Ollie Chessum has called on the British and Irish Lions to leave the Melbourne Cricket Ground with no regrets as they showcase their abilities against Australia on Saturday.
A win in the second Test match would give them an unassailable 2-0 series lead against the Wallabies and equalise them with the 1997 and 2013 Lions as the only successful tours in the professional era.
However, Chessum stresses Australia will be a different team from the one that lost the first match in Brisbane, thanks to the return from injury of key players Will Skelton and Rob Valetini.
“It's exactly what you always dreamed of,” said Chessum, who replaced the injured Joe McCarthy in the second row.
“There is no better time to take on a challenge – years from now you will kick yourself if you don’t take advantage of this opportunity.
“This is where – and I can't speak for everyone, although I'm sure I can – everyone wants to be: on the biggest stage, with a chance to win a Lions series at an arena like the MCG, in front of their families. There's nothing better.”
Australia will be looking to make the most of all the emotional aspects of this game. They are down 1-0 in the series, but they are in Minnesota, in front of their fans, on home soil, and the series is on the line.
“We understand that they are going to give everything they have and they have a serious statement in their team.
“Maro (Itoje, captain) told us this at the beginning of the week: what we did last Saturday will not be good enough this Saturday.
“There is a completely different opponent coming down the road and we will have to face him head on.”
The 27-19 victory in the first Test match was achieved thanks to wide forwards Tom Curry and Tadhg Byrne, who made an immediate impression at Suncorp Stadium with Curry's powerful strike on James Slipper and Byrne forcing a free kick.
“They did a very good job of keeping the intensity up. I was only on the bench for 30 seconds when the first hit happened,” Chessum said.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
