1) Relief for Gatland … and Mako unmoved
Still not very pretty, but mightily effective against Super Rugby’s only unbeaten team this year – and as Warren Gatland said: “We needed that, didn’t we?” He has repeatedly claimed that only the Test series matters, but while there was palpable relief on his face after the criticism that followed the Blues defeat, you get the feeling he had targeted this match as the opportunity for the Lions to announce their arrival. Certainly they had a far more cohesive gameplan – with aggressive, suffocating defence at its heart – and his side were far more composed, finishing aside. Mako Vunipola’s apparent ambivalence towards the haka summed up the Lions’ refusal to be cowed.
2) Knowing when to put the boot in
Conor Murray and Owen Farrell dovetailed at half-back as well as Gatland and his coaches could have wished. Farrell scored all the points and his kicking from hand was superb. One effort stood out in particular, pegging the Crusaders back in their right corner, and Murray was equally effective with the boot. The Lions were deep in their own 22 at one stage in the second half and two box-kicks later – the second a beauty – and the Crusaders had a lineout near their own line. The All Blacks will ruthlessly punish aimless kicking, but it can be a powerful weapon for the Lions when they are on the money.
3) Discipline is the daddy
If there is one man who perhaps deserves more plaudits than Owen Farrell, it is his dad, Andy, who addressed the squad after the Blues defeat to lament their ill-discipline. Against the Crusaders, they conceded seven penalties – compared with 13 last Wednesday – and their ferocious line speed ensured their hosts could not get the ball wide as much as they would have hoped. Vunipola and George Kruis were excellent, but, more importantly, the pack, as a unit, was defensively superb. On the odd occasion the Crusaders broke through, the Lions scrambled well, and the set-piece was largely on top against a number of All Blacks forwards, who seemed to struggle with Mathieu Raynal’s officiating.
4) Opportunity’s knock must be answered
It is undoubtedly encouraging that the Lions created far more opportunities than in their two previous matches, but it is still a concern that they are not taking them; it is now two tries in 240 minutes. Early on, Jonathan Davies had the chance to put George North clear on the right, and Stuart Hogg might have released Liam Williams on the left. In the second half, a better pass from the otherwise impressive Ben Te’o would have put Williams away on the left, while CJ Stander’s knock-on after Anthony Watson’s break was horrible. Their opponents deserve plenty of credit for their last line of defence, but while it worked against the Crusaders, the Lions – to paraphrase Sean Connery – will not beat the All Blacks by bringing penalties to a try fight.
5) Two playmakers better than one
Gatland has been lukewarm to the idea of playing Jonathan Sexton and Farrell together, but with the Ireland fly-half finding his best form from the bench, we may well see them paired together against the Maori All Blacks next Saturday. With Te’o also on the pitch, interchanging with Farrell, it made for a robust midfield and the Lions benefited from having two playmakers. Indeed, their ability to adapt after losing Davies and Hogg in the first half was impressive, and the back-line that ended the match may well start the first Test. It would be bold to start Watson at full-back, but the others now have it all to do against the Highlanders on Tuesday if they are to make the Test XV.
