That’s about all from me but do join me again for the Highlanders match on Tuesday.
Cheerio!
Robert Kitson’s match report
Warren Gatland's reaction
“We needed that, didn’t we? It was about the result. The performance was pleasing, our defence was outstanding, lineout excellent, we knew we were gong to get a good performance. We know we can get better but having quality opposition is going to give us great preparation for the All Blacks.
“We created a couple of chances but people talk about they’ll probably be the Super Rugby champions, people talk about it as a fourth Test. I would have liked to see Watson have a go at Dagg one on one and we were a bit unlucky when Williams went down the left. The most pleasing thing was the result and that we feel like we were improving.”
Reaction
Alun Wyn Jones: “We had quite a few line breaks that we didn’t finish off again, we had to match them at set-piece time. We made a few dents but we didn’t capitalise on them. It’s a 41 rather than a 23 but the 23 showed up today. There are bits to work on but it was an improvement again.”
Owen Farrell: “I thought we caused them some problems at times, hopefully we’ll be able to finish the chances off in the future matches but it’s a step in the right direction.”
Full time! Crusaders 3-12 Lions
A hugely impressive win for the Lions, who have breathed new life into their tour. It’s a victory built on defence, they suffocated the Crusaders – I’d imagine you have to go back a long way to find the last time they only managed three points.
The Lions still left some tries out there but they created more chances than against the Blues and with Murray and Farrell kicking superbly and a monstrous pack squeezing the life out the Crusaders, it’s a well-deserved victory.
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80 mins: Dagg knocks on inside his own 22 and that’s the game. Andy Farrell has a big smile, and so he should. The Lions have been fantastically defensively.
78 mins: Hunt, on for Mo’unga, looks for Dagg on the wing but his kick is too heavy and we’ll be back for a Lions lineout. The Crusaders look done for as Murray box-kicks again.
77 mins: Penalty at the scrum for the Crusaders – that’s the first one the Lions have given away in the second half.
76 mins: Murray and Faletau combine well and Murray box-kicks. Dagg misses the ball completely but the Crusaders win it back and go high themselves. They’re making good ground but the referee has called them back for taking a quick lineout from the wrong position.
74 mins: The Lions get things wrong from their lineout though so it’s a Crusaders scrum near the Lions 10-metre line. Now or never for the Crusaders really. Dagg runs up the middle but he’s been held up so the Lions have the put-in.
Raynal is checking the tackle though … but nothing doing.
72 mins: Crusaders put the ball through the hands and work it to the left but North tackles his man into touch.
Penalty! Crusaders 3-12 Lions (Farrell)
71 mins: Farrell can’t miss from in front of the posts and the Lions now lead by more than a score. It’s looking good for the tourists.
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69 mins: Stander has a rumble and Jones is almost there. Farrell goes wide, really wide to North, who pops inside to Watson. The move breaks down when they’re pinged for crossing but the have advantage.
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68 mins: Mo’unga and Watson kick to each other but the Lions have it near halfway. Farrell, Sexton and Te’o link up well and the Lions are just a few metres short …
67 mins: Dagg wellies clear so the Lions have a kick near their 10 metre line. Owens is on for George, who picks out Jones.
66 mins: Two box-kicks there, the second a superb kick from Murray and the Crusaders are all the way back on their 22 for a lineout. The Lions’ defence holds firm.
65 mins: The ball is loose … Goodhue hacks downfield. Watson does well to scramble but the Crusaders pile in and turn it over. The Lions have it back though with a North intercept.
64 mins: Bridge, who is not having a very good game, cannot hold on to Murray’s box-kick so it’s a Lions scrum not far from the Crusaders 22.
62 mins: Things are beginning to open up a bit but the Lions’ remain rock solid defensively and Bridge knocks on under pressure from North. Scrum to the Lions. Itoje is on for Kruis and McGrath replaces Vunipola.
60 mins: The Crusaders are on the attack but the Lions are superb in defence. The ball falls for Watson, who streaks clear down the left, Sexton is with him but the Irishman’s pass back inside is fumbled by Stander! Another chance goes begging.
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58 mins: The TMO says knock-on against Williams so it’s a scrum for the Crusaders.
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57 mins: Really powerful from Vunipola, who keeps going and going before Stander has another run. Great hands from the Lions backs … Williams chips forward, Watson has it and thinks he may have scored!
Lots to check for Raynal though.
55 mins: Kruis takes the lineout again and they’re up to halfway. Watson’s pass to Williams is poor though so it’s a scrum to the Crusaders out on their right.
Stander comes on for O’Brien, who has had an excellent match on his first appearance of the tour.
54 mins: Scrum to the Lions near their own line … Crockett is among the front-row replacements for the Crusaders but it’s a penalty to the Lions. The crowd are booing the referee. Hard.
52 mins: Woof, what a step and break from Goodhue, he leaves Farrell for dead … his kick is superb but Bridge can’t gather! He should have.
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50 mins: Mo’unga clears but Williams does will to keep it in and Watson has a mazy run. Te’o crashes up but it breaks down when Williams knocks on.
The Crusaders have changed their entire front row.
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48 mins: Farrell spots some space in the left-hand corner and picks it out with a superb kick. Just what the doctor ordered for the Lions.
46 mins: Sexton goes to the skies and it’s knocked on so the Lions threaten again but the pass from Te’o to Williams, after a fine line-break, is, well, rubbish. Scrum time.
45 mins: The Lions are recycling well and going through the phases and have won another penalty. It’s also central so Farrell will go at goal … but he’s off target, just. It’s right over the top of the upright and could be costly.
42 mins: The ball is loose and Farrell hacks forward. It’s a good kick and North is putting pressure on Dagg, who has to tap the ball out so it’s a lineout for the Lions in the Crusaders 22.
This one is poor though and Whitelock takes it before Mo’unga clears.
Peeeeeeeep!
41 mins: Mo’unga kicks off … and Jones takes it before Murray clears. Hall dinks over the top but Williams wallops clear.
An interesting email from Robin Hazlehurst …
A proper northern hemisphere arm wrestle this. Kiwi commentators on my feed blaming the ref saying that NZ players are used to refs constantly communicating “you’re offside, get back onside” etc, but this French ref just penalises them and they are surprised. They want a southern ref who will apply the rules that suit them better. Two French refs in the tests though, significant? NZ players won’t be allowed to be offside all the time.
Half-time! Crusaders 3-9 Lions
So much better from the Lions, who lead at half-time for the first time this tour. Right from the word go they have been in the Crusaders faces with Murray and Farrell bringing exactly what was hoped of them. The scrum is strong – but they certainly have the benefit of the doubt in the eyes of the referee – and the lineout is going really well with George and Kruis combined.
But in the backs, with front-foot ball, Murray, Farrell and Te’o are combining well and putting the Crusaders under real pressure. The Crusaders have been rattled, Mo’unga has been a bit jittery but they have looked dangerous on the odd counterattack and the Lions did well to hold firm under their own posts.
The Lions have had chances – Davies came close early on and had Hogg found Williams on the left they were in – and they must score tries to win matches on this tour. Davies and Hogg are both off with head injuries though so Farrell is playing at 13, rather than 12, with Sexton at fly-half.
A monumental second half awaits – the next score is huge.
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40 mins: It’s a great kick from Farrell, right on the five-metre line. George finds Kruis, the ball has gone to ground but the Lions still have it. It’s with the forwards on the 22. Farrell is smashed by Romano. Te’o steps his way past a defender and then Faletau has a go … the hooter has gone. Williams finds some space on the right … but the Lions have been turned over.
The Crusaders fancy a counterattack but Bridge slips so when the ball is recycled Mo’unga kicks it out. And breathe.
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39 mins: Watson does well with a horrible bouncing ball and after good hands from the Lions and a strong carry from Te’o fown the left, it’s another penalty. Out of range, just, so the Lions go for the corner.
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38 mins: The Lions are awarded the penalty at the scrum and again the Crusaders aren’t happy at all. Farrell boots the ball clear.
37 mins: It’s taken at the back of the lineout but the Crusaders have lost it forward – Vunipola knocks it out of Taufua’s hand in the tackle. The Lions are delighted with that.
36 mins: The question is try, yes or no … there are number of angles but it’s hard to see anything really so the TMO says it’s inconclusive. Back for the penalty.
Mo’unga goes for the corner! Wow.
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35 mins: The Crusaders have kicked to the corner though so the Lions are still under pressure. Her comes the the Crusaders maul, it can’t get there but they are a metre short under the posts. And they have advantage … the Crusaders think they have scored. We’ll go upstairs just as soon as the forwards stop scrapping.
34 mins: The Crusaders turn it over though and Mo’unga charges up the middle! He can’t get there and the Lions scramble. They’ve conceded the penalty but we’ll play advantage … Mo’unga kicks across field for Tamanivalu but George, yes George, beats him to the ball.
33 mins: Dagg almost gets through down the left but the ball goes to ground, Murray picks up it up and runs …
Penalty! Crusaders 3-9 Lions (Farrell)
31 mins: Murray finds Williams, who can’t get through but the Lions have another penalty. It’s under the posts and Farrell slots it over.
30 mins: George finds Kruis again and the Lions get the maul going, but not very far.
29 mins: Davies is off for a HIA which means Sexton will come on at No10 and Farrell shifts to centre – but to 13 it seems with Te’o staying at 12. Interesting. The Lions have a penalty on halfway … Farrell kicks for the corner. Well.
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28 mins: Crusaders have the put in close to their own line. It’s in and out and Bridge clears well. The Lions have a lineout on halfway.
26 mins: Romano can’t take the restart again! Williams pounces on it and the Lions are threatening, Davies comes flying in on a great line after a step from Farrell but he can’t hold it.
Penalty! Crusaders 3-6 Lions (Mo'unga)
25 mins: Mo’unga makes no mistake. That should settle him down after a nervous start.
24 mins: Hall and Todd combine well down the left – the first time the Crusaders have got around the Lions defence – and the home side have a penalty. Mo’unga will take aim at goal …
23 mins: Taylor goes over the top again but this time scrum-half Hall is there to collect so the Crusaders have it just in side in the Lions 22. They’ve lost it though and after a couple of phases Murray box-kicks.
22 mins: That’s a great scrum from the Crusaders and it has flared up because of it. All 16 forwards getting stuck in. Franks won that penalty against Vunipola – the Crusaders clearly frustrated by the earlier scrum penalties. Mo’unga finds touch on the right again.
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After Hogg had gone close, the ball pinged around for a while, not for the first time so when we’re back underway it’s a scrum.
Watson is on for Hogg, and will stick with full-back.
20 mins: Kruis takes the lineout and the Lions put the ball through the hands, Hogg has a dash, he had Williams outside him but could not get the pass away – it was a try if he did. Hogg is injured – his face collided with Murray’s elbow and there’s claret everywhere.
19 mins: It’s another scrum penalty for the Lions – Graham Rowntree will be delighted with that, though the Crusaders are not happy. Farrell kicks to the corner.
18 mins: The Lions have turned it over after Taufua knocks on. Farrell is charged down – North may have been pinged for offside but we’ll come back for the scrum.
Penalty! Crusaders 0-6 Lions (Farrell)
16 mins: Farrell doubles the Lions’ lead. This has been a really good start from the Lions. There’s more edge to them and Murray and Farrell and keeping the tempo up and kicking well.
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15 mins: Farrell sends up a bomb and Mo’unga lets it slip under no pressure so the Lions have a scrum in a promising position. Penalty to the Lions, that’s yet more encouragement for the Lions. Moody it is that is penalised. Farrell will go at goal again …
Penalty! Crusaders 0-3 Lions (Farrell)
13 mins: The Crusaders are penalised on their 10-metre line for being off their feet, it’s pretty central so Farrell will go at goal, and sends it through the posts.
11 mins: O’Mahony takes the lineout and the Lions earn a few metres with a powerful drive before Murray clears long. Good stuff from the Lions, doing the basics well.
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10 mins: Free-kick to the Crusaders this time. Mo’unga looks for Bridge with a cross-kick. It’s on the money but North and Hogg bundle him into touch.
8 mins: The Crusaders lineout misfires again. Farrrell takes a quick tap, finds Murray who chips over the top and Mo’unga slips but the Crusaders clear. It’s chaotic, the ball is clearly greasy, but the end result is a scrum to the Crusaders near the Lions 22.
7 mins: It goes over everyone’s heads though and Murray clears to touch.
6 mins: Farrell goes high, Williams chooses not to contest and the Lions are pinged for offside. Mo’unga finds an excellent touch this time so the Crusaders have a lineout about 10 metres out.
5 mins: The Crusaders power up through the middle but the ball is held up so it’s a first scrum … this Crusaders pack has six All Blacks in it but the Lions win a free-kick.
4 mins: The Lions are stopped in the tracks when Hogg is turned over by Taufua. Mo’unga finds a decent touch. That’s something the Lions will have watch out for at the breakdown.
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2 mins: The Lions come again. Farrell and Murray are fizzing passes around. Much sharper already from the Lions. O’Brien has had a couple of bruising carries already.
Peeeeeeeeeep!
1 min: Farrell kicks off … Romano doesn’t take it, Jones does so the Lions have it and Farrell puts Davies in space! North is clear in the corner if Davies can find him but Bridge intercepts. Ooosh. Great start from the Lions.
Time for the Crusaders’ haka … feisty.
Here’s what our man on the ground has to say …
Proper game of rugby coming up here...could set the tone for the rest of the tour. #CRUvBIL
— robert kitson (@robkitson) June 10, 2017
Here come the Lions, through a daunting temporary tunnel. Jones leads the side out. A win today would get the tour right back on track but the Crusaders will be a step up from the Blues. The Crusaders are now on their way out. It looks like a chilly night in Christchurch but the atmosphere seems to be crackling.
The horses are out on the field, which means kick-off is not far away …
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@gerard_meagher PO'M & SO'B will bring a savage level of intensity to the Lions game. 'Chomping at the bit' is an understatement 4 these 2
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) June 10, 2017
John is expecting big things of the Ireland back-rowers today and he may have a point. The second row also has a strong look to it – Alun Wyn Jones and George Kruis teaming up for the first time – and Ben Te’o and Jonathan Davies have a great chance to put one arm through a sleeve of the Test match jerseys.
It’s hard to escape the feeling that how Owen Farrell plays will largely dictate how the Lions fare though.
So, we find ourselves in the strange situation where the Crusaders are favourites with the bookies. Can’t have happened too often to the Lions before, as the bright-eyed Sky Sports pundits point out. I’ve had a stab on the Lions to squeak home though …
The Lions aside, there’s also a huge amount of international rugby elsewhere today. Australia have already beaten Fiji 37-14 with tries from Israel Folau (2) and Henry Speight (2) while a bit later on Italy host Scotland, South Africa play France, the USA welcome Ireland, England are in Argentina, it’s Canada v Georgia, Japan v Romania and completing the set Brazil v Portugal. Woof!
Funny …
Steve not happy AirNZ don't do 1st class anymore! pic.twitter.com/8P052chkn9
— El Capitan (@ElCapitan28) June 10, 2017
Hello!
And welcome to the third instalment of the British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand. It’s the so-called “Fourth Test” against the Crusaders, who are unbeaten in Super Rugby all year, in a match that has a bit more spice to it after the Lions’ defeat by the Blues.
Warren Gatland continues to insist that the Test series is all that matters but another defeat, against what is probably the strongest Super Rugby side they will face, will increase the pressure on a side who are still clearly struggling for cohesion. Gatland has also claimed that today’s lineup is not necessary a sign as to who he will pick for the first Test but this XV has a strong look to it. Conor Murray gets his first outing and Owen Farrell his first start and by hook or by crook, the Lions will be desperate to get a win under their belts.
It will not be easy though. The Crusaders have nine All Blacks in their 23, eight are starting, including the whole tight five. If they can negate the influence of the Lions’ scrum and lineout and play to their attacking strengths the tourists may be in trouble. Kieran Read and Ryan Crotty will both be missed but Richie Mo’unga is in fine fettle at fly-half and his battle with Farrell will be fascinating.
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Here are your teams in full
Crusaders I Dagg; S Tamanivalu, J Goodhue, D Havili, G Bridge; R Mo’unga, B Hall; J Moody, C Taylor, O Franks, L Romano, S Whitelock (capt), H Bedwell-Curtis, M Todd, J Taufua. Replacements B Funnell, W Crockett, M Alaalatoa, Q Strange, J Brown M Drummond, M Hunt, T Bateman.
British & Irish Lions S Hogg; G North, J Davies, B Te’o, L Williams; O Farrell, C Murray; M Vunipola, J George, T Furlong, AW Jones (capt), G Kruis, P O’Mahony, S O’Brien, T Faletau. Replacements K Owens, J McGrath, D Cole, M Itoje, C Stander, R Webb, J Sexton, A Watson.
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