Furlong expects "brutal" NZ backlash

British and Irish Lions' prop Tadhg Furlong expects "a brutal Test match" in Saturday's series decider against New Zealand.

The teams meet in a winner-takes-all decider at Auckland's Eden Park, after the Lions tied the series at 1-1 with a 24-21 second Test victory in Wellington on Saturday .

Furlong was part of the Ireland side that ended the All Blacks' 18-match winning streak in November 2016 with a 40-29 victory over Steve Hansen's side in Chicago.

But the 24-year-old also played in the reverse fixture in Dublin two weeks' later, where a charged-up New Zealand beat Joe Schmidt's side 21-9.

Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw was forced off in the early stages of the match at the Aviva Stadium following a high challenge by Sam Cane, Malakai Fekitoa was sin-binned for for a dangerous tackle on Simon Zebo, and Aaron Smith was also yellow carded.

And Furlong expects a similar, no-hold-barred response from the world champions as they defend an unbeaten 39-match run at Eden Park.

"I remember coming off the pitch in Dublin and being absolutely shattered," the Leinster tighthead prop said.

"I was sore for days after it. It was one of the most brutal Test matches I’ve played in my short career so I think everyone will expect that and try and tee themselves up for it."

 Four of the Lions' expected starters, Furlong, Sean O'Brien, Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton, started that match in Dublin, an experience the Wexford native believes will prove useful at Eden Park.

"You just have to be ready with your detail right, be physically and emotionally at that pitch that you can compete and then try and stand, go toe to toe," he said.

British and Irish Lions' coach Warren Gatland is also expecting a tough game at a venue the All Blacks last suffered defeat at in 1994.

"Yes, we have poked the bear but hopefully the wounded Lion from last week is still recovering as well," he said.

"Hopefully we don't give them any ammunition this week and concentrate on ourselves because they will be using anything they can to motivate themselves."

The Lions, who have not won a series in New Zealand since 1971, will have Sean O'Brien available for the deciding test after the Ireland flanker was cleared of a charge of dangerous play in the second Test.

New Zealand won the first Test of the three-Test series 30-15 at Eden Park on 24 June.

Image: Getty Images/ David Rogers

eir Sport channels are available across the eir Vision, Sky and Vodafone TV platforms as well as on the eir Sport app. All 7 channels in the eir Sport pack are available for free if you are a residential eir broadband customer.