Lions

The Lions have lost their last eight games home and away to the New Zealand side, including a 20-3 defeat in last year's Super Rugby final in Wellington, and a humbling 50-17 home loss in the 2016 regular season.

That heavy defeat was the last time the South Africans were beaten at their Ellis Park fortress, amassing a winning run of 14 games since, that almost came to an end against the Sharks in the quarter-finals last weekend.

The Lions beat the Sharks 27-10 in Durban this morning to leap frog the Crusaders into the top spot.

The Crusaders unbeaten run this season came to an abrupt end in Wellington last night after being beaten by an under-strength Hurricanes side 31-22.

The Hurricanes turned around a 12-7 half time deficit to record their 12th win of the season, cementing their spot in second on the New Zealand conference.

Tighthead Sinckler, 24, was returned to his upmarket hotel in a police car hours early on Sunday after police attended an incident involving "minor disorder" in central Auckland.

"A male was placed under arrest but was not charged after further inquiries established that the incident did not warrant prosecution," police said.

It is understood the incident took place on Galway St in central Auckland about 3am.

Hours earlier the 122kg Sinckler had come on in the third test at Eden Park, with the 15-15 draw earning the British and Irish Lions a share of the series.

The All Blacks and Lions played out a thrilling 15-15 draw in the third Test on Saturday to see their series finish locked at 1-1.

Spencer felt the tourists were capable of becoming just the second Lions team to win a series against the All Blacks, if they had more time in the lead-up.

"My honest opinion is yes," he told a news conference on Sunday.

"I think that preparation is extremely important. Gold medals are won on the training pitch, long before they are won on the rugby pitch."

The Lions levelled the series with victory in Wellington last Saturday after the All Blacks had won the first test.

Phillips, who played in five Lions tests across two tours in 2009 and 2013, is confident that Warren Gatland's side can do the business in the deciding test at Eden Park which "isn't an intimidating ground", and become the first Lions team to win a series in New Zealand since 1971.

France were the last winners at Eden Park 23 years ago and the All Blacks have won their last 38 matches at their Auckland fortress.

Speedsters Rieko Ioane and Waisake Naholo are out, and Israel Dagg has been shifted from fullback to the right wing.

They'll meet an unchanged Lions starting line-up and bench - with captain Sam Warburton again leading the 23 who won the second test - as coach Warren Gatland sticks to his winning formula.

 It's the first time since 1992 that the Lions have kept the same starting 23 for consecutive tests.

Jordie Barrett is thrown into a pressure-cooker role at fullback in what will be the 20-year old's first Test start.

After being comfortably beaten in the first Test, Gatland made changes for the second match and it brought the desired result as the tourists recorded a 24-21 win.

And they will all get the chance to finish the job at Eden Park after the Lions coach named an unchanged squad.

That means Sam Warburton will again lead the Lions, with Maro Itoje and Alun Wyn Jones set to renew their outstanding partnership in the second row.

Your Lions to face @AllBlacks in the series decider are...

He was cleared of dangerous play during the second match in Wellington after being cited for a swinging arm, which was not dealt with by the on-field officials at the time.

O'Brien was cited after television footage showed his forearm clearly made contact with the face of All Blacks winger Waisake Naholo as the Irish loose forward joined a tackle in the 59th minute of the match.

Williams became the first New Zealand player in 50 years to receive a red card, sent off by referee Jerome Garces in his side's 24-21 second-test loss to the Lions.

The 31-year-old was sent off in the 25th minute after a bruising shoulder charge that struck Lions winger Anthony Watson flush in the face.

The tackle proved a pivotal moment in the match with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen having to rejig his starting XV to accommodate for the send-off.

Williams pleaded guilty to unnecessary contact to the head.

The star All Blacks midfielder became the first New Zealand player in 50 years to receive a red card, sent off by referee Jerome Garces in his side's 24-21 second-Test loss to the Lions in Wellington.

Williams was sent for an early shower in the 25th minute after a crunching shoulder charge that struck Lions winger Anthony Watson flush in the face.

After a period of discussion with his assistant referees and TMO George Ayoub, Garces said he was left with no choice but to brandish red.