A fine performance by the midweek Lions, 4 tries was excellent, though lets not get carried away, the Chiefs were seriously understrength due to All Blacks call ups. A full strength Chiefs wouldn’t have been beaten by such a score if at all.
This squad will also beat the Canes next week and if the likes of Lawes Henderson Stander Biggar Payne Henshaw Daly McGrath Nowell AWJ play like they did today, they have a chance of being involved in test 2 or 3.
My 23 for the All Blacks on Saturday:
1-15 Vunipola, George, Furlong, Itoje, Kruis, O Mahony, Warburton, Faletau, Murray, Farrell, North, Te’o Davies, Watson, Halfpenny.
Replacements: Owens, McGrath, Sinckler, Lawes, AWJ, Webb, Sexton & Daly
Sean O Brien who was superb against the Maoris deserves to keep his place, but Gatland doesn’t do sentimentality, as he showed in the final test 4 years ago with his decision to exclude O Driscoll from the squad. Warburton is tour captain, for that reason and that reason alone he will probably start, honestly he shouldn’t as he’s shown little or no form so far on this tour.