Third Test: New Zealand vs British & Irish Lions
Legendary status awaits the British and Irish Lions if they can repeat their heroics last weekend.
The Lions pulled off one of the biggest rugby results in modern history at Wellington last Saturday with a battling fightback, and coach Warren Gatland has kept faith with the 15 who dragged the tourists back into the series at 1-1.
Betting tips still point to a home win in Saturday’s decider and disappointment for the Lions; but if Gatland’s men can rise once more to glory, more records will tumble. Defeat at Wellington ended a 46-test unbeaten home record for the All Blacks, and another on Saturday would bring the second Lions series win against New Zealand, and the first since 1971.
And it’s the first time the Lions have been unchanged in consecutive tests for 24 years: “We felt we should reward the players for the result and the courage they showed in coming from behind,” said Gatland. But there have been raised eyebrows at the retention of loosehead prop Mako Vunipola, who showed erratic from and temperament in Wellington, and needs to keep a cool head.
He can learn from the absence of New Zealand superstar Sonny Bill Williams, sent off for a high tackle last week and suspended for the decider. Jordie Barrett has been drafted into the All Blacks side to join his brother Beauden, and the Lions’ best chance of another win is to put the briefly unsettled New Zealand defence under pressure.
They only have one chance, but this could be the Lions’ destiny.
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