Saturday morning brought Lions fans back down to earth – not least myself and my optimistic ‘Lions by 2’ prediction. New Zealand and the Lions served up a thoroughly entertaining first test match; the men in black eventually ran out easy winners, 30–15, but not before the Lions had showed enough fight and promise to show that this series is far from over.

It was a story of missed opportunities for the Lions, they scored two tries but wasted three brilliant chances. Against the best in the world that will cost you, and New Zealand proved a model of clinic efficiency as they buried all three of their own opportunities.

The Lions have to pick themselves back up and come out all guns blazing next weekend, but before that can be done there is the no small obstacle of the Hurricanes on Tuesday. The Super Rugby side will scent blood – everyone is preoccupied with the test series now, while the Lions squad will be hurting from the result of their weekend game.

They also have a formidable team. A lot was made of Steve Hansen’s decision to drop ‘the bus’ Julian Savea for Rieko Ioane in the first test and the knock-on result is Savea is lining up for the Hurricanes. Ioane earned glory with his brace on Saturday, and Savea won’t have liked that one bit. The player with the best strike rate in the world (46 tries in 53 tests) will be fired up and looking to make a point of his own. That doesn’t bode well for the Lions.

The rest of their back three is no less daunting. Nehe Milner-Skudder is on the other wing, while the youngest of the Barrett brothers, Jordie – fresh from his All Blacks debut against Samoa – is at full back. And on the bench sits a very familiar name: Cory Jane. Jane, now 34 and veteran of 53 tests, played against the Lions for Wellington twelve years ago.

Another name to watch out for is Ngani Laumape at 12. The Hurricanes centre has already bagged himself 14 tries this Super Rugby season and is firmly on the All Blacks radar.

Saturday’s result has connotations for the Lions as well. Although the coach is unlikely to change a winning team, a loss means suddenly players have a chance to force their way into contention for the next game. Warren Gatland has already shown he will reward the midweek players with a test call up – Liam Williams and Elliot Daly were the beneficiaries from last week’s game against the Chiefs.

So expect a few guys to put in huge performances. The tight five in particular seemed off the pace against the All Blacks; rucks were not cleared out efficiently and the big guys made few yards in the tight. Alun Wyn Jones struggled with the pace of the game and was replaced on 50 minutes, while George Kruis made some uncharacteristic mistakes. Kruis is interestingly on the bench for Tuesday after a playing a full 80. Read into that (if anything) what you will. Iain Henderson and Courtney Lawes having been playing pretty well recently (although Lawes has been undone by HIAs), the will not need telling twice to have a big game.

Elsewhere, there seems opportunity at loosehead for Joe Marler, with Mako and Jack McGrath both underwhelming. There is also perhaps scope in the back line for someone with clinical finishing ability to make a case for the 23 shirt. Jonathan Joseph would certainly offer the Lions something different in the closing 20 if they need a bit of magic, while in the same manner as Savea, George North will be itching to prove he is not a fading force.

The Lions seem to have found a bit of their groove recently, first test aside, but this is a strong Hurricanes side. However, this is the last midweek game and chance for players to change Gatland and the rest of the coaches’ minds. The carrot of a potential test place should bring out a few brilliant performances and the allow the Lions to walk away with a victory.

My prediction: Lions by 10

Average SuperBru prediction: Lions by 3.66

By Henry Ker