Lions Tour 2017: It's make or break time as tourists facing 'final'; NZ Herald

The growing realisation that this is the make-or-break week for the 2017 Lions is beginning to hit home.

There are no more midweek fixtures and no more series-deciding games if Saturday's second test against the All Blacks is lost.

After months of slow build, a Lions tour comes at you in a rush. It can pass you by unless the moment is embraced.

Courtney Lawes, his own tilt for a test spot being hampered by a head knock against the Highlanders and with a slight issue with his hip flexor, has impressed on the trip, a carry-over from his best season in a few years. But now is reckoning time. And he is honest enough to recognise that.

"It's a final on Saturday," Lawes. "There's no second chance for us. We need to front up."

Warren Gatland, the head coach, has already highlighted to the squad how they were bossed at the breakdown and had their pride dented as much as their bodies in allowing the All Blacks to walk over them in the close-quarter exchanges last weekend in Auckland.

There is little doubt that Lawes fits the bill if the Lions want attitude in their play, a sense of aggression and drive in all that they do.

Lawes himself admits that he used to focus too much on show-pony antics, concentrating on the big-hit tackle rather than applying himself to the nitty-gritty in every aspect of the game.

The Lions had no one at Eden Park who came remotely close to matching the output of All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick.

Lawes, as well as Maro Itoje , has potential to be that all-court player.

But time is almost run on this trip. Lawes acknowledges that, energised by the fact that Gatland was true to his word last week in keeping an open mind on selection and promoting Elliot Daly as well as Liam Williams from the midweek side who did so well in beating the Chiefs in Hamilton.

"Gats has always said we have a chance to impress and that the test team will change from week to week," Lawes said.

"He has told us all to keep our heads on and keep on putting in performances. I felt I was doing all right until I got knocked out. I'm back on track now. I don't think you get to this level without having a certain level of physicality. That is an area of my game that is up there.

"You need to understand what is coming at you and that was something we hadn't seen before.

"It was a clever strategy of the All Blacks to use. Just running off nine means we can't get any line speed.

"If you don't win those first couple of contacts you're always going to be struggling, especially with them only putting in one or two into the ruck and getting quick ball off it. We need to really target first and second phase to stop that momentum."

 IMO the ABs will improve more than the Lions in the second test. ABs often take a few games to get the timing and coordination down. Plus the early injuries in the back line of the ABs had an impact. 
The Lions were matched and even shown up in the forwards so they will have to improve here. Starting Itoje will help but I doubt it will be enough. The whole team will have to lift and Gatland will have to be smarter.
JW getting an early start o n chest-beating

 JW you will do yourself a life threatening injury with all this most unseemly chest beating. You are in danger of sounding like that loon warped DUD! !
Lions can also improve JW so watch it.

 Beeno, we all hope for a hard fought contest and some great play but history says it's down hill for the wee Lions from here. 
Is it really arrogance when you are right? A metaphysical question for wee Beeno to contemplate. Besides someone has to be extreme or it's a boring discussion.

 JW you know beandik and his besty cc think that Kiwis saying anything positive about the ABs is somehow "arrogant " ,I think we are only to applaud other teams efforts in case they get their manky undies in a bunch .One wonders at how enormous some heads would be if the Bokke were playing as well as the ABs these last 8 years or so ? I reckon given the ABs record we are rather restrained .

 Yes, Wardad, I agree we are to be admired for our restraint
I can only imagine Herr Beeno if the Boks even beat the ABs once. Fortunately we have been spared such hysterics for some time  

 Yes it is a rare event and one cant but admire the average Bok fans enormous powers of endurance lo these many barren years [ banter beano,banter !]Fortunately  your  ABs fan has had little exposure to the horrors our poor wee Saffa friends have had to endure .I ts why the occasional loss catches us by surprise I guess .Luckily they almost never come in anything but singles.