Lions ease to second tour victory Composed display delights Corry

Stephen Jones and Jonny Wilkinson are favourites to land the Test berth but the Sale half-back did his cause no harm with 16 points in New Plymouth.

"It's great to get off to a good start for me personally," he said.

"There's been a lot of talk about Jonny and Steve and it was good to give Clive Woodward some selection problems."

It has been an up-and-down season for the 24-year-old, who received widespread criticism after taking over the kicking duties from Wilkinson for this year's Six Nations.

He is such a natural rugby player and has a great rugby brain on him Martin Corry on Hodgson

Although he had a disappointing campaign with England, Hodgson did not show any nerves in his first Lions display, which both coach Ian McGeechan and half-back partner Chris Cusiter called "outstanding".

"It is a massive honour to be playing in this jersey," he added. "It's something that I have been aspiring to for a long time now.

"Thankfully I got the chance to play and it's brilliant that we got the win. It's always important to get the first kick and I'm pleased it went over.

"But there is still a long way to go before the Test matches start and still a lot of rugby to be played."

Hodgson's performance also drew praise from captain Martin Corry.

Does anyone think that his good performance is somewhat futile? From DT Have your say on Scrum V

"I thought he was tremendous," Corry said. "When things weren't going well for us he controlled the game, he kept us moving forward, his kicking was brilliant.

"You need your fly-half to be vocal and an orchestrator and that is what he did.

"He reads the game so well. That is his great strength - he is such a natural rugby player and has a great rugby brain on him.

"When things weren't going well his confidence never suffered. He always has that ability to read the game."