The absence of Sonny Bill Williams obviously played a huge part in that fatigue, the All Blacks forced to cover for him for 55 long minutes at Westpac Stadium, but Lions trainer Paul Stridgeon believes his side are just as fit and, significantly, have just as much depth on the reserves bench. It's obviously mental because they [All Blacks] play tough test matches all the time. I think that's where we can possibly match them because we'll have a strong bench as well when the subs come on." Fitness was key, he said, but the Lions had fit athletes across the park too. We think by giving them a couple of days of mental refreshment they ... will come in hungry on Wednesday."

Source: New Zealand Herald July 04, 2017 06:56 UTC