‘Difficult week ahead’ for battered Lions

THE Lions and the All Blacks are continuing to assess the intense physical cost that Saturday’s bruising second Test had on their players.

Graham Henry has ruled out fly-half superstar Dan Carter and inside centre Aaron Mauger from his plans to deliver a series sweep of the Lions in this weekend’s third and final Test at Eden Park, Auckland.

The Lions, meanwhile, continue to monitor the progress of their starting fly-half last weekend in Wellington, Jonny Wilkinson.