‘You don’t want to be part of a New Zealand team that loses at Eden Park’ – All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick on Lions tour decider
Former captain Sean Fitzpatrick has issued a warning to New Zealand ahead of the British and Irish Lions’ tour decider in Auckland.
The Lions roared back from their first Test defeat to clinch a memorable 24-21 victory over the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday - their first defeat on home soil in eight years.
It means Warren Gatland’s men return to Eden Park this coming weekend with the chance to wrap up a sensational series win in New Zealand - but that in itself is a mammoth task.
The All Blacks have not lost at Eden Park, the country’s biggest stadium, in 23 years - winning 35 straight games.
New Zealand legend Sean Fitzpatrick was captain of the side which last tasted defeat in Auckland, a 23-20 loss to France in 1994, and he told talkSPORT no player wants the humiliation of being part of the team to lose that formidable winning streak.
Speaking to the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, the legendary Kiwi said: “We talk about the legacy of the jersey, but it’s almost the legacy of Eden Park - you don’t want to be involved in the team that loses there.
“It is a fortress, they feel very comfortable there. When they play in Auckland, they stay in the same hotel , they have the same bell boy, the same cook, the same bus driver - everything is very familiar and they love it.
"The All Blacks will be very determined. It’ll be a very hard place to win [for the Lions].”
Listen to talkSPORT’s interview with former All Blacks skipper Sean Fitzpatrick IN FULL above
