THE LIONS face a wounded team, a formidable record and a fearsome player on Saturday.
Steamrolling the All Blacks, at Eden Park, where they haven’t lost since 1994, and on Kieran Read’s 100th cap, would be some way of winning this series.
And I reckon this lot can do it.
New Zealand will be hurting, which is a dangerous thing to have to face.
And even though Eden Park isn’t an intimidating ground at all, there are certain places that get into your head — good and bad.
When I played at Cardiff Arms Park, I just always knew that I would play well.
When I played Ireland, I would always say to myself: “Oh, I always score against Ireland.”
The funny thing was, I only think I ever scored two tries against them! But I always felt I would score against them.
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In my head, I would always try to build things up and the All Blacks will be thinking this week: “We never lose here.”
It’s not an arrogance thing — but reassuring yourself.
You have to be pumped full of confidence before you get on the rugby pitch in a career-defining Test like this, otherwise you’ll end up having a disaster.
In a way, All Blacks skipper Read’s landmark game is bad timing for the Lions. Little things like this can give a team that crucial mental advantage.
You look for signs in big games like someone’s 100th cap — and those New Zealand players will want to get that win even more for their leader.
Read is immense — I even remember him charging me down once for Wales.
He just came from nowhere and is the kind of player that never gives you a second’s rest.
Right now, him and Toby Faletau are the world’s two best No 8s and I know Toby will be looking to spoil the Read love-in on home soil.
Lions fans will also try their best to make sure the day isn’t all about the All Blacks. Right from the moment Warren Gatland’s men touched back down in Auckland on Wednesday night, the red army would have been out in force.
They come to your hotel and see you off for the games. And there are so many that security have to rope them off so we can just get out — it’s bonkers.
You walk through a tunnel of hundreds of them and that gets the hairs on the back of your neck standing up.
As players, you know that you are doing something special, but moments like these really hit home.
Moments like that get you well up for a match — and make you a better player.
I’m sure the trip south to Queenstown would have been good for the lads to take their minds off rugby for a few days.
In 2013 during the Lions tour to Australia, we went up to Noosa on the Queensland coast to get away from it all.
We had a few beers and a night out and I’m sure the boys have enjoyed the same on the South Island.
There won’t be loads of time spent on the training pitches this week anyway.
You’ve got to remember these guys have been together for about seven weeks now.
They know the gameplan that Gatland and the coaches want to put out there. Also, you have to control that energy inside yourself.
That last Test reminded me so much of the second game against South Africa in 2009 . . . and the intensity levels will be cranked up again at Eden Park.
Eight years ago the Springboks should have had Schalk Burger sent off in the first few minutes for gouging Luke Fitzgerald.
If Burger had seen red that day then we would have won in Pretoria — just like the Lions did against 14 men in Wellington.
They did their best to try to lose it at the Cake Tin by giving away some stupid penalties.
But fair play, they scored two great tries and got out of jail.
Now it will be absolutely epic in Auckland. The physicality and emotional energy should be huge.
But, for me, the Lions are the favourites. They have the momentum and belief — and these guys are 80 minutes from becoming legends.
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