Weepu rates Lions forward effort

Wellington rugby halfback Piri Weepu says the Lions forward pack was a different beast last night from that monstered by New Zealand Maori last Saturday.

Weepu, who played the Lions twice in five days, said the forwards were making noticeable progress ahead of the first test in Christchurch in just over a week.

"We thought they were more vulnerable around the ruck area last Saturday but they committed more numbers tonight. This team was far more impressive than Saturday's," Weepu said.

Lions coaching staff said they had almost exclusively worked on being more aggressive at the breakdown in training this week.

That was in no small part due to the return of Neil Back, now 36, who donned the No 7 jersey and helped a slicker loose forward performance.

"We've worked at the breakdown and it's slowly coming together, and we were a step up there," Back said.

"We learned a lot from that defeat and we improved in those areas we were deficient.

"The signs are positive and on the up but there's a lot of work to do to beat the All Blacks."

Meanwhile, Weepu gave his opposite number Dwayne Peel the nod as his pick for the test halfback's spot ahead of England's Matt Dawson.

Weepu faced Dawson, a veteran of his third Lions tour, last Saturday in Hamilton but said the Welsh youngster bettered him last night.

"He (Peel) is more elusive around the ruck area, he knows when to take his opportunities and he's always looking for options. I'd go for Peel as the starting test halfback," Weepu said.

- NZPA