Key battles

The third Test will feature a number of fascinating and potentially-decisive battles.

All Blacks playmaker Barrett has experienced something of a testing series so far, being moved to full-back in the first Test when Ben Smith was injured, then missing three kickable penalties during the second Test defeat. In Ireland star Sexton, the Lions possess a fly-half good enough to mix it with the best, and his midfield partnership alongside Owen Farrell six days ago operated impressively.

Scrum-half Smith was a dominant figure in the All Blacks’ first Test win, proving pivotal to how New Zealand played. Murray, a Wellington try-scorer, barely put a foot wrong at the Westpac Stadium, and the scrumhalf battle is arguably also a contest to anoint currently the world’s best number nine.

Lock Retallick’s remarkable strike-rate in New Zealand colours has seen him experience just three defeats during a 63-cap career. He is a complete forward, superb in the set-piece rudiments, a physical force around the field and with the handling and passing skills of a three-quarter. Itoje, though, is the northern hemisphere’s equivalent, with no obvious weaknesses in his game. Aged just 22, the bigger the occasion, the better he performs.