David Leggat: It's hard to look on bright side

They sang lustily, if a shade out of tune, as they made their way round the back of the stands at Jade Stadium on Saturday night.

The Lions supporters, beers in hand and a little unsteady on their pins, roared out Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.

It was easier said than done for the Lions players, who had their worst nightmares unfold before them on an Antarctic night against an All Black side who produced magnificent, cohesive wet weather rugby.

The singing and atmosphere out in the middle was superb too. If it wasn't for the blue fingers and ice dripping off the tips of noses it would have been a belting night all round.

The one aspect of their game the Lions were utterly confident would stand up was the set-pieces, scrums and lineouts.

Instead, the scrum was rocked by the All Black unit, and were swivelled off the ball in the dying stages, almost as if bolting shut a door on the Lions' aspirations.

As for the lineouts, it was not until 10 minutes into the second half that the Lions won clean ball from a properly executed call, throw and catch.

When they tried to run the ball, they were positively ponderous by comparison with an All Black team who were quicker by far to seize on any half openings.

When they kicked it was ordinary, none worse than fullback Jason Robinson, who was clueless.

They were unable to get any field position to work from and once Brian O'Driscoll was gone in the second minute, there was a suspicion that hard-minded, clear-thinking leadership went with him.

Last week, Welshman Gavin Henson moped that he didn't see a way to crack the test team over here "unless the Lions lose or there's an injury".

Wouldn't you know it, he's got both in a double whammy.

Henson must play in the second test, to inject some running skills and invention into a predictable, lacklustre midfield. His chum Charlotte reckoned Sir Clive missed a big trick leaving her Gav out on Saturday night.

It was hard to argue with her before Saturday. After the final whistle there was no argument.

Here's a few others who will be fancying their chances for a run at the Wellington Cake Tin this Saturday night: prop Andrew Sheridan, young Irish lock Donncha O'Callaghan, who has been consistently tidy all tour, not to mention his reputation as the practical joker of the party; burly hooker Steve Thompson, to get more grunt up front; and either Martyn Williams or Lewis Moody.

All tour, we've heard how the coaching staff were holding things back, not showing their full hand until the big night.

Saturday night was atrocious, but one team produced, all things considered, remarkable rugby.

The other showed that what has been lurking up their sleeve for the last few weeks is two-fifths of not very much at all.