The Lions have done what many thought to be impossible, in the process giving themselves hope to claim a series no other Lions touring squad has been able to win since 1971.
The Lions had to overcome a lot to defeat the All Blacks on Saturday night, and in doing so managed something many in the international game have never done. It was a great gave, and the Lions deserved the win – and that’s coming from an All Blacks fan. I hope te Lions bring a higher level of intensity and physicality with fewer errors to next week’s game, which I cannot wait for.
But even before considering the next game the Lions have broken some seriously cool stats.
In All Blacks history there have been only three red cards dealt, including the one on Saturday to Sonny Bill. Sonny becomes the first player ever to be red-carded in a Lions series.
The last All Black to have been red carded was Sir Colin Meads in 1967 against Scotland in Murrayfield. Meads was only the second All Black to be red carded in history since Cyril Brownlie in 1925 against England for participating in a brawl, and remarkably Brownlie was the first ever international to be red-carded.
The All Blacks haven’t lost a test in New Zealand since 2009, when they came off second-best to the mighty Springboks at Hamilton. Since then the All Blacks have been undefeated at home for 47 test matches across New Zealand.
The last time the All Blacks have been kept tryless was in 2002 in a Tri-Nations opener against the Wallabies.
Wyatt Crocket has now been part of an All Blacks test lost. As of November 2016 Crockett held the record for most consecutive tests, at 43.
This is the first time legends like Sam Warburton, Alun Wyn Jones and many of the Lions players have beaten the All Blacks.
Now the Lions set out to do what no other team has done since 1994: defeat the All Blacks in Eden Park to claim the series. Good luck to both teams. I hope all players bring their A-game and that the match isn’t defined by errors or foul play.
piru
Roar Rookie
You're welcome captain underpants How long do school holidays go?
Marto
Guest
^ Thanks Captain Obvious or is it Captain Oblivious ?
Tommy
Guest
Absolutely I'll even say may the best team win. Hoping abs!! but after watching the first two tests" I think the lions have the better back line. Can't wait, God I'm going to cry if we lose.
Tommy
Guest
Absolutely I'll even say may the best team win. Hoping abs!! but after watching the first two tests" I think the lions have the better back line. Can't wait, God I'm going to cry if we lose hahaaa but this is what i love bout rugby.
piru
Roar Rookie
If the Lions can win at Eden park they deserve to win the series, no ifs or buts
Gonzo
Guest
Never Piru. It was the single most devastating blow to the Lion's chances in that series /s.
piru
Roar Rookie
They will literally never get over this will they? Rich coming from a group who think Kiwis are sore losers
Gonzo
Guest
I can't wait for Jokerman's article about bringing out the cat. But I suspect he's in mourning HA. I'm a huge fan of the ABs but seriously, anything can happen in 80 minutes of football and the incessant back slapping that went on after Game 1 from AB fanatics was nauseating. I think the ABs will roll the Lions in Game 3 by some margin. You always learn more about who you are after a loss than you do a victory and that bodes really badly for any other team that has to play these blokes this season. Remember what the ABs did to the world in 2015 when the Wallabies beat them in Sydney?
Gonzo
Guest
Hardly brave. It was a clear red. As for the O'Driscoll tackle in 2005, build a bridge. Nobody remembers that tour because of him. They instead remember the masterclass that Carter put on in the second game to etch himself in the history books as one of the greatest 10s ever.
David
Guest
2002 was the last time they were held tryless at home. Australia stopped New Zealand scoring tries twice- an 18-18 draw in 2012 and a 12-12 draw in 2014, I believe
Robbo
Guest
Conor Murray is the only present Lion to have beaten the ABs twice and scored a try in both tests. Once for Ireland at Chicago Field and again on Saturday. I'll hazard a guess that no past Lion member has achieved this feat! To do so would mean his national home country team would've beaten the ABs and he' have scored a try in that victory. Then he'd have won a Lions cap, gone to NZ, participated in a Lions victory and scored another try to boot. There have been many famous Lions try scorers and victories against the mighty ABs, all as rare as hens teeth. Even rarer for a home country to beat the ABs. This will put Conor Murray in the roll call of Lion's greats. As to the SBW tackle let's remember that as an act of bastardy none surpass the spear tackle on Brian O'Driscoll in the opening minute of the 1st Lions v ABs test in 2005. Last week they were targeting Conor Murray. This is the weakness of the ABs. They resort to underhand tactics and spite when competing against quality opposition. In the pre match preps this will be a thought that flits through the head of every AB. And the ritual of the Hakka underscores the psychology while the opposition must stand mute. So I'm glad that for once a referee has been brave enough to make the call.
Rt
Guest
I thought the last time the all blacks were held try less was 2013 or 2014 v wallabies (12 all I think).
Derm
Roar Guru
New Zealand broke their own records. Sonny Bill Williams tackled badly and got himself sent off - nothing to do with the Lions. New Zealand gave away some penalties that Lions were able to kick. New Zealand missed tackles that allowed Lions to score tries - the first of them when there were 14 players on each side. New Zealand failed to score a try. It's all New Zealand. Nothing to do with the Lions. ;)
stojo01
Roar Rookie