Wynne Gray: O'Brien set for first footing on NZ tour

Sean O'Brien has an all-purpose style. Photo / Billy Stickland

Disputing work with the Lions captain is a tough gig for flanker Sean O'Brien who opens his tour account tonight against the Crusaders.

The Irishman is pegged for backup duties in the test series behind Sam Warburton and perhaps Justin Tipuric unless there are injuries or a dramatic rethink about the Lions' plans and who best fits that template.

O'Brien plays old school footy. He's as abrasive with an all-purpose style which has similarly endeared his Crusaders' rival Matt Todd to the red and black faithful though neither is pegged for a lock-down test role on this trip.

However the Lions should drill into O'Brien's experience of five clashes with the All Blacks and the emphasis he places on rigid discipline balanced with some enterprise. He warned there would be no warm glow for the Lions on this trip if they had a top-heavy emphasis on defence, they had to make the play and challenge a very potent All Black squad.

Assistant coach Rob Howley has a similar philosophy but his "rugby chaos" description did not quite hit the mark or appear to be in sync with the skills of this Lions group.

They carry ingrained methods honed to conditions and competitions in Europe and asking a new blend of players to alter that style against the No1 side in the world is doubling the risk assessment.

The Lions do need to increase their tempo in all areas but not to the detriment of their core strengths.

Asking them to bring more ad-lib improvisation to their game is a noble thought but a high-risk strategy against an All Black side tuned into aggressive defensive plans and cobra-strikes on counter-attack.

The Lions can assemble a pack to tighten the tourniquet on their rivals with a strong flow of lineout and scrum ball backed up by competitive loose forwards.

They need to find more wallop to that foundation with lineout drives, mauls, pick and go attacks and moves off the back row. Those might be getting sorted on the training track and discussed in the team rooms but they need to get an airing tonight against the sort of pressure the Crusaders can exert.

Getting a result is hitting the crucial category. The Lions have shown little to persuade NZ rugby audiences they have enough quality to take out a test series and that feedback will grow and begin to seep through the Lions unless they win.

Directions will be the domain of Conor Murray and Owen Farrell while there is ample firepower further out through George North, Jonathan Davies and Liam Williams.

That's conjecture about the Lions as Warren Gatland fulfils his promise to give everyone a start in the opening three games while the Crusaders have marked their calibre as an unstoppable Super Rugby force this season.

Stadium capacities and accommodation have taken the South Island off the test itinerary but there's no doubt tonight's match is the fourth international.