Conor Murray sets the standards as likely test team find groove

Much like the Lions test team he will grace at Eden Park next Saturday, Conor Murray is coming nicely to the boil.

Saturday night’s shutdown of the Maori All Blacks and an assertion of forward power and excellent game management in the relentless downpour that struck the Rotorua International Stadium throughout the 80 minutes are signs that Warren Gatland’s frontline British and Irish Lions who will go toe-to-toe with the All Blacks over three tests are growing in confidence and building momentum after two solid wins.

Separate them out from the midweek defeats they had little to do with and the victories over an All Black-laden Crusaders team that has dominated Super Rugby season as well as a Maori collective with the potential to wreak havoc point to a test series far less lop-sided than New Zealanders might care to believe.