Wednesday 5 July 2017 21:17, UK
Sean Fitzpatrick has said the New Zealand side are "tense" ahead of the series decider against the Lions at Eden Park on Saturday.
Fitzpatrick, who was skipper of the All Blacks the last time they lost a second Test to the Lions in 1993, has revealed the mood within the squad contains a degree of edginess.
"I know what the atmosphere will be like in the camp and all those people in New Zealand that wanted it at 1-1, now expect the All Blacks to win, so that'll raise the tension within the camp," Fitzpatrick told Sky Sports News HQ.
"They won't need to do much this week. I've spoken to a couple of the guys, the tension is quite high. There's been a couple of little scuffles at training, which is a good sign.
"But they are under a little bit of pressure, for the first time in a long while actually."
Having set a world record 18 consecutive victories between August 2015 and October 2016, New Zealand lost to Ireland in November and suffered their second defeat in seven games against the Lions in Wellington last Saturday.
Fitzpatrick does not believe this shows there are chinks in the All Blacks' armour, however, and feels a couple of changes in the back three, with Jordie Barrett perhaps coming in for his first Test start, is what is required.
He said: "I don't think so [any cracks appearing in New Zealand], unfortunately for the Lions' sake. But I must say the All Blacks actually didn't play that badly.
"Losing Sonny Bill Williams was a big issue and that was their own doing. They need to go back to the basics of how to get the game going again. That was their big problem: the game was too stop-start, they had no momentum.
"Dagg didn't really work at 15, he got exploited there a couple of times and missed that tackle on Faletau. I think they might give the young kid a go, in Jordie Barrett.
"I thought during Super Rugby that he's been quite outstanding. Phenomenal. Very good under the high ball and as we've seen this series, they've been doing a lot of kicking to 15.
"There's no Ben Smith so I would give him a go at 15 and then move Dagg to the wing and maybe Savea or Naholo if he's fit.
"I think Laumape did enough and Lienert-Brown did well at 13 so why change it. They've brought him [Barrett] into the squad for a reason. Fekitoa is there as cover for the bench."
