Lions believe they can swing momentum in 3rd test

The Springboks may have taken all the momentum into the final deciding test match this weekend, but according to British and Irish Lions hooker Ken Owens, the Lions believe they can swing that around.

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Owens credits the players in the squad who aren’t in the match-day 23 for the sterling preparation work they’ve done in helping the test side prepare, but the proof will be in the pudding when they take the field against the Springboks.

Certainly the forward momentum the Boks created was a massive part of their second test victory and the key will be if the Lions can stop that from happening.

“The way South Africa finished the last game, the momentum is with them,” Owens said.

“But we can't look back at that, we have to create our own momentum from the start. The non-23 have been exceptional in the way they have helped the boys prepare. For us, it's about starting the way we want to.”

The biggest problem for the Lions is the Boks’ setpiece ascendancy in the second test is something the home side will want to repeat in the third test.

“We were going in the first test. We started the second test well but we lost the momentum battle, made errors that gave South Africa the opportunity,” Owens added.

“We only gave them four attacking lineouts in the first test but they had a lot more in the second test. We've got the blueprint to win. We just have to take confidence out of what we've done well on tour.We've won a test match, lost a test match and it's all to play for.”

And he believes the setpiece can be fixed.

“We know the challenge they bring. We pride ourselves on the set piece. We didn't get some things right last weekend, so we know there are some fix-ups there. We're pretty confident in each others' ability. We're looking forward to the challenge.

“They try to impose themselves physically and we knew that before coming down here. We came off second best last week but we've been very phsysical ourselves on this tour.”

The Lions were in the Springboks’ red zone 11 times in the second test, but only came away with points - two penalties - in all in a game where the Boks defence was solid.

“When you're in the opposition 22, it's important to turn pressure into points. We've been good at doing that on tour generally. We have spoken about that, taking our opportunities when they're there,” Owens explains.

“The more pressure we put on them, the more phases we go through - we get rewards from that.”

Still, the talk before the game is one thing. It will be the side that delivers that wins the test on Saturday.