Fitness will be a weapon, not a weakness - Andy Farrell

After a monumental defensive performance against the Crusaders, the British and Irish Lions' defence coach Andy Farrell has confidently expressed that fitness will be a weapon and not a weakness for his side in the ongoing tour of New Zealand.

The game on Saturday resulted in a 12-3 victory for the Lions at the AMI Stadium in Christchurch after a 22-16 setback against the Blues at the Eden Park in Auckland last Wednesday.

"The main thing for us was that we got stronger throughout the game," Farrell said.

"Our collisions got stronger, our breakdown work got better, our linespeed improved.

"We're bearing the fruits of the last three weeks. We've gone hard, fitness-wise, contact-wise."

Farrell believes that the travel from the northern to southern hemisphere might have had an impact on his players but now they are getting used to the conditions and are ready for the rest of the tour.

"We've taken a lot out of their legs and with the travel etc, that would have had an impact on the first couple of games.

"But we're ready now to get battle-hardened for a Test match. We're still ramping it up intensity-wise."

The Lions will now face the Highlanders at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Tuesday and Farrell says his side is vary of what to expect in their next challenge of this tour.

"We know the type of game they want to play. The Highlanders kick the ball a hell of a lot," he said.

"A lot of those are attacking kicks and it's done at speed so it's really good to watch, actually."