The British and Irish Lions have snagged a 24-21 win over the New Zealand All Blacks and levelled their series at one win apiece.
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Final score
All Blacks 21
British and Irish Lions 24
The British and Irish Lions head to Wellington 1-0 down and desperate to keep the series alive against the All Blacks. The Kiwis held the visitors at arm’s length for much of last week’s 30-15 win in Auckland. Join The Roar for live scores and updates from 5:35pm AEST.
It’s been a tough old tour for the Lions. They let a lead slip against the Hurricanes to draw 31-31 in midweek.
The result follows a string of underwhelming performances, including early tour losses against the Blues and Highlanders which left coach Warren Gatland short of backup plans.
There’s little choice now but to throw everything at the indomitable All Blacks this Saturday to avoid a deflating series defeat.
New Zealand go into this one without fullback Ben Smith who was concussed after headbutting the Eden Park turf last week. Ryan Crotty also misses out after tweaking a hamstring.
As a result, Israel Dagg shifts to fullback, Waisake Naholo grabs a spot on the wing, and Anton Lienert-Brown starts in the centres.
The big news from the Lions camp is in midfield. Gatland has shuffled the deck and will start with two playmakers ‒ Johnny Sexton at 10 and Owen Farrell at 12 ‒ in a bid for more creativity. Former NRL star Ben Te’o drops to the bench.
Meanwhile, George North and Robbie Henshaw are on their way back to the UK with injuries.
Prediction
With the series on the line, the Lions will be good for a kitchen sink performance, but it’s hard to see this Kiwi juggernaut tripping up anytime soon.
Chances are it will be a grinding encounter ‒ plenty of mauling and tough defence, but trying to contain this All Blacks side for 80 minutes is a fool’s errand.
Kiwis by 12.
Join The Roar for live scores and updates from 5:35pm AEST.
Jemainok
Guest
Fionn it gets worse everytime you look at it.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Well Colvin, Only the BILs got someone sent off for an exact same offence minutes apart and it wasn’t even looked at, when it was clear and obvious. The Ref wasn’t working with his AR’s and the TMO. See what I did there?
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Clarky, please take a leaf out of soapit's book and read what I actually say. Then have a crack at forming your own response rather than jumping on the bandwagon of another poster who has a comprehension breakdown. Good lad.
colvin
Guest
Well Neil, Only the ABs got someone sent off. Sean O'Brien's swinging arm knocked out Waisake Nadolo and it wasn't even looked at, when it was clear and obvious. The Ref wasn't working with his AR's and the TMO.
ClarkeG
Guest
Neil...how?..."By inferring the Lions were disadvantaged by the ABs being one down with sixty minutes to go ..." as Taylorman said. That's how. Your comment and further comment is just as silly (if not sillier) as the one made by the other poster where you said they let them-self down. So what if NZ went to a kicking / territory game. As if that would not have happened anyway. The Lions should have asked the referee if SBW could stay on....it will throw us if he is sent off...we will be better for the next 60 mins if we have to play against 15 men. Yeahhh right....
soapit
Guest
he didnt tman. he just said it threw the lions off. it can happen some times
taylorman
Roar Guru
By inferring the Lions were disadvantaged by the ABs being one down with sixty minutes to go. Not a bright comment.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Not 'Entirely' the truth, across thousands of fans...how perceptive. Yes let's see what happens with a Lions win at Eden park. Pretty sure you're not really too confident of that. So many things went the Lions way and on top of that the ABs played terribly, and they just scraped in here. How many of those factors do you think will be the case twice in a row?
Percycutor
Roar Pro
Mighty game from the Lions they defended with pride and passion the full 80 minutes. For some reason the ABs made a change to their game plan by deciding to go back 10 years and kick everything to test the Lions back three. Missing 3 penalties worth 9 points may have been enough for the ABs to sneak the win but being further behind may have forced the Lions to further attack resulting in more points. So it sets up Game 3 I feel NZ buckled under pressure during the week, Hansen got off topic talking about having a beer with Gatland and being generally very appraising of the opposition. As a result the ABs were caught out and the Lions were more desperate to win, and ultimately were mentally more in tune to get the desired result. Even with 14 men the ABS were awful, completely outplayed, surely and history has proven they don't usually put two of those performances together. But with a french ref and a wet Eden Park next week...
taylorman
Roar Guru
Well clearly that was after a few MH, pity you couldn't recognise the slurring, the level of some oz fans in denial reaching record highs after that one.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
You really do need to be quiet now
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Whining about the refs is generally the last bastion of the beaten. Garces arguably got it equally wrong for both sides on occasion last night but show me an infallible ref and I'll show you a SH unicorn; otherwise known as a SH ref who alone understands the proper laws of the game, applies them fairly, with great humour and outstanding communication skills. Yep, mythical too. Whatever else happened last night, Garces won a lot of admiration everywhere for having the guts to correctly dimiss one of the Royals from their own garden party. The fact you have to go back to Meads is no coincidence.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
No I didn't. NZ went to a kicking and territory game through necessity and the BILs gave endless pointless penalties away, particularly through the opening of the second half. It's not insignificant that the Lions scored one of their two tries when the sides were equal at 14 a piece - or that NZ didn't. I have to ask where was the onfield leadership to reorganise and exploit the extra man and where was the same input at halftime from Gatland? So now why don't you tell me how I let myself down?
soapit
Guest
not to mention we have nowhere else to be
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
I hope you by now know that people know that I am not anti-AB. Tough tough Test, and SBW's red card for sure hade a huge impact. But it was a red card. I will write more tomorrow, but I can't help to feel that feeling that the AB's somehow gave that this one away. Before the Test, I could not help myself thinking that something is not right... Just too much talk about this one being the last test ever the Lions would play in NZ and yada yada yada... But again, I come back tomorrow and write something more, I am too driúnk right now. And okay, no matter how drunk I am now, to beat NZ away, is always gonna be special. Very special.
ads2600
Guest
As if Barrett doesn't, I saw him kick it a few times when he had "run out of ideas", as you put it. Don't let your bias get in the way of a valuating players.
Daveski
Guest
Who's fault Was that Ralph!
Daveski
Guest
Beauden the Iceman. Not.
double agent
Guest
In front too. Not good. I can forgive. He is destined for greatness.
Daveski
Guest
You're kidding! You had ten... ten!!! .... shots at goal courtesy of the ref and still couldn't win