"It's a tough question to answer. You always fear the All Blacks in the way that if you don't man up and meet them head-on-head it's a tough day at the office," Furlong said.
"They are going to cut you in the wider channels if you give them that sort of space. They can score a try from anywhere they're that dangerous. And if none of that works, they're just so damn consistent and good at holding onto the ball so they're such a tough team to beat. You have to keep attacking them which is easier said than done."
Alongside fellow Irish Lions Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray, Jack McGrath and CJ Stander, Furlong first played the All Blacks in Ireland's historic win in Chicago last November. He was there again two weeks later when the All Blacks harnessed that hurt and hit Ireland with everything they had to turn the tables in Dublin. This week, he is expecting a similar, if not more pronounced, response with the series on the line.
"I don't think they'll massively change what they're doing. They'll probably try to physically come back at us which is the same pretty much every test match. I remember in Dublin coming off the pitch and being absolutely shattered and being sore for days after. It was probably one of the most brutal test matches I've ever played in my short career. Everyone will expect that and try to tee themselves up for it."
Forwards coach Graham Rowntree and the Lions pack took great pride from their vastly improved performance in Wellington, despite it coming against a seven-man All Blacks' engine room after Jerome Kaino was subbed following Sonny Bill Williams' 25th minute red card.
As the Lions head to Queenstown for a mix of training and recovery, Furlong knows another lift is required this week. The battle within the battle will see the same front-rows confront each other for the fourth time in five weeks, having also collided in the Crusaders match.
"Everyone was really disappointed after the first test. They probably bossed us around the ruck area and two or three defenders out. They got over the gain-line really easily. Conditions probably forced them into playing the same as us [in Wellington]. It was very hard to hold onto the ball or try and offload. We knew we'd have to be tougher there and right and few wrongs.
"I don't think the All Blacks scrum gets the credit from the outside world that it deserves. Believe me, they are a very strong unit. Sometimes you're really holding on and scrapping to get parity especially on your ball it's hugely competitive."
