Clive Woodward says All Blacks Totally Beatable

Woodward is against making personnel changes to the XV and instead thinks it is a gameplan tweak that could see the Lions prevail.

“The All Blacks are totally beatable,” Woodward told BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek.

He added: “We didn’t lose the game based on selection.

“What happens in the UK, you box kick, the opposition get it, play a couple of phases and normally kick the ball back.

“You box kick down here, the All Blacks catch it and you don’t get the ball back.”

Woodward was particularly impressed with the running game of Liam Williams, Elliot Daly and Anthony Watson in Auckland in the Test opener and feels they should be used as much as possible.

“When we ran from deep and had the confidence to keep the ball in hand, we played really well,” he said.

“I just don’t want to see us kick the ball away.

“My own personal view is you have to try and pick a team that plays similar to them, try and match them at what they do really well.

“If you can match them you have got half a chance.”

 Clive Woodward is worse than Jake White at saying anything to get into the media

Complete lunacy from Woodward.....try to match a team's strength, instead of trying to exploit it's weakness. One of those weaknesses may actually be scramble defence....the ABs aren't called on to do that very often. In that sense running at the ABs from deep may work. But the Lions have to do a much better job at turnover ball....they lost 22 to the ABs 14....and that speaks to player changes.

 Agree Moz, Woodward should know better, not may teams are good enough the match the strength of the other team. They would be better served if they played to their own strengths but with a few surprises thrown in.
Yes, the ABs are beatable but a lot would have to go in favor of the Lions for them to do it. ABs would have to have a really bad game, Lions would have to play well above their expected level. Could happen but not likely.

 the ABs are beatable but a lot would have to go in favor of the Lions for them to do it. ABs would have to have a really bad game, Lions would have to play well above their expected level. Could happen but not likely.

The smugness of the year award goes to that notable blowhard JW. Bwahhahaahhahahaha  ou JW is worse right now than dumbaASS warped DUD! 

Thanks for the award Beeno, although you are very qualified as the premier blowhard on this site - and I suspect all others - your judgement is a major shortcoming. Still, please mail the cash equivalent of my award to the SA "referee fund" as I have heard the payoffs to the refs for the series against the French has depleted the account. 
JW, always fiscally responsible

 Woodward should know better but doesnt ,he is of course dining out on past glory from waaaaaay back when !Beandork doing a good impression of a two-stroke engine what with sucking and blowing .

 Woodward has been wrong so many times since his one great moment but he's still able to live off his past glory. Can't begrudge a man a paycheck but I wish he would wise up.

 Just like Jake White, he speaks in riddles. What he is saying is that if he was coaching, the correct game plan is being played

 I'm in agreement with Woodward with regard to his comment on kicking down the throats of the AB's. Like he says, feed them the ball and they'll run at you and we all know just how good they are with ball in hand, I've always said that the best and only strategy was to starve them of the ball backed up by smart kicking. It's good night Sarah as soon as you feed them the ball.

I agree with the general sentiment here. You play to your team's strength, and try to nullify your opponents strengths, you don't try to beat the best attacking team in the world at their own game. Regarding the kicking at the All Blacks....duh!!! I don't know why teams still try it. The AB's have done the same thing for twenty years....you give them the ball, and they'll attack you with it. 
I am now predicting a whitewash by the AB's. The Lions have the players to win, but now the belief will be even more lacking than before the game. Also, the AB's will only be improving now as the team gels.

 
The Lions looked unprepared for the All Blacks onslaught. It's as if they didn't know what to expect and played right into their hands.

A fooliosh game plan ...

Congrats to the All Blacks.

 Lions in a rush to change defense? 
All Blacks boss Steve Hansen has tipped the British and Irish Lions to mix up their defensive strategy for Saturday's second Test, having been flummoxed by his side's first-Test tactics.

Bringing their customary defensive line speed to Eden Park, the Lions were gradually worn down by Hansen's decision to play through halfback Aaron Smith and conceded three tries to lose 30-15.

Instead of passing to first-fives Beauden Barrett or Aaron Cruden, Smith often played short balls to carriers around the ruck - from Sonny Bill Williams to rampaging lock Brodie Retallick - to exhaust the tourists.

The Lions made 165 tackles to the All Blacks' 97, while Smith made almost double the passes of counterpart Conor Murray.

Given his side's success in playing off Smith, Hansen expected a more physical battle at the breakdown in Wellington next week.

But the upshot of that would be reduced Lions line speed for Barrett to exploit.

"I thought they were reasonably unabrasive at the breakdown - they allowed us to get the ball we needed by not putting numbers in, because they wanted to have line speed," Hansen told reporters on Sunday.

"Maybe they'll look at changing that, so we'll have to get better at the breakdown - but that comes with some disadvantages (for them) too."

Yet, like the Lions, Hansen felt his side had their own issues to address.

They had been too easily cut up on the counter-attack by fullback Liam Williams, and spent a 25-minute spell on either side of half-time under duress.

Down just 13-8, the Lions threw away a handful of decent opportunities to score before running out of steam.

Improving their kick-chase would also be important in the Kiwi capital.

"They had some genuine success with moving the ball from the back, you don't score tries like they did without having people capable of hurting you - they may look to do a little more of that," Hansen said.

"We'll have to sharpen up, right from the beginning, our ability to connect in the middle of the park and make our tackles.

"In saying that, I was very proud of our scramble defence.

"We hold the advantage in that we're one Test up, but they're going to have to chuck everything they've got at us to stay alive."

 Thanks Denny. Whose article was that? Curious about who wrote it. 
Go the All Blacks.