Man or machine? It’s Maro Itoje at full power
NICK CAIN’S LIONS RATINGS
1. MAKO VUNIPOLA
Great all-round display. Powerhouse in the loose, and had May under the cosh at the scrum
RATING 8/10
2. JAMIE GEORGE Nailed Test slot, bullseye line-out darts – unlucky TMO did not have replay to award try RATING 7.5 3. TADHG FURLONG Cornerstone of a dominant scrum that punished the Maori pack at every opportunity RATING 7.5 4. MARO ITOJE
The man’s a machine – scored momentum try, won turn-overs, lineouts, tackled everything
RATING 8 5. GEORGE KRUIS
Massive plus is that driving maul has traction under his direction going into the Tests
RATING 8 6.PETER O’MAHONY (C)
In guts of it as the Lions won no frills primacy up front, and captained by example
RATING 7 7. SEAN O’BRIEN
Strong pitch for the Test openside jersey. Hard to shift over the ball, and flinty in contact
RATING 7.5 8. TAULUPE FALETAU
Evasive, strong in contact, has taken his chance – but foot control at scrum could improve
RATING 8
9. CONOR MURRAY
Astute hand at the tiller in the wet conditions, no breaks but tactical kicking punished Maoris
RATING 7.5 10. JOHNNY SEXTON
More like the general of old, and smooth partnership with Murray. Varied game smartly
RATING 8 11. GEORGE NORTH
Did not make unanswerable case. Coughed up Milner-Skudder chip, and no big yardage
RATING 6 12. BEN TE’O
The tour bolter in every respect. Maori midfield found his direct powerrunning hard to hold
RATING 7.5 13. JONATHAN DAVIES
Showed class. If all his breaks had been finished off the Lions would have been in clover
RATING 7.5 14. ANTHONY WATSON
Challenged well for high ball, but glimpses of his attacking game a rarity in the wet
RATING 6.5 15. LEIGH HALFPENNY
Rock of ages. Goalkicking return of 7/7 priceless in the conditions, as was his kickreturn
RATING 8 16. KEN OWENS
for George 64 mins. Dug in to make sure the momentum from the set-piece was maintained
RATING 6
17. JACK MCGRATH
for Vunipola 59 mins. Hard act to follow in Vunipola, but was a strong presence off the bench
RATING 6 18. KYLE SINCKLER
for Furlong 64 mins. Not able to do any rampaging this time, but kept it solid at scrum time
RATING 6 19. IAN HENDERSON
for Kruis 59 mins. Big gains from the the big Ulsterman – pounded forward in the loose
RATING 7 20. SAM WARBURTON
for O'Mahony 63 mins. Helped the Lions home with trademark commitment, but will it be enough?
RATING 6
21. GREIG LAIDLAW
for Murray 66 mins. His service is accurate enough but in NZ environment it is too laboured
RATING 5.5 22. DAN BIGGAR
for Sexton 66 mins. Gritty competitor. On the end of a heavy hit but bounced back well
RATING 6 23. ELLIOT DALY
for North 63 mins. Couldn’t stretch his legs – stuck as a bit-part actor on this tour
RATING 5.5