Wynne Gray: Clunky and chunky can't cut it

Blues 2nd-five Sonny Bill Williams celebrates his try during The British and Irish Lions second tour match against the Blues at Eden Park, Auckland. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

Clumsy production from the Lions points to another setback against the unbeaten Crusaders but I fancy the tourists' chances of nobbling the Super Rugby frontrunners.

That's at odds with the Lions' untidy start to the tour and the Crusaders' impressive results under first-year Super coach Scott Robertson.

The Lions head south with frayed nerves about their work against the NZ Barbarians and Blues, with coach Warren Gatland showing signs of the rising strain.

They were sluggish against a pick up XV in Whangarei then ungainly against the New Zealand conference cellar-dwellers.

Tomorrow they run into the big boys, a Crusaders side who have won all 14 matches this year and are gunning for a first Super Rugby title in a decade.

That target is realistic and they'll be equally optimistic they can emulate the Blues. That echoes a verdict from the wider rugby community on the evidence presented so far from the Lions.

They have been clunky and uncertain how to make more of their possession away from a mechanical pack and kicking game.

They can drive or rumble and when those threats are negated they add a dash of hoof-it-and-hope theory, although neither has been accurate enough.

The Crusaders bring a stronger scrum and lineout but Ryan Crotty's injury absence in midfield will have an impact on their backline venom and organisation.

He may lack some of Sonny Bill Williams' off-loading flair but his low mistake rate, defence and game awareness is invaluable for the Crusaders.

The Lions squad for this game has a spread of decorated players whose time as a combination has been restricted to the training field.

Now they are being asked to give a strong display against the best quasi-test side in the southern hemisphere.

It is a hefty challenge but also the best preparation for the series against the All Blacks.

If any of the Lions have not tuned into the playing demands of this tour, that wavelength will be very apparent in Christchurch.

Making goodwill visits and the right noises is one thing but in the professional world of New Zealand rugby, respect comes from performances on the field.

The Lions manager, John Spencer, is an affable man who played here on the triumphant '71 tour but those days are well gone, results are the hardcore currency rather than totting up civic appearances.

The Lions got some midweek starting change out of Ken Owens, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Rhys Webb and Robbie Henshaw but they need more.

All that jersey-straining size in the pack has to show some defiant detail in a match where discipline will be tested by their rivals and the uncertain reactions of another French referee, Mathieu Raynal.

Box kicks from Connor Murray or attacking hoists from Owen Farrell have to be contested otherwise the Lions will offer counter-attacking chances which New Zealand sides ingest.

The Lions have been here for 10 days and excuses about jetlag don't cut it. They've experienced enough evidence of the rugby they will face and must show a better response tonight or risk "is that all you've got" taunts into July.