Warren Gatland says Lions have the better goal kickers than All Blacks

Beauden Barrett kicks a penalty against France. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Lions coach Warren Gatland has revealed one part of the game he feels his side will have the edge of the All Blacks next year...goal kicking.

"Probably the biggest thing we have over an All Black team is three or four guys who are better goal kickers than they are," Gatland told the Daily Mail.

With Owen Farrell, Johnny Sexton and George Ford also competing for the No 10 jersey - assisted by fullback Leigh Halfpenny - the head coach has a number of players who could take the goal kicking duties.

"If the series comes down to goal kicking, sometimes they are 100 per cent and sometimes they are about 50 per cent. We've got guys who are capable of regularly kicking over 90 per cent."

However the recent test window doesn't exactly prove Gatland's case.

On the recent US and European Tour, All Blacks number 10 Beauden Barrett converted 73.3 per cent from 17 attempts. An improvement on his Rugby Championship campaign where he kicked 65.1 per cent.

Aaron Cruden was much better with the boot at the end of the year, successful with 90.9 per cent of his 11 attempts.

The Lions contenders were at about the same success rate as Barrett. Farrell had 76.7 per cent from 30 attempts, Sexton 71.4 per cent from seven attempts and Ford down at 40 percent from five attempts.

Gatland has also sounded out Danny Cipriani about a shock Lions call up as part of his master plan to kick the All Blacks into submission.

Having handed Cipriani his Wasps debut in 2004, the Kiwi coach is considering a reunion with the exiled playmaker who he first mentored as a 17-year-old.

Keen to cast his selection net far and wide, Gatland claimed he is willing to overlook the fact the opinion-splitting first five-eighth has not started for England since 2008.

"I've spoken to Cipriani," said Gatland. "I coached him as a kid. He's not everyone's flavour of the month but he has some talent and ability. I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't discuss him.

"We went through the squad and there are two or three not involved in their international squads that we discussed. We haven't ruled anyone out. Some guys may not fit certain plans or frameworks because their personality's not right, but that doesn't mean we won't consider them."

England coach Eddie Jones has questioned Cipriani's character, claiming he likes to be the 'main man' and is the wrong personality to operate as a squad player.

Gatland yesterday confirmed the appointment of assistants Rob Howley, Steve Borthwick and Andy Farrell.

Having only made his coaching debut in 2014, forwards coach Borthwick, who travels to Perth today to work with Western Force, was given England's blessing.

"It's a great learning experience for Steve and he gets the opportunity of learning how to beat the Kiwis," said Jones. "He knows more about lineouts than anyone else in the world. He gets the chance to play basically 10 Tests against the best players in New Zealand. If he hasn't beaten New Zealand by the end of it, he should know how to beat New Zealand."

Fresh from Ireland's victory over the All Blacks in Chicago, defence coach Farrell already has experience of beating the world champions.