DRAMATIC LIONS COMEBACK LEVELS THE TEST SERIES   1 Jul 2017

DRAMATIC LIONS COMEBACK LEVELS THE TEST SERIES

Second-half tries from Taulupe Faletau and Conor Murray had brought the Lions back into a game it looked like they were going to throw away but Farrell made no mistake in the 77th minute and the Lions head to Auckland level in the three Test series after a 24-21 victory.

Follow the second Test live with our matchcentre!

Three penalties each from Beauden Barrett and Farrell had sent the two sides in level at the break in a first half marked by a red card for Sonny Bill Williams for a no arms tackle on Anthony Watson.

But after the break it looked like the Lions were going to let a golden opportunity slip as ill-discipline plagued them – Mako Vunipola shown a yellow card – and Barrett turned the screw from the tee.

But after the hour-mark the Lions made their advantage count at last – as Faletau and Murray both went over for well-worked tries and when Farrell added the extras to the second one the game was level heading into the final ten minutes.

And in the 77th minute Kyle Sinckler was tackled in the air and the stage was set for Farrell to hand the All Blacks their first loss on home soil since 2009.

Join The Pride! Get Lions news direct to your inbox!

Still stinging from last weekend’s first Test defeat, the Lions came roaring out of the blocks seeking to make amends – Alun Wyn Jones with an enormous first up tackle while his second row partner Maro Itoje was everywhere.

The Wales lock spoiled an early All Blacks lineout in the wet weather while both back threes were being put to the test in an aerial bombardment.

But Itoje also knocked on when an early Lions attack was gathering momentum – Farrell and Jonathan Sexton dovetailing nicely in midfield – as the clinical edge was still lacking for the tourists.

And Barrett – having hit the post with an early range finder – gave the home side the lead soon after with a penalty won by the front row at scrum time.

Farrell’s response was almost immediate, Brodie Retallick offside at a breakdown nearly halfway and the England playmaker banging over a nerveless long-range effort.

Having levelled things up, the game’s decisive moment arrived soon after – Williams shown a straight red by Jérôme Garcès after consultation with the TMO for a no arms tackle to the head of Watson.

That prompted an immediate reshuffle from Steve Hansen, Jerome Kaino withdrawn for Ngani Laumape as the centre came on for his Test debut while Anton Lienert-Brown was packing down at flanker at scrum time.

But the Lions struggled initially to make the most of the numerical advantage and when Murray failed to roll away it was Barrett who put the hosts back in front at 6-3.

Itoje helped regather the re-start however, and Farrell slotted his second penalty straight away to restore parity.

Keen to press home their advantage, the Lions were their own worst enemy as half-time approached – Sexton kicking dead while Mako Vunipola was pinged at a breakdown to allow Barrett to restore a three-point lead.

But before the interval the Lions scrum finally began to earn some dominance to put them on the front foot and although Watson could not quite gather Murray’s clever cross-kick, advantage was being played and Farrell sent the two sides in level at 9-9.

After the break the hosts continued to play smart with 14 men, Laumape carrying hard in midfield but Barrett missed a penalty from in front to give the Lions a reprieve.

Although it was only temporary as a Murray high tackle then gave the fly half another go and he made no mistake to make it 12-9.

The Lions defence was water-tight, indeed it took until the 50thminute for them to miss a tackle, but they could not get a foothold in the second half.

The All Blacks were doing well to take the sting out of the game although Barrett missed another kick, he also slotted one to make it 15-9 as ill-discipline plagued the tourists.

And it got worse before the hour-mark, a dangerous clearout on Barrett earning a yellow card for Vunipola and the fly half twisted the knife to make it a two-score game at 18-9.

Reinforcements arrived soon after for the Lions, Courtney Lawes the first to be introduced and the Lions immediately responded.

From lineout ball off the top, Sexton wrapped around to release Watson down the right and when the ball came back left, Liam Williams fed Faletau who showed great power to brush off Israel Dagg and go over.

Farrell’s conversion was off-target but the Lions were back in it, trailing only 18-14 until replacement Sinckler went offside and Barrett did the rest to make it a seven-point game with 15 minutes remaining.

But once again the Lions dug deep and after Jamie George’s initial burst made inroads it was Murray who sniped over from close range for their second try of the half.

Farrell’s conversion sailed over this time though and the Lions were level at 21-21 with ten minutes left.

And after Sinckler was tackled in the air on the charge by Charlie Faumuina, Farrell made no mistake from in front of the posts and the Lions held on to secure a famous victory, their first over the All Blacks in 24 years.

Source:  LionsRugby.com




 

Add a comment

News

Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students

29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more

New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process

7 Mar 2020 News By Rt HON WINSTON PETERS
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more

Business

NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19

17 Mar 2020 Business News By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more

NZ Government announces aviation relief package

19 Mar 2020 Business News By Hon Phil Twyford
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more

Living

Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London

6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall. It was the first... more

Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate

12 Jan 2022 Arts By Charlotte Everett
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...  New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more

Property

Fairer rules for tenants and landlords

17 Nov 2019 Property By Minister Kris Faafoi
17 NOVEMBER 2019 The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more

New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax

17 Apr 2019 Property By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more

Migration

Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued

19 Nov 2019 Migration By Hon Iain Lees-Galloway
19 NOVEMBER 2019 We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more

Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location

18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018 HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more

Travel

Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more

New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas more

Sport

The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners

27 Oct 2019 Cricket By Charlotte Everett
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more

PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final

26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more

Columns

Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade

11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade First published on Werewolf The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more

Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome

10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell   Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more

Kiwi Success

Congratulations to Loder Cup winner

26 Sep 2018 People By Hon Eugenie Sage
25 SEPTEMBER 2018 The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more

Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO

16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO HON JENNY SALESA Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more

Recruitment

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

14 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

22 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more