Midst, soft underbelly

when they have had the ball, which has not been very often. The Lions have been masters of protecting the ball — it's hard to remember a genuine Andrew Hore-class steal against them. To keep the Hore theme going, the Lions are proving masters of the seal, as in sealing off the ball.

They have also dominated in the air, although this is actually why I think the All Blacks will narrowly prevail on Saturday at Eden Park. Once the Lions come up against all round aerial command, from Sam Whitelock, Ben Smith and company, they will be starved of the possession they have found so easy to regain and maintain around the country. Their scrum-penalty-lineout routine won't rule so easily, either.

But this is shaping as one hell of an opening test.

Gatland could inject significant second half impact if he parked Jack McGrath, Kyle Sinckler and Maro Itoje on the bench.

I'm with Henry on that one — Alun Wyn Jones to start, with Itoje the game changer. The Lions could match the All Blacks toe-to-toe with replacements, an area where Hansen's troops almost always have the advantage.

And of course, the Lions kick goals from everywhere particularly if they include Elliot Daly, who can call for the tee on his side of halfway.

The All Blacks have Beauden Barrett, who is hard to beat, and the rapid-fire passing of Aaron Smith will dilute the Lions up-and-at-'em defence. But Smith can get jittery behind a battling pack. And the All Blacks may have midfield holes providing momentum for the Lions.