Justin Marshall: Lions pack need to be more mobile

Lions five eighth Jonathan Sexton. Photo / Photosport

It's crunch time for the Lions this weekend. The All Blacks caused them big problems in the first test at Eden Park so I was very interested in the make-up of Warren Gatland's side for the second test.

The All Blacks, clearly, have named a strong side for Westpac Stadium. The pack again will be the backbone of their side, and while there are forced changes in the backline, Steve Hansen hasn't lost much with Waisake Naholo and Anton Lienert-Brown starting.

This test will go up a cog in terms of the All Blacks intensity and innovation. The question is, how will the Lions cope with that?

I wrote on Monday that if the Lions were going to get the required improvements they needed to get more mobile.

Their pack, in particular, struggled when the All Blacks carried the ball and made Gatland's men tackle, tackle, tackle.

And, in looking at the Lions, I don't necessarily think they have a more mobile team. It's still a heavy pack; a lighter, more mobile combination would have comprised of Iain Henderson, Maro Itoje, Justin Tipuric or CJ Stander. That would have brought real energy.

The conundrum for them is how much ball they get to attack with because they didn't get enough in Auckland. They have to be more proficient in that area.

The other interesting one was the selection of Jonny Sexton at No10, with Owen Farrell outside him. Is it surprising? Not necessarily, but I think they got a lot out of Ben Te'o in the first test.

In my mind the problem wasn't the backs, it was with the forwards and their struggles to keep pace with their opposites.

There is a lot of responsibility now on Sexton and Farrell. Sonny Bill Williams attacked that channel hard at Eden Park and there will more of the same tomorrow, plus with the added threat of Naholo. I thought Te'o contained Williams well last week.

I'm sure the Lions' astute coaching group will realise now that they won't be able to out-muscle the All Blacks.

My advice would be to look at the All Blacks' scrum, lineout and kick-off receipt success rates. They are all in the 90-plus per cent range.

The All Blacks can bring the razzle dazzle, but they are still very good at the basics of the game. The Lions will have to come up with more than a set piece game if they are to win.

The more often they can get ball in the hands of Jonathan Davies, Anthony Watson and Liam Williams, the more dangerous they will be.