McCaw who?

Safe to say the result of the first test wasn't to plan for Warren Gatland. New Zealand scored double the points of the travelling Lions and realistically never looked flustered by the Brits. However, for all the pre-match talk of Lions power game, it was actually the men in black who ruled the roost at the breakdown. Sure there were the flashes of ball skills we expect from the Kiwi's, Read's offload and Codie Taylor's pick up particular examples, not to mention the sublime one-handed pick up from Barrett, but the tone was set by the sheer physicality of the New Zealand pack. The Lions expected to rule the breakdown, that didn't happen, largely due to one man. Sam Cane.

For all the pre-match analysis Cane appeared from nowhere to ruin the Lions' day with a breakdown masterclass.

Halfway down the Road

It has been a mixed bag so far for the tourists in New Zealand. Unconvincing but victorious against the Barbarians, simplistic but physical against the Blues, aggressive but wasteful against the Crusaders. There are hints that things are coming together, a structure forming, partnerships connecting, but there is still work to be done. So with half the fixtures before the first Test been and gone what do the Lions need to improve?

The Lions put in a grizzled performance against the Crusaders, but there is still plenty to work on before June 24th.