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Hansen calls on media to lay off Gatland ahead of 2nd test

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has called a truce in his war of words with British and Irish Lions opposite Warren Gatland, saying he hopes to enjoy a beer with his rival when the three-test series is over.

Hansen chided New Zealand media on Thursday for their treatment of New Zealand-born Gatland, especially over the publication in an Auckland newspaper of a cartoon which depicted the Lions coach as a clown.

Gatland and Hansen have sparred verbally on several occasions during the Lions tour, most-recently when Gatland accused the All Blacks of attempting to injure Lions scrumhalf Conor Murray during last weekend’s first test at Auckland.