British and Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje insists his side are \u201cnot playing a pub team\u201d, but called on his troops to go out and clinch a series victory in Melbourne.<\/p>\n
The tourists find themselves 1-0 up heading into Saturday\u2019s clash at the MCG, following their 27-19 victory at Suncorp Stadium a week ago, and a win would seal a second successive series victory on Australian soil.<\/p>\n
\u2018The Wallabies are a proper team\u2019<\/p>\n
Itoje\u2019s side come into the game in Melbourne as favourites, after winning all seven games since landing in Australia, including last week\u2019s opening Test, and hold a points difference of +171 from those matches as well; yet Itoje is taking nothing for granted when it comes to this Wallabies team.<\/p>\n
The towering lock was part of the England side that slipped to a 42-37 defeat to Joe Schmidt\u2019s side back in November, and despite holding a 24-7 advantage early in the second-half against them last weekend in Brisbane, the Wallabies still fought back with two quick-fire scores in the final 15 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you wear this jersey and represent the Lions<\/a>, you know it comes with huge honour and a sense of responsibility.\u00a0We know we are not playing a pub team,\u201d Itoje said ahead of the Test<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Wallabies are a proper team. I played them last year in the autumn, and we lost to them when we were supposed to win.\u201d<\/p>\n Seven British and Irish Lions players with a point to prove as key man afforded chance to \u2018repay the faith\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Seven Wallabies with a point to prove against Lions including \u2018destructive\u2019 duo who could \u2018turn series on its head\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThey are a team that can punish you if you don\u2019t approach the game properly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Not all games are equal\u2019<\/p>\n But, history is on the line for the Lions. A win on Saturday would not only clinch the 2025 Test series, but also be the first time in the Lions\u2019 137-year history that they have won two consecutive Tests against the same opposition.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a professional athlete, there\u2019s always a focus to what you do, but not all games are equal,\u201d Itoje<\/a> detailed.<\/p>\n \u201cNot all games mean the same thing, and this game and the game last week aren\u2019t equal to normal games of rugby. They\u2019re special.<\/p>\n \u201cNaturally, there\u2019s a higher level of focus, and it requires a higher level of intensity and diligence in what you want to do.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cThese sort of games are almost the reason why you want to play rugby. You want to play rugby and be a part of these huge occasions.\u201d<\/p>\n His words were echoed by boss Farrell, who said his side could have the \u201cprivilege\u201d of becoming the first team to do so.<\/p>\n \u201cNo other Lions teams have done back-to-back victories of tours of the same countries.<\/p>\n \u201cDue to the good work of the 2013 touring party, we get the privilege of trying to accomplish that.\u201d<\/p>\n