Lions’ pairing of Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell is brave not desperate | Nick Evans

Warren Gatland’s selection for the second Test gives the Lions balance, the ability to get the ball wider, quicker – plus it’s another kicking option

Brave? Yes. Desperate? Absolutely not. It has been said Warren Gatland is a man with nothing to lose, that he’s rolling the dice by picking Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell together. Make no mistake, Gatland has heaps to lose. Fail to win and the series is gone, so clearly a lot of thought has gone into this decision.

I think it’s an exciting selection. Before the tour started and as the warmup matches got going, I thought Sexton and Farrell would play together and Gatland has probably looked at the first Test, realised where the Lions were effective and realised they are going to have to score tries because he knows full well the All Blacks are going to score tries.

Related: All Blacks v Lions: tactical pointers and key clashes for second Test | Paul Rees and Gerard Meagher

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