Nowell had started the mid-week defeats to the Blues and Highlanders but was in rip-roaring form on Tuesday in Hamilton as the Chiefs were put to the sword. His try in either half, as well as a penalty score and Jared Payne’s effort sealed a 34-6 victory – the biggest of the Tour so far and the perfect morale-booster ahead of Saturday’s first Test against the All Blacks. “It was very special, we set a big target this week and it was all about building momentum,” he said. “We knew if we could cut out the penalties and silly discipline errors then we could go and win the game. “We wanted to go out there in the second to last mid week game with a bang and I think we did that tonight. “You can feel the atmosphere in camp after a big camp, the boys on the weekend have been doing that and it was good for us to carry that going.

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“We are not a 23 out on the field at the weekend, we are a 40 or more man squad so it was special for us to carry it on – we have the three biggest games of the Tour coming up now.” Nowell’s first two tries for the Lions demonstrated his predatory instincts, but the winger was quick to give credit to a dominant forward pack that laid the foundations.