from Lions defeat by Highlanders

WARBURTON STILL HAS GROUND TO MAKE UP NAHOLO WILL BE BACK TO HAUNT THE LIONS AGAIN

play against the Lions for the Highlanders to help him get back to peak match fitness. The barnstorming try-scorer will now be in pole position to start out wide for the All Blacks in the Test series. And on the evidence in Dunedin, the Lions should be worried. Naholo stood up Tommy Seymour and left the Scotland wing for dead from a standing start. Every time Naholo got on the ball the Lions had to scramble to contain him. It will be exactly the same when he turns out for the All Blacks.

HIGHLANDERS SHOWED HOW TO OUTWIT LIONS

that it leaves space in behind the first-up defensive line. The Highlanders exploited that space with cute grubber and chip kicks into no-man’s land between the front line and back-field. That left the Lions scrambling to cover. One issue this highlighted is that at times the Lions’ backline struggled when forced into contesting rucks, with their forwards not on the scene following tactical kicks. The Lions’ backs must tighten up their ruck play, as any loose breakdown work will be ruthlessly exploited by the All Blacks. Anything sloppy from the backs at the tackle area following a kick-pass or cross-field kick and the All Blacks will turn them over and steal a suckerpunch score.

3 Sam Warburton grew into the Highlanders clash, hitting a solid level after a patchy opening. The Wales flanker had to fend off a knee problem just to make the tour in the first place, then suffered an ankle injury in the opening match. He has said he will pull himself out of the first Test running if he is not at full tilt for the 24 June clash. He can expect to be on the bench against the Maori and could need a huge cameo performance to edge back ahead of Sean O’brien in the Test XV.

5 The All Blacks let flying wing Waisake Naholo loose to