Wynne Gray: Let the combat begin

All the talk will be put on hold tonight in Christchurch, if only for 80 minutes, as the All Blacks and Lions finally meet in combat.

Hectares of newsprint and megabytes of sound and picture have been the unremitting curtainraiser for the start of this test series, one which could just as suddenly be over in eight days in Wellington.

The murmur of the Lions has grown from a hum on the All Blacks last tour of Europe to the inescapable clamour which has enveloped New Zealand in the last few weeks.

The tour has puddled along on the field.

The Lions have used their men sparingly - and, if they are to be believed, wisely - there has been minimal evidence of their firepower or their game plans.

Consequently the tour has been diverted into issues about touch judges, breakdown laws, the coaching subplots between Graham Henry and Sir Clive Woodward, media orchestration and even the future of such visits.

But it is time for the musings to cease and for the action to begin.

Can the match live up to the propaganda, will this opening test deliver on the hype or will the pressure of the occasion, the prize of the result deliver a dull, dour slog?

More like the weather if you accept the locals' judgment.

They have been warning of rough, filthy conditions but they had made those forecasts for most of the week and they had not eventuated yesterday.

And then there is the not insignificant issue about the impact of referee Joel Jutge.

If there is suffocating pressure on the teams, it will be just as intense for the Frenchman who will be hounded and chivvied by both sides.

He has been quoted about his admiration of Tana Umaga and the need for accuracy at the breakdown, statements which should offer the All Blacks hope that the match official wants to have a game with some rhythm.

Because no matter the Lions protests and even a hint yesterday from All Black coach Graham Henry that the tourists will spread the ball, set piece superiority, grinding authority and penalty conversions look to be the Lions recipe.

Julian White, Ben Kay, Paul O'Connell and Martin Corry are huge men in the pack, forwards whose principles rely on subjugation rather than subtlety.

Keep the ball close to them and they are at ease, move it wider and their pupils start to dilate.

If Stephen Jones and Jonny Wilkinson kick, they need to put the ball out so the Lions can attack the All Blacks lineout or into the corners for a strong chasing line.

Two years ago the Wallabies learned how damaging the All Blacks were on the counter if they had the ball kicked to them. When they shelved that tactic and held on to possession at the World Cup, part of the All Blacks armoury withered.

Even if conditions are dodgy the All Blacks need to play at pace, where they have an overall advantage.

They will want to stretch the Lions defence across the park, where they will test their speed, support and technique at the breakdown.

They want to take them out of their comfort zone, force them to counter a style to which they are unaccustomed, to play with their minds.

That sort of tactic will come from the Lions too who will needle Ali Williams, provoke Jerry Collins and obstruct Richie McCaw in moves designed to test All Blacks discipline.

The All Black pack has shown they are capable of using technique to cope with power.

They showed that to England last year and then the French.

Repeated taunts from Northern Hemisphere observers about the lack of impact from the All Black forwards will slide by, if anything the Lions have shown an inability so far to muscle up front.

Justin Marshall, Daniel Carter and Aaron Mauger have been chosen on form and to perform in front of their home crowd.

They have enough nous to know when to push the game, when to settle for a safety-first option but they must set the template for performance early.

Defence and goalkicking will become even more crucial if the weather becomes messy.

The Lions have only had a few weeks to blend their systems, the All Blacks will be using schemes designed on the end of year tour, ones which will need to include systems to repel lineout drives and driving mauls.

Skill levels, athletic combinations and pace, point to an All Black result, but whatever happens it will be just the start of more theory, introspection and deduction before the second test in Wellington.