GEORGE KRUIS warned the All Blacks to expect a brutal battle after the Lions crushed the Crusaders 12-3.
Earthquake tremors around Christchurch are the norm…but defeats for the local Super Rugby side are not.
They had won 14 out of 14 matches this season and this was billed as the ‘Fourth Test’ — a fortnight ahead of the opener against the All Blacks.
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But Warren Gatland’s men finally showed their class with a defensive masterclass to shut out a side that averages 37 points a game.
Saracens lock Kruis said: “We talk about how we want to be a brutal pack, a set-piece dominant pack. I think today we showed good signs of that.
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“We relish the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with a pack like that.
“It was about on par with the physicality we expected. They have six internationals in that pack so we knew it would be a tasty game.
“It got a little bit heated at times but we held our own and did a good job.
“It was a big test for us. We knew it in the week and we trained hard for that. To concede only three points is huge for us.”
The Lions’ red wall could not be broken and there was no way past tackling machines Mako Vunipola and Taulupe Faletau.
Owen Farrell booted all 12 points, kicking four of five penalties — although the England fly-half was unlucky with the ‘miss’ that flew over the top of a post and was judged wide.
Richie Mo’unga got Crusaders’ only points in the first half as the home side could not cope with the Lions’ intensity and trailed 9-3 at the interval.
But finishing in the red zone is something the Lions still need to work on after scoring just two tries in their first three games.
Subs Anthony Watson and CJ Stander blew two big chances for tries as the tourists left plenty of points out there.
Watson went on after just 20 minutes when full-back Stuart Hogg suffered a gash above his left eye…crashing into the elbow of team-mate Conor Murray.
Ben Te’o made some big carries — but also gave Liam Williams a hospital pass as the winger had the try line in his sights.
George North was solid on his first run out of the 2017 tour and the combination of Farrell and Murray at half-back hit it off immediately with a kicking game which kept Crusaders’ back three under constant pressure and forced mistakes.
Farrell said: “We were aggressive. We really got off the line, no matter where we were on the field.
“We had a great feeling out there. We really wanted to attack them for the full 80 minutes.
“We were really connected. We got up off the floor and pushed and that gave us some great front-foot ball.”
The two packs squared up three times as tensions boiled over.
Prop Vunipola said: “No team wants to back down and coming into this we knew we could not take a backwards step.
“It’s only a bit of niggle now and then and I think it is great for the fans and the game itself.
“We have to become the best pack in the world and at our best to challenge the All Blacks and the Super Rugby teams. We have to be smart as well.
“There’s still a lot to work on but the energy we brought in defence — and not just that but the fight that we showed when it did go past our line.
“That’s something that we need to carry on. Now we’ve got to build on this for Tuesday against the Highlanders — and we know how dangerous they can be as well.
“That energy and fight in defence is going to be key but we also know accuracy is going to be key as well.”
The All Blacks get together in camp for the first time this week.
And now they know the Lions mean business.
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