Ben Coles: 'Gats' could be royalty or maybe knight at very least

The All Black's defeat last Saturday was the first home defeat since 2009. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Opinion

It could not be simpler. Win at Eden Park tonight, and the Lions will have pulled off their greatest series victory in their 129-year history.

The victory in the Cake Tin was enthralling drama, a test for the ages and one where the Lions' resilience, skill with ball in hand and their exceptional supporters shone through the Wellington downpour.

But let's slow things down for a second. As good as the Lions were, it took desperate defence and moments of inspiration to win a test match where the Lions had a numerical advantage for 45 minutes.

Even with Sonny Bill Williams off with a deserved red card early in that first half, the Lions just pulled off a rare triumph against the 14-man All Blacks.

Assessing the match from that perspective is not meant to insult the Lions or their players or coaching staff. Clinching the second test was a monumental achievement. What it truly shows is how difficult the All Blacks have become to topple on their own turf.

Last Saturday was the first home defeat since 2009. The All Blacks have not been consecutively beaten at home by the same team since France rolled them over in Christchurch and then at Eden Park, which happens to be the last time the All Blacks lost at their Auckland fortress back in 1994.

That ominous track record and the following factors have to be considered. The All Blacks will be furious at the defeat, given that even with Williams off they failed to match their high standards and feel chances were wasted.

It is unlikely the Lions will get to enjoy a 15 against 14 advantage in the third test for the same lengthy period of time either, with the All Blacks noticeably tiring in the closing stages.

We are also yet to see the best out of the All Blacks in this test series from an attacking standpoint, even having scored 30 points in the first test.

Mix together all of those elements and the Lions are facing another "f***ing Everest", as Jim Telfer famously put it back in 1997, although it feels more like two Everests stacked on top of each other.

That is why winning tonight would surpass any of their other previous achievements. Jeremy Guscott's drop goal and the 1997 tour of South Africa, defeating the world champions against the odds, is up there.

As obviously is the unbeaten South African tour of 1974, led by Willie John McBride and inspired by Gareth Davies, Gordon Brown, Phil Bennett, Fergus Slattery and the rest.

JPR Williams' dramatic drop goal to clinch the 1971 series 2-1 against New Zealand sits near the top as well.

However, defeating the All Blacks 2-1 in the professional era, after the disaster that was the Lions tour in 2005 and given New Zealand are back-to-back reigning world champions, would truly sit on another level.

Warren "Gats" Gatland would become the new Prince of Wales. There would be knighthoods. Roads would be renamed. Reports would reveal a spike in baby names for Owen, Maro, Conor and Alun Wyn.

Joking aside, the Lions have proven that not only can they be competitive against the All Blacks - they can defeat them. This is not an impossible mission by any stretch, particularly given their confidence off the back of winning in Wellington.

The odds, however, on the Lions' return to Eden Park will rightly be stacked against them, up against a quality side in Steve Hansen's All Blacks who are eager to prove a point.

Which is why if Gatland and his players pull it off, it would be the Lions' greatest series triumph of all time.