Sunday 11 September 2016 15:14, UK
Aaron Smith is the best player in the world and the All Blacks would be vulnerable without him, says Warren Gatland.
Three days after being named British and Irish Lions head coach for a second spell, Gatland was back in his homeland in Hamilton to see the team's future opponents take on Argentina, a match live on Sky Sports 3HD.
The 52-year-old will take the Lions attempting to overcome the odds by conquering New Zealand on a tour being described as mission impossible because of its itinerary and scheduling.
Gatland said it was a "great opportunity to see them live" and will watch their next four matches.
They next play South Africa (Christchurch on September 17), Argentina (Buenos Aires on October 2), South Africa (Durban on October 9) and then Australia in the Bledisloe Cup Test on October 22 in Auckland.
He told Sky Sports: "I will also have an opportunity to spend some time with the four home nations - England, Wales, Ireland and then up in Scotland.
"It will be good to go into those environments during the Six Nations.
"But New Zealand have taken the game to another level. There's one player in my opinion who is the driving force behind that and he is the key.
"That is half back Aaron Smith. He is the best player in the world at the moment. You take him out of that All Blacks team and they might be a little bit vulnerable. He's pretty special."
