George Kruis v Sam Whitelock

After a knee injury saw him miss a large chunk of last season, Kruis has emerged as one of the Lions’ most influential forwards. With an extraordinary capacity for work and huge physical presence, the technically excellent Saracens lock has few weaknesses. His work at the lineout, where he calls the shots, is top class, while his ability to make tackle after tackle effectively make him a fourth back rower.

Whitelock, like Kruis, has no obvious weaknesses and his partnership with Brodie Retallick over the years has already firmly established the pair as one of the finest second-row combinations in the history of the game. Kruis arguably got the better of his man when the Lions beat the Crusaders but Whitelock is rarely seen off twice.