Where the contenders become mere pretenders and the champions emerge.
Now you could write a hundred other words about bravery, strength and gallantry.
But when all is said in done, who wins tonight will be about who is the best.
The British and Irish Lions take on the All Blacks in the third test at Eden Park tonight the decider in a series which has dominated the headlines over the past few weeks around the country.
Anything less than the best from either side and they’ll be eating sour grapes come tomorrow morning.
The scale may be huge but in a series where defence has been strong throughout, the game will most probably come down to which side can have the better
attack.
The home side needs to play the way it has over the past few years — good quick ball, the ability to find the space and then put the foot on the throat when
the option arises.
It has not done that in the two tests so far. Game one, it was more direct running and bashing the Lions into the ground.
Last week, any All Black attacking plan went out the window when Sonny Bill Williams was sent off and the rain came tumbling down.
Tonight, the All Blacks need to let off the attacking leash and find the tryline.
The likes of the Barrett broth ers, Beauden and Jordie, halfback Aaron Smith and loose forwards Sam Cane and Jerome Kaino need to have big games.
All Black coach Steve Hansen talked this week of not being that much pressure on the All Blacks in the game.
Hansen said saving someone’s life and having to tell loved ones the bad news about a tragedy was much more pressurised than this week’s test.
That is true and Hansen was no doubt trying to take the heat off his team.
But in sporting terms — and for many those are the terms that matter — there is massive pressure for the home team tonight.
Hansen knows the skills of his side are good enough to win the game but it is about transferring those skills into points. All Black skipper Kieran
Read, who will play his 100th test tonight, said yesterday the side was eager to get out and play the match.
‘‘I will be rocking up tomorrow and have a few butterflies in the stomach but overriding that will be the excitement and knowing why you do this,’’ Read said.
‘‘You still approach it in some ways like your first [test]. I am pretty confident of what we have got and what we are bringing. The work has been done. Now it
is about turning up and playing.
‘‘I think the boys are pretty ready. Nice and calm and in a good head space.’’
The All Blacks had America’s Cup skipper Peter Burling in their camp yesterday and Read said it was good to have him around.
Another couple of parts of the equation which have to be factored into the game are the man with the whistle and the heavens above.
The Lions have moaned about illegal blocking tactics from the home team while the All Blacks consider the opponent to be living offside.
How referee Romain Poite runs the game is anyone’s guess.
He has looked all right in previous tests but he is human, like the players, so he too needs to be composed.
The weather is expected to be fine with the odd shower.
But this is Auckland, where you get four seasons not in one day but in one hour.