Lions make it 2 from 2: What the experts say

The British & Irish Lions romped home with a crushing win over the Sharks in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening.  

Amid much speculation that the game would not go ahead, the tourists rolled up their sleeves and ran in 8 tries to make it two from two. 

Speaking on skysports.com after the game, a knowledgeable panel of pundits (Sam Warburton, Sir Ian McGeechan and Ronan O’Gara) shared their thoughts. 

Warburton: 

"Even though the Lions are ruthlessly putting teams away, they need stronger opposition.” 

"They really need South Africa A next week - big time. The Lions need to be put under pressure before they go into that Test series. I think South Africa need that game as well. We have seen how good the Lions are going forward but we need to see how good they are going back." 

McGeechan: 

"There are not many players who are not playing to put themselves in the Test picture," explained former Lions coach Sir Ian McGeechan. 

"That means the coaching staff have to know exactly what the tactical approach for South Africa will be. I think the first Test will be massive for the Lions. 

"The danger is that the Lions need some good opposition to really push them. I would anticipate training will be harder for the Lions than some of these games. I think you can set up 20-25 minute scenarios where the players can really challenge each other and I think they will really have to do that. 

"South Africa have not had an international game of any note. I think the Lions should be a half-a step ahead, but you need that group of players who can get on the front foot and take the points. 

"In 2009 we got to that first Test and we thought we were in good shape - it took us probably 20 minutes to get up to speed though. 

"It will be how South Africa get back into that Test match intensity and that is why the Lions have the edge at the moment. The South Africa A game is more important to South Africa because they will have to play some of their Test combinations just to give them a feel of what they have not had for 18 months." 

O’Gara: 

"Two fifty pointers has been down to decent teamwork against modest opposition for me. A lot of the players the Lions have played against are Currie Cup players and are not Super Rugby players. 

"You are looking at the best of the four nations against essentially club players. You have to take that into account. You can only beat who is put in front of you and the Lions have accomplished that with relative ease. 

"But there will be nowhere near the space you saw tonight anywhere in a Test match - it does not happen. The wingers are scoring because the space is just not being closed down which is one of the basic fundamentals of backline play. 

"If I put my coaching hat on, we have seen an improvement in structure in terms of setting the team out - one or two errors have arrived due to the skill set, but the most fascinating aspect for me is the mindset. I think with the weakness and dilution of games, the biggest challenge for the group is setting the mindset and the vision for this team."