British and Irish Lions 2017: Anthony Watson warns 'expect the unexpected' from the All Blacks

To say that Anthony Watson didn’t see what was coming last weekend is an understatement. The Lions wing was attempting to wriggle his way out of Waisake Naholo’s tackle when he saw a train heading his way.

That train was the shoulder of Sonny Bill Williams, and it was on a collision course with his face. Helpless to defend himself with one hand on the ball and the other wrapped up by Naholo, Watson wore the full brunt of the force on his head, and the result was a straight red card for Williams in a moment that could go on to decide the series.

That Watson was able to pass an immediate head injury assessment and complete the match – along with all the required protocols during training this week – is testament to his toughness, and yet somehow it wasn’t even the hardest knock he has received.

“I remember everything,” Watson said on Thursday. “Obviously it was a big tackle and I had to go off for the HIA but I felt fine, came back on and felt fine and have done all the protocols stuff so everything has gone to plan.

“I had to brace myself for it I guess, but it’s part and parcel of the game, so it is what it is.” Watson added of the impact: “It’s up there. Marland Yarde broke my jaw in the autumn actually, running into his head, so that was probably the only one worse.”

Williams was quick to apologise after admitting he had let his team down, with the reduction to 14 men in all likelihood costing New Zealand the chance to wrap-up the series in Wellington with a game to spare as they went on to lose 24-21.

“He messaged me on Twitter to say there was no intention and I don’t doubt that. I don’t think he’s a malicious player so I don’t think he intentionally led with his shoulder to hurt me or anything like that. It’s just unfortunate I guess.”

Yet Williams’ tackle now means that we have a decider on our hands. The Lions and the All Blacks will do battle for the third and final time, and with a win in the bag, a fully fit squad to choose from and an opposition one missing a number of key players, Watson and his teammates will not have many bigger chances to beat the reigning world champions.

However, Watson still does not feel that the All Blacks are on the ropes. The momentum may be in the Lions’ favour, but the quality and strength in-depth that the All Blacks can call on means they are never on the verge of falling out of the contest.

“I wouldn’t say we’ve got them on the ropes but we’ve definitely got to keep our momentum pushing forward on the back of a victory at the weekend, which gives us confidence, and hopefully put on another strong performance on Saturday,” he added.

“With the All Blacks it’s very much a case of expect the unexpected. They’ve attacked in two different ways in the last two games, so who knows what way they’ll attack with in the third and what way they’ll defend. It’s about us preparing for anything.”