Saturday 8 July 2017 08:36, UK
The British and Irish Lions must improve their discipline if they are to upset the All Blacks in their Test series decider on Saturday, according to Sir Ian McGeechan.
The Lions edged New Zealand 24-21 in a tense second Test last weekend despite losing the penalty count 13-8. Warren Gatland's men were also heavily penalised in the first Test, conceding 11 penalties to New Zealand's seven.
The Lions coaching staff have been stressing the importance of discipline this week and former Lions head coach McGeechan must improve on it if they are to become the first team to beat the All Blacks at Eden Park since 1994.
When asked what the Lions must get right to win, McGeechan replied: "Their discipline. The penalty count will have to be in single figures.
"They need to carry on with the same intensity at the breakdown. That was the big difference between the first and second Tests.
"They did put the New Zealand half-backs under pressure (last week) and they will need to do that for the whole 80 minutes.
"I thought the last 13 minutes of the game last week was an outstanding Lions performance and they need to carry on in that vein and probably up another half a gear as well."
French referee Romain Poite will take charge of Saturday's third Test and former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick wants to see him crack down on both sides infringing at the breakdown.
When asked what the All Blacks need to do to win, Fitzpatrick said: "The All Blacks need to start playing. From the first Test to the second Test, we got a bit nervous. The Lions shut us down - they closed down the space and we started kicking more.
"We need to start taking the ball to the line and getting over that advantage line like we did two weeks ago.
"Hopefully the referee is going to referee the ruck better than what he did last week, in terms of giving away cynical penalties. Both teams were doing it but we have got stop that. We have had less yellow cards than any other series so it needs to be refereed well.
"And I think the scrum will be a factor. This referee will challenge certain players to make sure that they scrummage properly."
