Jamie George: Supreme mental and physical effort required

The British & Irish Lions returned to the training field relaxed, rested and ready to take themselves to the higher level they believe will be necessary to beat the All Blacks in Saturday’s series-deciding final Test at Eden Park.

Appropriately enough given the size of the task awaiting them when they arrive in Auckland, needing to be the first side since France in 1994 to beat New Zealand at Eden Park in order to match only their 1971 predecessors by winning a series here, the Lions began their final preparations at mountain resort high in the Southern Alps against the magnificent backdrop of a range of peaks called The Remarkables.

It would take something close to that description to topple the world champions for a second week in succession when Steve Hansen’s side will be back to their full complement of 15 players having played 55 minutes of last Saturday’s 24-21 defeat minus the red-carded Sonny Bill Williams. Yet by removing themselves from the fray and taking a detour to Queenstown while New Zealand returned straight to Auckland after the second Test, may be just the right course of action as the Lions steel themselves for the challenge ahead.