There is only one thing more ruthlessly determined and obsessively motivated than an All Black, argues Robin Davey. That’s a wounded All Black. Expect the record book writers to remain under-employed.
History beckons for the British and Irish Lions on Saturday when they aim to become the first in the professional age, and the first for 46 years, to win a Test series in New Zealand.
And the venue is the iconic Eden Park in Auckland where the world champion All Blacks have not lost since 1994. Furthermore, they haven’t lost a three-Test series at home since going down to Australia in 1986.
But until last Saturday and that memorable 24-21 Lions triumph in Wellington they hadn’t lost anywhere on home soil since 2009 when they were beaten in both Tests by South Africa.
So, given that the Lions have done it once what odds against a repeat? Pretty long, I’d say, despite a swirl of optimism surrounding the current tourists right now and the hopes of tens of thousands of travelling fans.
For it has to be said the All Blacks were forced to play over half the second Test with only 14 men after the sending off of centre Sonny Bill Williams for a shocking shoulder tackle into the head of Lions wing Anthony Watson.
And Steve Hansen will not want the ignominy of coaching the All Blacks in a losing Test series against the Lions for the first time since 1971. He had won 26 of 28 Tests, losing just one, so the incentive to win the Lions series clincher will be enormous.
There is nothing quite like a wounded All Black – they are so rarely in that position – and when they last were against the Lions they won the decider, 30-13.
Whereas the Lions field an unchanged team for the first time for 24 years – a quite amazing statistic – the All Blacks, shaken by the Lions backs a week ago, have re-jigged their back division.
Ngani Laumape is alongside Anton Lienert-Brown in the centre, a partnership with only 13 Tests between them, while Jordie Barrett -younger brother of outside-half Beauden – and at 20 a rookie, is at full back, Israel Dagg moving to the wing.
But the pack remains the same and skipper and No.8 Kieran Read will win his 100th cap, desperate to avoid being only the second captain to be at the helm for a home series defeat against the Lions.
But Lions lock Alun Wyn Jones is even more experienced, becoming the first player since Graham Price (1977-83) to play in every Test on three successive tours and overtaking Martin Johnson as the most capped Lion in the professional era.
It’s clearly going to be a titanic duel between the rivals, the hosts facing humiliation in their own land if they go down while the visitors will earn everlasting glory if they triumph. Not much hanging on the outcome, then!
A huge responsibility will rest on the shoulders of French referee Romain Poite, but he is a widely respected official who will shirk nothing as the All Blacks ratchet the proceedings up a gear.
They are more of a team than the Lions, far more used to playing together, whereas the Lions only come together from four countries every four years and these days have no time to prepare and really gel together.
The All Blacks don’t take kindly to defeat and they will target anything in red on Saturday in what could well be a fearsome battle.
The Lions did score two tries to nil last Saturday while the All Blacks have that most potent of weapons, Julian Savea, back in harness after the flying wing was omitted from the second Test despite scoring a staggering 46 tries in 53 appearances.
The All Blacks are a formidable force as befits the world champions, all the stats back them to win and though the Lions will put in a huge effort I can’t see the Blacks failing for the second Saturday in a row.
