Lions have to start winning, says Hansen

All Blacks mentor Steve Hansen is applying pressure on the British and Irish Lions, saying they have to start winning if they want to be successful.

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen

All Blacks mentor Steve Hansen is applying pressure on the British and Irish Lions. (AAP)

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has piled the pressure on the British and Irish Lions, saying they have to start delivering results.

Warren Gatland's side followed up an unconvincing opening 13-7 win over a part-time Provincial Union XV with a 22-16 loss to Super Rugby side Blues on Wednesday as they still acclimatise to life Down Under.

The tourists have four more warm-up games before the first Test against the All Blacks on June 24, starting with the Crusaders on Saturday, and Hansen says the Lions have to start putting some results on the board.

"Confidence is a big thing in sport. If you have got plenty of it, you can do anything," Hansen said in quotes reported by a number of national newspapers.

"There is a fair bit on the line. At some point you have got to start winning or people are going to be saying, 'This isn't working'. That is the thing you have got to keep an eye on."

Hansen concedes the squad Gatland has brought over to his home country is the best Lions team ever, but says he is yet to see evidence of that.

"I wouldn't say I'm expecting that X-factor from what I've seen so far on the tour, although if you look back at what those players are doing for their home countries, there is plenty of it," he added.

"You would expect an international team to beat a franchise team. And I've always said this is the best Lions side to come here.

"But the Crusaders are on a roll, full of confidence at the moment and full of All Blacks. The Lions probably don't have much confidence, because they still haven't got it together. Against the Blues there were guys out there still trying to find out who their mate is."


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Source: AAP



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