It is an old adage — never change a winning team.
British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland stuck to that formula yesterday when he named the same 23 which won last week to confront the All Blacks in the series decider in Auckland tomorrow night.
It was a straightforward decision for Gatland as he rewarded the players who dug deep to chalk up a win in the last minutes in Wellington.
It is the first time since 1993 that the Lions have kept the same team from the previous week.
On that occasion, the All Blacks came out and defeated the Lions 30-13 in the deciding test, so it not exactly a good omen.But Gatland felt he had to show faith in the players who did the business in Wellington.
"We felt we should reward the players for the result and the courage that they showed in coming from behind from 18-9 down, digging themselves out of a hole and then finishing strongly in that last 10 to 15 minutes," he said.
"There are some players who are pretty disappointed not to be selected and I understand that. It is what you would expect from competitive top athletes. — they back themselves."
With no midweek game it would have been tough for any player to force his way into the test side.
Gatland, though, stressed it was not about the 23 players. Those left out have quickly got over the non-selection and are supporting the players who will take the field.
The former Waikato hooker knows how big tomorrow night’s game will be and the side is prepared to go as hard as possible.
The season has been long and drawn-out for the Lions players — most have been training for upwards of a year — but they know they can make history tomorrow.
Fullback Liam Williams has had a light training week but will take his place tomorrow night.
The coach, who led the side to a 2-1 victory in Australia four years ago, said yesterday at a media conference, a second series win for his side was not career-defining.
That came from all of his career.
He defended his decision to take the side to Queenstown over the past few days.
The team has some time out from the training paddock but had a tough hit-out at practice yesterday and some players got tetchy, according to Gatland.
One thing the tourists need to do is get on the right side of the referee’s whistle.
Gatland’s side has been in double figures for conceding penalties in the first two tests and has to improve that.
The side’s defence has been staunch, not conceding a try last week, although that will mean little if it continues to give opportunities to the All Black goal-kickers.
Lions team
for the third test
Liam Williams, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Davies, Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly, Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray, Toby Faletau, Sean O’Brien, Sam Warburton (capt), Alun Wynn Jones, Maro Itoje, Tadgh Furlong, Jamie George, Mako Vunipoloa. Reserves: Ken Owens, Jack McGrath, Kyle Sinckler, Courtney Lawes, CJ Stander, Rhys Webb, Ben Te’o, Jack Nowell.