbers 45, the same number as Clive Woodward's bloated squad here 12 years ago.

But Gatland played down concerns about a division in the squad, saying after his side convincingly beat the New Zealand Maori 32-10 here in Rotorua that it was clear everyone in red wanted the same thing.

He then turned his attention to All Blacks coach Hansen, saying his fellow Kiwi's comments could have been prompted by worry.

Asked whether he was surprised by the talk coming from his opposite, Gatland said: "A little bit, I'm surprised a little bit by Steve Hansen. Normally he is pretty calm so I can only take that as a sign of respect that he is pretty worried. The only thing I can take from that is that it is unlike Steve - he is potentially worried about how good this team could be. This could be a great rugby series and everyone could be excited by it.

"I think the off-field stuff - some of the things people have been saying has put a dampner on the tour. It is not anything that has been worrying us, he's normally calm and collected. He's saying things about us. That is normally a sign of a man that is a little worried."

The performance of his side in crushing the life out of the Maori on the wet Rotorua International Stadium surface allowed Gatland the platform to have a gentle dig back at Hansen, who watched the night before as his side excelled in thrashing Manu Samoa 78-0.

And Gatland had a little dig here too, suggesting that Hansen had quickly organised the warm-up match ahead of the test series because he may have been anxious about the quality in the Lions squad.

Gatland also said the All Blacks looked rusty at times in the first half at Eden Park before putting in an exceptional performance in the second spell, a comment which probably won't go unnoticed by Hansen.

There are also a few from the Home Nations with a few things to say about Gatland's selections and the latest is England coach Eddie Jones, who has suggested that a few of his squad, currently touring Argentina, should have been in the frame to come to New Zealand.

Gatland said of the Australian-born Jones: "I'll let Eddie do his own talking. He can do plenty of it."

Maori coach Colin Cooper, asked if Hansen should be worried by the Lions' performance, said: "He'll know how the Lions are going to come at him. I don't think much will change from what we saw out there."