Kiwi plan should be simple: Play the All Black way

Hosts were conservative last week and now need to rediscover their swagger

This match is a God-send for the All Blacks and for rugby as a whole. Even if New Zealand lose – and I don’t believe they will – then the sport will be much the better for the whole experience.

We have been thirsty for this sort of event, this sort of challenge, and we cannot complain if it goes against us. If we get beaten again, then heads will be hanging in the dressing-room sheds, that is for sure. But we have been crying out for this and now we have to deal with it. The All Blacks are going to find out a lot about themselves.

My view is that they would already have discovered those truths in the review of the second Test and the build-up to this final match. You only had to see how impressive they were in defeat to realise that they will have looked at themselves first and foremost to work out why they lost, rather than look externally to find an excuse.

There would have been no fuss or anger. It would have been a factual rather than emotional analysis, very process-driven. For me, the conclusion is that they were too conservative. They need to be bolder, more assured, playing the All Black way that we have come to know.

They over-kicked in Wellington. They played a territory-power game rather than a territory-skill game. Even though the conditions were atrocious they should have backed themselves more with ball-in-hand.

All the attacking stats were in the Lions’ favour. The All Blacks kicked 30 per cent more than the Lions did. The Lions made six line-breaks for one from the All Blacks, with five offloads to three. That is a significant reversal.

That is what the All Blacks will be attending to, not to any gripes on the night, even though I felt that they had the rough end of the refereeing. Not on the Sonny Bill Williams sending-off, which was absolutely the right decision.

The same was not true of the Mako Vunipola incident, when he cleared out Beauden Barrett. Vunipola was fortunate that he did not see red. And the final penalty, given against Charlie Faumuina who tackled Kyle Sinckler when he was momentarily off the ground taking a pass, left me gobsmacked.

Still, the All Blacks have got on with the job. There has been unfair criticism of Beauden Barrett in all this. First of all, for his goalkicking. It is worth pointing out that he did land seven, a record against a Lions team. He did miss three but I have no issues with him were he to continue goal-kicking duties rather than it passing to his brother, Jordie.

The All Black selectors have been bold with the selection of both Jordie Barrett and Ngani Laumape, both starting in their first Tests. That’s a big call in this must-win game.

As for Beauden’s open-field play, he has been hampered by having to switch to full-back in the first Test when Ryan Crotty went off and again with the injury to Waisake Naholo. Beauden needs to be true to himself and bold and take the ball over the gain line and then play the appropriate option, rather than having 12 or the blind side wing carrying into contact.

That we have reached this terrific climax is a great tribute to the Lions. Warren Gatland deserves great credit for bringing it all together. There have been no sideshows, no distractions within camp. They have been as one.

It has amazed me how they have managed to do that even though they have had to cope with an itinerary from hell. It would have been hard enough to keep your head above water let alone be in this position. That there has been no more verbal sparring between Steve Hansen and Warren shows how much respect is there. And, yes, I agree with Steve Tew, the chief executive of the New Zealand union, that Warren should be a contender as next All Black coach.

So, to the contest itself. It will not be about attitude. That is a given. Both teams will be at the right pitch mentally. Technique, though, in all aspects will be paramount.

Of course, it will be a passionate experience, for players, for coaches, for everyone at Eden Park. And, of course, there is pressure on the All Blacks. There is every time they pull on the jersey.

We must all savour the occasion for what it is. We are talking a special moment, the biggest game in New Zealand since the 2011 Rugby World Cup final. The All Blacks prevailed that day – just – and I believe they will again.