British and Irish Lions' performances in series deciders previously
As the British and Irish Lions gear up to face New Zealand in the third and final Test in Auckland on Saturday with series level at 1-1, we take a look at how they have performed in the series deciders of the past.
1903 - Lions lose 1-0 in South Africa
After two successive draws - the second ending in a 0-0 stalemate - the Lions entered the decider in Cape Town with the whole tour on the line. Two tries swept the Springboks to victory and inflicted upon the Lions a maiden series defeat having prevailed on all four previous tours.
1910 - Lions lose 2-1 in South Africa
There was more misery for the Lions in South Africa when their return proved equally unsuccessful despite taking the series to a decider with an 8-3 win in Port Elizabeth. Cape Town was the setting for their disappointment once more as Tommy Smyth's tourists were crushed 21-5.
1989 - Lions win 2-1 in Australia
The Lions' first visit to Australian shores for 19 years and their first dedicated tour of the country since 1899 teetered on the brink of disaster after a 30-12 mauling in the first Test - their heaviest defeat to the Wallabies. Significant changes were made - among them the selection of Jeremy Guscott, Rob Andrew and Mike Teague - and successive wins were reeled off.
1993 - Lions lose 2-1 in New Zealand
The last Lions tour of the amateur era was a case of what might have been. A dubious late penalty - one of several contentious refereeing decisions - cost them victory in the first Test. Seven days later Wellington proved a happier hunting ground in the shape of a 20-7 victory and a place in Lions legend awaited Gavin Hastings' men, but they were well beaten 30-13 at Eden Park - the arena for Saturday's showdown.
2001 - Lions lose 2-1 in Australia
The Lions dared to dream after crushing the Wallabies 29-13 in the first Test, Brian O'Driscoll and Jason Robinson running in memorable tries, but they unravelled a week later with Nathan Grey's elbow on Richard Hill that ended the influential England flanker's series acting as the catalyst for a 35-14 loss. The Sydney decider was a nail-biter that saw the Lions botch a late attacking line-out to succumb 29-23.
2013 - Lions win 2-1 in Australia
The rivals were hard to separate over the first two Tests, the Brisbane opener lit up by George North's Jonah Lomu-esque try. The build-up to the decider centred on Warren Gatland's contentious decision to drop Brian O'Driscoll for Jonathan Davies, a call that was in part justified by a resounding 41-16 triumph which avenged the heartache of 12 years earlier. The Lions were magnificent in one of their finest performances.
