Taulupe Faletau has insisted the British and Irish Lions can fend off both the weight of history and the mighty All Blacks to win their Test series.
New Zealand bludgeoned the Lions into submission, 30-15, in the first Test clash at Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday.
The Lions have only ever overturned a 1-0 series deficit on two occasions - in Australia in 1899 and again in 1989 - and have still only won one series in New Zealand, in 1971.
The back-to-back world champion All Blacks extended their Eden Park unbeaten run to 39 games, and could swipe the series with victory at Wellington's Westpac Stadium on Saturday.
But despite all the obstacles in their path, number eight Faletau remains adamant the Lions can storm to victory.
"We still believe we're capable of winning the next game and getting what we want out of this tour, which is the series win," said Faletau.
"We've got to go back to the drawing board to solve a few issues.
"But there's no need to panic, we just need to get our basics right, holding onto the ball.
"It's tough against the world champions. It's not going to be easy, but we'll work hard for it."
All Blacks boss Steve Hansen certainly got one up on Lions head coach Warren Gatland in the mind games stakes, and rubbed salt into the wounds afterwards.
Hansen admitted he finds it "amusing" when opponents attempt to dominate the All Blacks' tight five.
The Lions had expected the All Blacks to attack with a flurry of offloads, cutting lines and adding width and flair. Instead New Zealand went direct, in a bid to negate the Lions' hugely-impressive defensive line speed.
The switch up worked for the hosts, and left Gatland and the Lions trailing in their wake.
The All Blacks bossed the scrum, lineout and tackle area, so despite the Lions conjuring some fine counter-attacking plays, the hosts still prevailed with something to spare.
Rieko Ioane's brace and another score from Codie Taylor sealed the win, while Sean O'Brien finished an 80-metre break for one of the Lions' finest-ever tries.
Rhys Webb sniped home in added time, but one monster scrummage just shy of the hour allowed Ioane to claim his first try - the score that ultimately sealed the win.
Bath and Wales back-rower Faletau remains confident that the Lions' tight game problems can be solved with minor tinkering however.
And the 26-year-old has tipped the Lions to come roaring back in Wellington next weekend.
"There was not much in it, just little errors," said Faletau.
"They capitalised on our errors better than we did theirs.
"We came into this game thinking we would win, obviously it didn't go that way but we feel we are more than capable of winning the next game."
Source: PA
