The Lions threw absolutely everything at the All Blacks on Saturday night, squeaking home with a 24-21 win in Wellington. The result keeps the series alive heading into next week’s Eden Park decider, to the delight of rugby neutrals everywhere.
The match was not without drama, however, with a number of flashpoints dotted throughout the 80 minutes.
Sonny Bill sees red
What else would we start with? Replayed and rewound so frequently during the coverage it was basically a Boomerang. Old habits were the undoing of the former NRL enforcer when he went shoulder-first on Anthony Watson’s melon.
Watson, pinned by another tackler, ducked into the contact, but the replays were incriminating as Williams’ showed no intent to use his arms, crunching the neck of the ball carrier. The match officials deliberated, but referee Jerome Garces was adamant ‒ SBW had to go.
It changed the complexion of the game after just 25 minutes of figurative arm wrestling. The All Blacks, remarkably, still controlled the game for long periods but couldn’t quite hold on.
(AAP Image/Dean Pemberton)
Justice for Kaino
The most intriguing tactical shuffle came as a result of Williams’ dismissal. Kiwi coach Steve Hansen responded by hauling backrower Jerome Kaino off for Ngani Laumape on debut.
Laumape made a number of strong runs, bending an otherwise determined Lions defensive line. It also forced Anton Lienert-Brown into occasional scrum duty.
Presumably Hansen trusted the mobile All Black forwards to pick up the slack, but the game plan couldn’t do without a dynamic midfield ball runner.
Spare a thought for Kaino, who did nothing to deserve the hook. I mean damn, what would Jeromey Romey Romey Rome think? He wasn’t happy.
True grit from Gatland’s men
It would be remiss not to tip the cap to the Lions’ resolve. They needed the result and they got it. There were a couple of lucky breaks along the way, but they aimed up and took their chances.
Their discipline needs improvement ‒ they conceded 13 penalties and a yellow card ‒ but results live far longer in the memory than penalty counts.
The Lions had 39 per cent possession and 31 per centterritory, despite mostly playing with an extra man.
Despite this, they made four linebreaks to zero – zero! – missed nine tackles compared to 16, and ended up with two tries to none. It was the first time in three years that the Kiwis have been held tryless.
(AP Photo/Mark Baker)
When is a tackle in the air not a ‘tackle in the air’?
It ended up being the decisive call of the match. Charlie Faumuina aimed up for a regulation tackle in the 77th minute when Lions’ substitute Kyle Sinckler leapt to gather a high pass from Conor Murray.
He was deemed to take the man in the air illegally. Farrell stepped up to convert the penalty which won the game.
My understanding was that the rule only applied when jumping to catch kicks, but the wording of the law 10.4(e) under ‘Dangerous tackling’ merely states “A player must not tackle an opponent whose feet are off the ground.”
So, technically correct to the letter of the law, but farcical to enforce it as such. There’s no way Faumuina could have adjusted and Kieran Read rightly asked if he could win penalties simply by jumping into opponents.
It was one of many head scratchers by the referee who hardly endeared himself to the people of Wellington.
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A tale of two playmakers
The match might not have been a rollicking spectacle of expansive play but, in such a tense contest, game management was key. Owen Farrell had some nice touches and kicked five from six under pressure.
Johnny Sexton marshalled his troops well at 10 and threw some killer passes, including one to put big Jack McGrath through a hole to set up Murray’s try.
Both aimed up well in defence, and they had plenty of allies on that front.
In contrast, Beauden Barrett and Aaron Cruden both kicked away crucial possession late on, looking uncharacteristically flustered.
Roll on, Eden Park.
ClarkeG
Guest
Gee does that guy connor have things going on or what.
ClarkeG
Guest
thanks darling.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Overall discipline stats. Red Cards 1,0 Yellow Cards 0,1 Makes the world of difference.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Phantom, I like your point about consistency. That is a great the starting point, with a preference on enforcing the rules correctly. It is curious though...... When us Wallabies fans went off our trolleys during the England tour about the same inconsistent rulings from the same ref for many of the same players we were labeled as whingers, But when the shoe is on a the other foot, in this case a black boot.......
Faith
Guest
The major thing here is that the BILs actually scored two tries when both teams had 14 men on the pitch. It could be argued that the ABs were exhausted from playing with 14 men for so long but that itself shows that the BILs deserved to win this game. Another major thing is that Barrrett's kicking game deserted him when he needed it and that was a major factor going into this. It's amazing that over the last few years the ABs are always beaten when the ref is tipping factor in the match. And it has now happened twice on the watch of a French referee. But there are other selection issues here that led to this result. The lack of Ben Smith's composure at the back is a major issue. Dagg's miss on Faletau just points to my fears at the beginning of the game. I think Coles leadership is also sorely missed. The ABs should start with their most experienced team. Cruden has been really gone missing in this series ... all that said, let's not forget that the best of the North could only beat the ABs with 3 points with a dodgy call ...
Marto
Guest
Suck it up Buttercup !!..hahaha..
Jacko
Guest
1 loss in the last 6 and 2 losses in the last 25 games...Please google stuff before just plain lying
Jacko
Guest
The week before that was about 6 trys better v Samoa....But get all excited about a Lions try if that gets your jucies flowing
Jacko
Guest
Nobody the point about being equal is that surely in the same game you expect the ref to rule and punish in the same way...In other words if a player gets a harsh punishment for something then you expect the next infringement also gets a harsh punishment...If the ref is soft then you expect it to be consistant for the whole game...Surely you dont expect the ref to hand out reds to some foul RED CARD THRESHHOLD offences but not even give a penalty for other RED CARD OFFENCES....Its not about doing anything wrong just to have equal amount of players...its about ruling consistantly during the whole game...This wasnt done in this game
Aem
Guest
Same standards? Illegal contact to the head sure wasn't held to the same standards... the Vunipola attack was a clear red - ball wasn't near, a cynical attack on a defenseless playmaker on the ground, with a swinging forearm to the head. Yep. Totally the same standards. ....lol.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
It was in the second test between the Lions & the All Blacks in Wellington 01 July 2017 :)
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Yea, lucky we have the AMERICAS CUP to tide us over until next week... 326 million people and an aussie crew v little ol nz... (yea i know with an ex pat kiwi leading Oracle....)
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Fair comment :) but still a patently rubbish decision..
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Sorry P'Ale, the citing panel being Australian does not lessen my view the decision is rubbish. I could see the defence there and mentioned it before the hearing but the straight swinging arm was not headed for the ball at any time, it was headed straight for Naholos head from the get go. But i guess those on the citing panel have the same seeing eye dog and bias Georgie has. However as Dublin Dave mentioned swings & roundabouts... so move on... but as in my old working days motto on the street, "Never give in and never forget" ..
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
In Australia perhaps Was Catchpole born in NZ ?
adastra32
Guest
You lost. Get over it.
Waxhead
Guest
All this game proved is that 4 nations with x20 the population and 15 players are only just good enough to beat 1 country with 14 players ? Owen Farrell is the most over-rated player in world rugby atm. Lion's would have done much better with Teo and Sexton kicks just as well.
Crustymtb
Guest
I disagree. The outcome reflected the game and it could have gone either way. The inconsistency went both ways and did not improve the game for either team. Your bleating legs the NH and aussie trolls perpetuate the bad losses schtick so can it please.
Nobody
Guest
SOB is cleared. Is it ok to say I think Garces had a great refereeing performance now? Still too soon?
Derm
Roar Guru
Absolutely, Tman, I was one of those who thought Lions would only win 2-3 matches and be whitewashed in the series. As were you. I'm simply pointing out the facts of what has occurred so far on the tour which run against many of expectations/predictions before the tour. The win yesterday surprised me. And it sets it up nicely for next week. It's hardly excitement though, is it?