The Lions have arrived in Hamilton full of confidence after an impressive 32-10 victory over the Maori All Blacks on Saturday in Rotorua.
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The All Blacks and the first Test lies in wait this weekend in Auckland, but before that the Lions take on the Super Rugby outfit from Waikato.
And after agonising mid-week losses to the Blues and Highlanders already on this Tour, Laidlaw and co are keen to do some damage on Tuesday at FMG Stadium Waikato.
“We have dropped a couple of games further back on the Tour, and at this stage we want to try and gather momentum going forward for everybody,” he said.
“And if we can get a win against quality opposition that will make everybody’s mood really good.
“Everybody wants to play in the Tests but every game on Tour is important, every time you pull on the Lions jersey you want to win.
“The players given that honour on Tuesday will be going out to do just that.”
The Chiefs lifted the Super Rugby title in 2012 and 2013 and have not missed the play-offs since then under Dave Rennie.
📰 TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT | Here are the 23 players to face @ChiefsRugby on Tuesday👇#CHIvBIL details 👉 https://t.co/UOrIFlALMT#LionsNZ2017 pic.twitter.com/ql3BJLgrQQ
— British&Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 18, 2017
Their attacking style has won many admirers and Laidlaw knows he and his teammates will need to be at their very best against a side that beat Wales in a mid-week fixture last summer.
“The New Zealand Super Rugby teams and teams in general are very much attack-focused, we have face that that since we arrived,” he added.
“But if we stick to what we do well we can win games against quality opposition.
“We have been moving forward every game and it was a big step forward against what was a quality Maori side with probably some of the best attackers in world rugby in their back line.
“And they were nullified by our line speed and our defence.
“We are disappointed with the games we have dropped, especially the Highlanders game. We were in a good position to win that game, but we are always learning.”
#CHIvBIL beckons – and the Lions are back in training!
The best pictures from training…
➡️ https://t.co/9EXAPC2T3g pic.twitter.com/jxYF2ERVd9
— British&Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 18, 2017
Warren Gatland earlier on Sunday said there were still Test places up for grabs and Laidlaw and his teammates are keen to put their best foot forward on Tuesday night.
“I am delighted to be starting, to be given opportunities to wear the jersey and go out there and play is what it is all about so I am hugely excited by the challenge and opportunity to show what I am about, try and bring some control to the game and get another win on Tour,” he added.
“The feeling is good, we win as squad and we lose as a squad, and that is very much the motto the boys have carried throughout.
“With a big performance on Tuesday you can stick your hand up and that is all you can do as a playing group.”
