Lions’ sharp response to New Zealand taunt puts Kiwis back in their box

New Zealand rugby folk are a confident bunch.

The All Blacks haven't shied away from asserting this confidence in the build up to the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand which will begin on 3 June. The New Zealand Herald were at it again when one of the Country's leading Rugby journalists Gregor Paul, claimed in his column that the "Lions won't roar without Vunipola," on the back of Billy Vunipola's recent withdrawal from the squad. The British and Irish Lions Twitter account were sharp to retort to these taunts from the New Zealand media, however. They were quick to notice that this article contained a picture of Mako Vunipola, Billy's brother, and sarcastically made a mockery of the New Zealand Herald for the error. https://twitter.com/lionsofficial/status/866945374774276097 The English International powerhouse Billy Vunipola announced his withdrawal from the squad due to an ongoing shoulder injury that eventually took its toll on him in Saracens' Aviva Premiership semi-final loss to Exeter on Saturday. The said article went on to claim that Vunipola's probable replacement Toby Faletau "holds little fear factor for the All Blacks." Paul then went on to boast that New Zealand will have no worries going into this Lions tour, especially because they are facing Warburton and Faletau in the scrum, a pair that were playing when the All Blacks destroyed Wales in their tour last June. "And the All Blacks will recall how they managed to win that series against Wales 3-0 without ever managing to play anywhere near their best and feel pretty good that the Lions have two Welshmen in their loose trio." It is not just the Kiwi media, the All Blacks coach has also taken aim at the Lions. The initial announcement of Warren Gatland's squad was instantly met with taunts from his opposite number, New Zealand coach Steve Hansen, who accused him of "clutching at straws" by picking so many Irish players that were involved in their defeat of the All Blacks in Chicago last autumn before. The trash talk is in full flow Down Under.