Lions can win with power, control and patience

The scene setting has been elongated, laboured at times, but a week out from the first test between the Lions and All Blacks there is no confusion about what lies in store.

It will be a series of contrasts — cavaliers versus roundheads maybe, but certainly two teams are coming to Eden Park with vastly different gameplans and skill sets.

The series will prove that rugby is a broad church — all faiths are welcome.

On Friday, the All Blacks gave us rugby New Zealand-style. It was all about instincts and basic skills: finding space and playing into it. Pass and catch was the theme.

The Lions, a day later, gave another rumbling, grumbling display. Their power was impressive. Their control, discipline and patience all big features as they used their set piece and immaculate kicking game to destroy the Maori.

The contrast was stark and how the two teams intend to play has been the underlying story of this tour and a constant source of friction between the two coaching teams.

Respect might be there between the players, but it’s not been apparent between Warren Gatland and Steve Hansen.

That there has been plenty of verbal sparring has been no surprise. Both coaches know that test football needs a bit of theatre to build the interest.

What has surprised is how poorly Gatland has handled the contest. He’s been publicly irritated at various times on this tour and following

victory in Rotorua he tried to suggest the constant jabbing from his opposite man is a sign of fear.

His attempt to damn Hansen with faint praise — saying it’s strange to see the All Blacks coach dig so much because he’s normally so composed, was a transparently, manufactured attempt to land a decent blow.

It was possibly also an attempt to give the illusion there is an air of confidence brewing within the Lions.

Illusion because Gatland will know that he’s laid all his cards on the table — no matter how much he says he hasn’t — and that there are a lot less good cards than Hansen has in his hand.

There is no doubt, given the way they played in Rotorua and a week earlier in Christchurch, the Lions are here with a view they can just charge up the guts and smash their way to success.

They are going to hammer route one rugby. They are going to scrummage for penalties. They are going to kick to the heavens. They are going to chase and chase. They are going to take their time at the lineout, win their ball and then drive it. They are going to charge off the defensive line and try to cut down every inch of space. They will have Beauden Barrett in their sights — look to get into his face, come up hard on the outside, too, to stop the All Blacks pushing wide early.

It will be fantastically predictable and yet, quite fantastic.

The Lions may appear limited, lacking in micro skills and any sense of adventure. But they can win this series because what they do, they do so well.