Four reasons for Lions hope

Conor Murray, Sean O’Brien, Jonathan Davies and George North remain untainted by the fall-out from the British and Irish Lions opening two matches in New Zealand. By missing the win over the Provincial Barbarians and today’s loss to Auckland they go into the Crusaders match on Saturday knowing things can hardly get worse.

All four were seen as leading candidates for the test team before the squad left London and after the stuttering start to the New Zealand tour, their stock has risen considerably. What is clear is that the Lions needs physicality in the back division and that is where North comes into the equation. The image of him putting Israel Folau over his shoulder and continuing up field in attack against the Wallabies four years ago is still one Lions fans love to remember.

Jonathan Davies is a centre who possesses both strength and the ability to utilise space. His passing game is solid and that becomes vital if the Lions are to finally use space out wide once the opposition defence has been committed much nearer the break down.

Murray has a tactical kicking game and running threat that only the unavailable Ben Youngs could match at scrum half and that is vital if the opposition defence is to be stopped from automatically moving wide. O’Brien is a flanker who loves contact and ball carrying and the Lions desperately needed someone who can consistently punch a hole in the gain line and keep their legs pumping to allow support players to latch on and increase the damage.

With a set piece that has shown some signs of dominance the Lions will be able to hurt the opposition if momentum is generated. In the opening two matches they have been too lateral and passive in attack apart from the holes punched by Ben Te’o.

He is one of the few Lions squad players to put his hand up for test selection so far on tour and expect Owen Farrell to confirm his position as the first choice No10 against the Crusaders. With a back line featuring Murray, Farrell, Te’o, Davies and North, the Lions will look a much more potent attacking force to supplement the scrum and line out strength. They may not win but at least the Lions can start to offer something tangible in attack rather than slow motion side-ways movement and poor kick chase.