Magnificent Mako leads the Christchurch charge
wards with the size and power of the Lions, constantly hammering round the corner or up the middle.
The work-rate of some of the Lions front-row forwards will also have raised Hansen’s eyebrows a notch or two. Mako Vunipola’s contribution was impressive in anybody’s book, with the loose-head finishing top of the Lions tackle count with 11, while also making nine carries.
The upshot was that Richie Mo’unga, the talented Crusaders fly-half touted as a new Dan Carter, found himself in the unaccustomed position of having very little premium ball to play with. Instead, apart from one dart for the line where the TMO decided he was held up, Mo’unga’s points haul was limited to a single penalty midway through the firsthalf.
After the Crusaders’ knights on horseback had cantered round the pitch, and a choreographed haka challenge, the match, played in front of a full house of just over 20,000, began at a blistering pace.
Much has been made of the tourists not being able to live with the high-tempo of the New Zealand franchises and the All Blacks, however they showed here that by winning the gainline battle – and with it the majority of possession and territory – they can put the heat on the host nation.
On this occasion they had to rely on pack power and Farrell’s trusty boot for the win, but as their teamwork and understanding improves so should their ability to cross the line. And if that happens the “fourth Test” will have been the launchpad for a full-tilt assault on the All Blacks when the real Test series starts in a fortnight.