All Black reveals the Lions players who’ve impressed him

Double Rugby World Cup winner Jerome Kaino is bracing himself for a back-row battle with the British & Irish Lions during Saturday’s opening Test.

“They are probably some of the form loose forwards of the last couple of years,” he said.

LIONS LATEST:

• Best on the BANTER he’s received since being awarded OBE

• O’Brien and Haskell’s BROMANCE continues to grow

• Why numbers flash up when you are watching the Lions?

• Moore insists Gatland ‘deliberately snubbed English rugby’

“Sean O’Brien was huge at the weekend and against the Crusaders. It’s not just the tight stuff, he gets around the park as well.

“Individually, I think they are up there with some of the best, and seeing their combinations the last couple of weeks definitely makes them a threat.

“You always want to measure yourself against the best, and the way the northern hemisphere teams have been playing for the last couple of years, especially in the forwards, has definitely set standards.”