Lions can 'steamroll' All Blacks

Former Lions halfback Mike Phillips says the tourists are favourites for Saturday's decider and insists the "wounded" All Blacks can be steamrolled.

The Lions levelled the series with victory in Wellington last Saturday after the All Blacks had won the first test.

Phillips, who played in five Lions tests across two tours in 2009 and 2013, is confident that Warren Gatland's side can do the business in the deciding test at Eden Park which "isn't an intimidating ground", and become the first Lions team to win a series in New Zealand since 1971.

France were the last winners at Eden Park 23 years ago and the All Blacks have won their last 38 matches at their Auckland fortress.

But Phillips wrote in The Sun: "Steamrolling the All Blacks, at Eden Park, where they haven't lost since 1994, and on Kieran Read's 100th cap, would be some way of winning this series.

"And I reckon this lot can do it. New Zealand will be hurting, which is a dangerous thing to have to face.

"And even though Eden Park isn't an intimidating ground at all, there are certain places that get into your head - good and bad."

Phillips said the odds still stacked heavily in the All Blacks' favour are wide of the mark because "the Lions are favourites" in this decider, after the Welshman, who announced his retirement from rugby in April aged 34, admitted they got lucky in the second test following Sonny Bill Williams' red card.

"They did their best to try to lose it at the Cake Tin by giving away some stupid penalties," he added.

"But fair play, they scored two great tries and got out of jail. Now it will be absolutely epic in Auckland. The physicality and emotional energy should be huge.

 

Photo by: Getty Images (Mike Phillips playing for the Lions in Australia four years ago).