Cut loose: Daly

Elliot Daly believes the British and Irish Lions’ backline full of playmakers has the fluidity to cut open New Zealand in the Test series decider.

The England international has retained his place on the Lions’ left wing and insists almost every member of head coach Warren Gatland’s attacking backline can step in and direct play from firstreceiver if required in phase play – handing the Lions a potentially deadly combination behind the scrum.

The 24-year-old has thrived in a Wasps backline boasting playmakers like Danny Cipriani and feels the Lions might just be able to cut loose in a similar manner at Eden Park.

“It’s very exciting because everyone can fill in and cover another role, if we go wide and we’re coming back and don’t have the exact numbers,” said Daly.

“Everyone’s very, very comfortable on the ball and there’s no need for any one particular person to rush to move in and be a ball player as someone else will slot in and fill that hole. It’s great to have so many ball players on the pitch at any one time.” Sean Maitland has urged the British and Irish Lions to join rugby’s immortals by inflicting a defeat on the All Blacks that will send New Zealand into mourning.

Warren Gatland’s men have defied all expectations to take the series to a decider and know victory at Eden Park this morning would bring a triumphant conclusion to the most challenging tour undertaken in the professional era.

New Zealand-born Scotland wing Maitland, who travelled to Australia with the elite of British and Irish rugby in 2013, insists a Lions victory would have significant repercussions for both sides.

“If the Lions can do it .... everyone is using the word ‘immortals’ and immortals are exactly what they’ll be,” Maitland said.

“I’m from New Zealand and everyone has been talking about this tour since 2005 – that’s how much rugby and the Lions means to the country.

“If the All Blacks lose there will be a backlash from the public, 100%. Rugby there is like football here – it’s massive and part of the culture.

“Here you see people playing five-aside football, back home it’s five-on-five touch.”

Maitland is convinced the Lions can prevail and believes New Zealand’s injury-hit three-quarter line could be a weakness to be exploited.