The Lions 30-15 loss against the All Blacks was a thrilling game in which two very good sides battled hard to take the spoils.
Admittedly, one team was far better with New Zealand not double world champions for nothing. In truth, the gap between the two sides is still huge, but this is true for the Lions and every other international side in the game. New Zealand are just the greatest team in sport.
Away from the exploits of the All Blacks though, Warren Gatland has a lot of tough decisions to make in the build-up to the second Test on Saturday.
The game is simply a must win for the Lions who are still chasing the slim chance of a series win. That being said, there are a number of players auditioning for a chance to take a Test place on Saturday in their mid-week game against the Hurricanes, with one of those men being Dan Biggar.
The Welsh fly-half was seen as an uninspiring choice from Gatland at the start of the tour; a safe pair of hands and an accurate boot, he is not going to wow many with silky passing or outrageous footwork though.
Dan Biggar putting in the hours ahead of #HURvBIL tomorrow. Practice makes perfect. #LionsNZ2017
However, in the games he has played he has imparted a calmness and solidity. With the boot too he has been very consistent. This is in comparison to Johnny Sexton, who struggled at the beginning of the tour with his kicking, passing and general game. It led many to install Owen Farrell as their definite number 10.
This is still the case, with the Englishman doing a good job of managing the game at the weekend with his in-play kicking, passing and vision a feature of his game. The one area in which he has been uncharacteristically poor is with his place kicking, but nobody will know this better than the man himself.
He was moved into the centre following the withdrawal of the excellent Ben T’eo to allow Sexton to play at 10 at the weekend, which was meant to result in more invention at a time when the Lions needed it as they were chasing the game. Instead, the touring party lost their way in the closing stages with the impact and direct running of T’eo no longer available. Ultimately, the plan to move personnel around failed.
Sexton is lauded as a very good game manager and kicker, but he has struggled on this tour. Farrell is the obvious first choice at fly-half and rightly so, but have the struggles of Sexton opened the door for Biggar?
Gatland may still be lamenting taking T’eo off, although it probably wouldn't have changed the result, which may see the English centre keep his place in the middle of the park throughout the 80 minutes at the weekend if he is chosen.
The Lions struggled with the physicality of the All Blacks on Saturday and they are likely to face a very similar proposition this weekend. Biggar is the most physically inclined of the three 10’s with his defensive work and aerial ability outstanding.
One good game against the Hurricanes could see Biggar earn a Test cap against New Zealand as a Lion at the expense of Ireland’s Sexton.
