British media - Lions in 'shock', whitewash looms against All Blacks, split in camp?

Former England back Austin Healey led the charge after the Lions fell to the Blues, calling on coach Warren Gatland to save the tour by picking his test side against the Crusaders.

Healey in the The Telegraph wrote that he "really feared" for the Lions if they lost to the Crusaders on Saturday night. It was "time for the big dogs to step up".

Healey blasted the Lions' tactics as "predictable and badly executed".

"It makes me worry about what is to come," he wrote.

"I'm sure the Lions themselves will be shocked at how they have struggled...the problem with the start they have had is that it can create a disconnect between what you are told by the coaches and what you believe in as players.

"If I were All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen I would be betting the mortgage on a 3-0 series whitewash based on the evidence so far - which is why Warren Gatland needs to pick his Test side now and play them against the Crusaders on Saturday.

"It has been a pretty awful first week from a Lions' point of view and they are in desperate need of some momentum."

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Robert Kitson in the Guardian wrote: "The British & Irish Lions have suffered worse defeats than this in Auckland and a provincial loss or two will not define their tour.

"Even so, before they return to this stadium to face the All Blacks on 24 June some fundamental issues need addressing. Without sharper backline execution, better lineout execution and tighter discipline, they will not win the matches that really matter.

"The Lions' creative heart needs to start pumping with more ideas and energy. Then again, simply chucking the ball around and hoping for the best against New Zealand sides is never a great idea either.

"The tour itinerary remains brutal and, unless a sharp improvement materialises... last Saturday (v the Barbarians) could conceivably be the first and last weekend fixture the Lions win.

"If they are losing against New Zealand's sixth-best non-Test side, how on earth are they going to beat the All Blacks? Slow and steady is not going to win this particular race."

The Daily Mail stated: "If the Lions don't improve their discipline, they won't beat the All Blacks. End of. The tourists were pinged in almost every aspect of the game except the scrum - conceding 13 penalties to 11."

The Independent's analysis included the suggestion the Lions had not been allowed to make the most of their scrum advantage against the Blues.

"The British and Irish Lions had an obvious advantage in the scrum against the Blues, but referee Pascal Gauzere appeared content to allow scrums to collapse as long as the ball was at the No 8 CJ Stander's feet. The Lions did win a fair few penalties in the scrum, but there were more left out on the pitch as they made mincemeat of the Blues' all-All Blacks front-row.

"Had the Lions been awarded a few more penalties, they could have built more pressure on the Blues and with a superior set-piece on all fronts, you got the idea that it could have proven the difference for the Lions."

Jack De Menezes wrote it was a "demoralising defeat' which raises serious questions about their readiness to face the All Blacks, having put in two unconvincing performances since arriving in New Zealand."