The All Blacks and British and Irish Lions have drawn the third Test at Eden Park in a tense and thrilling encounter 15 points apiece, and have subsequently drawn the 2017 Lions series.
It was a fast paced and furious affair as both sides threw everything they had into this deciding Test match as it went down to the wire.
The All Blacks dominated the opening exchanges, starting at a furious pace as they kept the Lions pinned in their half, the eventual pressure telling as a cross kick from Beauden Barrett was slapped back by his brother Jordie for Ngani Laumepe to scoop up and open the scoring, which Beauden duly converted for the early lead after the first quarter.
The Lions, however, would claw their way back into the match, both sides looking to play expansively but neither executing well and two penalties to Owen Farrell saw the All Blacks with a slender one-point lead heading into the shadows of halftime before an attacking raid from the All Blacks.
Anton Leinert-Brown ran onto a superb offload from Laumepe to set Jordie Barrett free to score on debut and the All Blacks led at halftime by 12 points to 6.
The Lions would turn up the heat in the second half, an early penalty from the kick off by Elliot Daly from a staggering 55 meters set the tone and the Lions would again work their way back into the match.
Another Owen Farrell penalty locked the scores up as both sides struggled at times with the defensive pressure.
A yellow card to Jerome Kaino stalled the All Blacks momentum after catching Alan Wyn Jones high –
pivotal for the Lions as they kept the New Zealanders at bay.
An All Blacks penalty from a collapsed scrum saw Beauden Barrett break the deadlock however with five minutes to go.
Farrell nailed another penalty from 45 out to lock the game up, and the Lions were good enough to hold out a final onslaught from the All Blacks, forcing the New Zealanders out five meters from the line to finish the match.
It was tense and at times brutal and neither side will be completely satisfied with the final result, execution letting both sides down at crucial moments.
Of course, the usual referring controversies will surround the match, but it was a fantastic contest and in the end probably a fair result overall to cap off what has been a fantastic series.
soapit
Guest
nz rugby may lose some dollars in broadcasting with each game last half an hour
soapit
Guest
im sure youre right clarke. say would you like to buy a bicycle? let me know if ur interested and i can send you pics.
soapit
Guest
clarke, please dont let my disinterest in your opinions regarding me stop you from sharing them yet again in future, i'm sure its doing some good on your end. i have similarly non existent interest in discussing these opinions with you so i'll leave you with them
ClarkeG
Guest
Well...if I am in whatever state I'm in, it would only be a pittance of the state one Kieran Read has you in.
ClarkeG
Guest
Soap...(I believe myself to be an independent arbitrator?? )...gee is that your best childish quip you can think of. You have an axe to grind...I'm going to spare myself the need to paste the comments you made. You are simply being pedantic. That is my opinion of your view of proceedings.
soapit
Guest
please dont let my posts work you up into such a state clarke.
soapit
Guest
wanna make a call when he'll be next reffing an ab home game? your emoticon didnt come thru btw. not sure if that changes the final sentence tone
soapit
Guest
i believe that thats your opinion. im sorry if insisting on statements being accurate is too pedantic for you. im sure it not suiting your argument probably makes it seem a little more pedantic tho
soapit
Guest
clarke your post contained nothing that surprised me either. perhaps you arent the independent arbitrator you believe yourself to be tho.
soapit
Guest
rebel seeing you are apparently incapable of adhering to your "i'm not talking to soapit" rule im going to have to step up for you and not give you any further response. i will say again you not jumping into discussions i am having with others will help me help you in future.
In Brief
Guest
Imagine if like tennis or cricket, winning was based on performance, not time. Instead of stopping the game at 80 minutes, both teams had to win two halves. In order to win a half you have to score a set number of points. Would be more meaningful in my opinion.
ClarkeG
Guest
hmmmm........i think you probably need to elaborate on that.
ClarkeG
Guest
Yep ...there has been more talk about rugby in NZ in the past 6 or so weeks than I can remember.
ClarkeG
Guest
How so...if you have looked at them that is.
ClarkeG
Guest
Many of those penalties are 50/50 calls much like the assistant tackler not releasing. They can just as easily go for you as against you.
ClarkeG
Guest
Yes .... it is possible for more than one thing to be true.
ClarkeG
Guest
Drongo keeps quoting the law but apparently not reading them
ClarkeG
Guest
it's wasted breath Chivas
ClarkeG
Guest
yes and why don't you read it then attempt to understand what you read
ClarkeG
Guest
Chivas ...honestly I think you are flogging a dead horse. He either does not understand the law or he is pretending not to understand it.