That’s about it from me, as ever thanks for reading and go join me again on Saturday for the Maori All Blacks v the British & Irish Lions.
Cheerio!
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Warren Gatland reacts
“We didn’t nail a few big moments that were pretty important,” he says. “We got ourselves pretty comfortable at 22-13 ahead, the penalty count was reasonably heavy as well, that’s a concern but to be in front like that and let it slip is disappointing.
“We were a little bit inaccurate, we tried to play a lot of rugby. They’ve kicked the ball smartly and we haven’t retained possession – we didn’t play enough territory in the first half. We came out in the second half, started well. We thought we could be smart and finish the game off but it didn’t happen for us.
“Going into the Test matches we’re going to be battled hardened because this is the best rugby nation in the world. The players are learning that we have to play for 80 minutes.”
Here’s the match report from our man on the ground, Robert Kitson …
No need to press the panic button for the Lions, but plenty of things that need to be worked on. Should Farrell have taken the kick when he had just come on and Laidlaw had been on for a while? Should Daly have gone for goal from so far out? Why did the scrum misfire?
In terms of positives, they managed three tries – more than the previous two matches combined – and Warburton was much better as the game wore on. Stander also really grew into it, which is impressive considering he looked tired in the first half.
Injuries are mounting for the Lions though. They’ve already lost Stuart Hogg for the rest of the tour while Courtney Lawes suffered a nasty looking head injury and Dan Biggar also limped off.
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Sam Warburton reacts
There was a string of four penalties in that second half, it just gave them too much territory and momentum and they got points off them eventually,” he says.
“For this game, we had to keep the penalty count to single figures and for one reason or another it wasn’t. We gave away too much possession at the breakdown, give them credit there but we turned over a bit too much ball in attack. We scored a few tries but we have to try and come away with wins from these games.
“Saturday was huge for us but the Maori game is going to be the biggest challenge of this tour [so far].”
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Full time! Highlanders 23-22 Lions
The Highlanders have struck back for the Super Rugby franchises. They’ve won a breathless match, by a single point thanks to Marty Banks’ nerveless penalty. It’s not all doom and gloom for the Lions, who scored three tries and looked more impressive in attack but the fact that the Highlanders were on top at the scrum will concern the tourists.
It was nowhere near the Lions’ first-choice side, but the same can be said for the Highlanders who are delighted with themselves. The Lions led 22-13 at one point but 10 unanswered points have led to a second defeat. The tourist have now won two and lost two with the Maori All Blacks next up on Saturday.
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80 mins: The Lions have it, in their own half but the Highlanders know they can’t give away a penalty. Haskell is stopped, Farrell fizzes a pass and it’s a deliberate knock-on from Hemopo so Farrell thumps it to the corner. Last chance for the Lions – they fouled this up against the Blues, though they’re nowhere near as close to the Highlanders line. It’s taken comfortably but Farrell tries to put the onrushing Joseph through the gap and the centre can’t gather it. Highlanders win!
79 mins: The referee has pulled Daly back a few metres but it’s probably within his range … but he can’t quite nail it. He was close, mighty close. That metre or two may have been the difference.
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78 mins: It’s in and out at the scrum, but Stander wins the turnover and the Lions whip the ball through the hands but Seymout is bundled out. The Lions are playing advantage though and back we come for the penalty. It’s inside their own half but Daly fancies his chances … wow!
75 mins: The Highlanders deal with the restart this time, and they have won themselves a scrum too. The crowd are loving what they’re seeing at the moment.
Penalty! Highlanders 23-22 Lions (Banks)
74 mins: It’s from a very similar place to his first kick … and Banks makes no mistake, right through the middle. The Highlanders lead!
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73 mins: Another scrum penalty for the Highlanders, and it’s flaring up. Graham Rowntree won’t be happy with how the Lions have gone at the scrum today … Banks will go at goal. It’s a hard kick, out on the right.
71 mins: Walden kicks through again but Daly does well to mop up. Banks goes high and Buckman takes though and the HIghlanders are up to the Lions 22. They’ve turned it over though – Lions scrum after Daly’s clearance kick, with advantage, is charged down.
70 mins: Excellent from Hemopo, holding up Jones to win the scrum for the Highlanders, right on halfway.
69 mins: Farrell’s first involvement is a kick at goal … the crowd are booing and he’s pulled it. Banks gets us going again.
68 mins: We’ll come back for the penalty. The Lions are opening up a bit, offloading a lot more. You get the feeling that might be pre-meditated for the last 15 minutes. Biggar is limping meanwhile, off he goes for Farrell, Tipuric is on for Warburton.
67 mins: Laidlaw alleviates some pressure with a deep kick … Buckman follows suit but the Lions have it on halfway. Stander rumbles forward, his best carry of the night, Daly almost dances clear and the Lions have a penalty advantage.
66 mins: Laidlaw goes high but Nowell reclaims. The Lions offload well out of the tackle until Henderson gives it away. Great turnover from Warburton though.
65 mins: The Highlanders are awarded a penalty at the scrum. Cole is livid about that. Banks boots clear, has it again and sends one up to test Daly, who takes it and marks it, over his shoulder. Daly hammers clear but back come the Highlanders.
63 mins: Just as the Lions did, the Highlanders have made a messy of the restart so the Lions have a scrum inside their opponents’ 22. Meanwhile, Daly is on for Payne.
Try! Highlanders 20-22 Lions (Coltman)
62 mins: The Highlanders are over! It’s a excellently executed driving lineout. Only the second try from one of those this tour. Coltman hits his man and comes round to finish off. Game on! Banks strikes a fine conversion and it’s back to two points.
60 mins: The Lions are under more pressure though – a penalty conceded at the lineout gives Banks the chance to kick back to the corner. Warburton is told to tell the Lions to watch their discipline.
59 mins: The Lions turn it over though! Excellent defence from the Lions and Laidlaw wallops into touch. It was Henderson with the turnover, he’s been so much better than he was in Whangarei.
58 mins: It goes to the front but the maul goes nowhere. Naholo goes hard and straight but can’t get through. It’s slow ball but the Highlanders have another penalty advantage. Still with the forwards, the Highlanders lose it, take the quick tap and Naholo has another rumble …
57 mins: Banks is on for Sopoaga, fyi, and will kick for the corner after the Lions are penalised for offisde. That’s a throw of the dice as Banks is an excellent goalkicker.
55 mins: Yikes. Payne has been excellent under the high ball so far but he fumbles Banks’ restart so the Highlanders have a scrum on the Lions 22 and a chance to immediately hit back.
Try! Highlanders 13-22 Lions (Warburton)
54 mins: Laidlaw, who is on for Webb, puts in. Laidlaw fires a flat pass to Joseph but he can’t quite get there. It’s another advantage, Joseph has another crack, this time on the left. Henderson goes close, Payne can’t get clear … Henderson again, and then Warburton picks and goes, and he’s over! Biggar adds the conversion from in front of the posts. The captain will have enjoyed that!
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51 mins: That’s very loose from Sopoaga and the Lions are looking to pounce on the loose ball near the Highlanders line … Fekitoa and Naholo do very well to clear but the latter stepped on the deadball line according to the referee and the Lions have a five-metre scrum.
Penalty! Highlanders 13-15 Lions (Sopoaga)
50 mins: Sinckler was the guilty part, and he’s swiftly taken off. Cole is on in his place while Owens is on for Best. The Highlanders penalty is in front of the posts so Sopoaga takes aim and is on the money. Two points in it.
49 mins: The Highlanders are up to the Lions 22. Naholo shows his power and the Highlanders are playing advantage. The referee stops play because Naholo is down and too close to the ball. The winger looks in a fair bit of pain but he’s on his feet.
48 mins: Henderson rumbles forward and the Lions are into the Highlanders 22, only for the tourists to be pinged for obstruction themselves. Sopoaga finds a decent touch.
47 mins: A let-off for the Lions. Whitelock takes the lineout at the back but the Highlanders are pinged for obstruction but Biggar misses touch … Li goes high but Payne takes it well and Webb throws a dummy and goes.
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46 mins: The Lions clear their lines through Biggar but here comes Naholo with the chip over the top. Webb mops up but the Highlanders have a penalty inside the Lions half. Sopoaga kicks to the corner – Best was the offender at the breakdown.
Try! Highlanders 10-15 Lions (Seymour)
43 mins: Try from nowhere for the Lions! Sopoaga tries his second kick-pass of the second half. The first went to hands but Seymour pinches the second from Fekitoa and runs unchallenged to the line. He’ll be delighted with that after a tough first half. Biggar misses the conversion, his first miss of the day.
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Peeeeeeep!
41 mins: Sopoaga gets us going again. Stander is smashed by Hemopo, who has been everywhere for the Highlanders. Webb clears but Buckman returns it so the Lions have a lineout not far outside their 22.
John makes a good point here, Stander is not having the kind of impact he’d like.
@gerard_meagher the back row not doing much damage, CJ looks knackered not at his barnstorming best today!
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) June 13, 2017
Half-time! Highlanders 10-10 Lions
That’s an excellent first half, the best we’ve had on this tour yet. The Highlanders have been relentless in attack, mixing things up with some clever kicking but the Lions, while not quite as defensively sound as last Saturday, have restricted them to just one try through Naholo.
It did not take long for the Lions to hit back though – Joseph showing some fine footwork of his own to glide over. Webb and Biggar are playing very well together at 9 and 10 and the Lions have had further chances, Sinckler bursting through but Payne unable to gather his pass. The Highlanders too have had chances but the Lions have scrambled well.
It’s perfectly poised for a belting second half.
40 mins: Another Lions lineout, this one on halfway. The maul makes little ground so Webb goes high. Naholo takes it, there’s the hooter, and the Highlanders kick the ball out.
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39 mins: The ball is ripped by the Lions, who have lineout on their 22. Best hits Jones, who is taken out in the air so the Lions have the chance to clear.
38 mins: Walden has been trying these grubbers all day and this time Li gets clear down the left. He fires the ball in field, Walden can’t gather so Webb boots clear. Highlanders will have the lineout on the Lions 22. It’s messy but they have it back.
36 mins: The Lions have it back and that’s a great pass from Biggar to put Sinckler bursting through midfield. He ghosts past Lienert-Brown but his pace to Payne is not great and he can’t gather. It’s another example of a missed chance for the Lions.
35 mins: This is a belting contest and we’re back underway with a Lions scrum, a near their 10-metre line. Biggar goes to the skies but Naholo take it and Hammington box-kicks. Biggar runs round to find touch but Buckman takes it quickly.
33 mins: Lawes is off permanently, which is no surprise. It was a horrible head injury, but here come the Highlanders on the right through Naholo. They’ve lost it in midfield though and Nowell makes ground on the left. Biggar is down and play gets too close to him so there’s a break in play.
On the replay, Li cuts Biggar in half. He’ll be OK to carry on though.
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Try! Highlanders 10-10 Lions (Joseph)
31 mins: The Lions can’t make any headway from the rolling maul but they have the advantage and work it from right to left. Biggar steps inside his man and finds Joseph, who turns on the gas and no one can stop him! The Lions have hit back. Biggar nails the tricky conversion so we’re all square. Joseph has not been at his defensive best but he’s the Lions with the best footwork out there today.
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29 mins: Biggar gets us back under way with a long restart but Naholo claims Sopoaga’s kick. The Highlanders break again through Li, who flies up the left and in field towards the Lions 22. He’s penalised for holding on though so Biggar punts clear. Owens is back on for Best.
27 mins: Alun Wyn Jones is on for Lawes, who was hit hard by Naholo. A very nasty looking blow to the head. Henshaw was unhappy with the try, he felt he was blocked off by Ainley, but nothing doing.
Try! Highlanders 10-3 Lions (Naholo)
26 mins: Owens is on as a blood replacement for Best. Lawes steals the lineout but the Lions give away the penalty. The Highlanders take it quickly and Fekitoa dances past Joseph. Walden and Whitelock are almost there but Naholo spins past the tackle and dances his way over. He was 10-1 to score the first try. Buying money. Sopoaga makes no mistake with the extras.
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25 mins: Ainley takes Coltman’s throw. The Highlanders are just a few metres short but the ball is lost, Stander pounces on it and Biggar hammers clear into touch.
24 mins: Fekitoa this time with the delicate kick but Payne mops up again. The Highlanders win another penalty at the breakdown though. Stander again among the Lions at fault. Sopoaga into the corner this time.
22 mins: Biggar goes for the crossfield kick for Seymour. It’s well measured but Seymour can’t gather. He’ll be disappointed with that. Scrum Highlanders.
20 mins: Fekitoa breaks one tackle and Walden grubbers through. Payne does well to get there first but the Highlanders take a quick lineout. The Lions will have a scrum though after a knock-on.
19 mins: It’s a tricky one, from out on the right, Sopoaga, and he’s pulled it wide to the left.
18 mins: Webb’s box-kick is partly charged down and Sopoaga tries to chip over the top. Joseph does well to take it and spin though but the Highlanders have won the penalty at the breakdown. Stander is pinged for holding on. Sopoaga opts for the posts.
Penalty! Highlanders 3-3 Lions (Biggar)
Neither are tries. Seymour’s is inconclusive and Webb drops the ball just before dotting down. We’ll come back for a penalty for the Lions. Biggar goes at goal … he’s in front of the posts.
Fekitoa is coming back on.
16 mins: Seymour is agonisingly close, and Webb thinks he’s managed to get his way over. We’re going upstairs, the referee wants to check both Seymour’s and Webb’s efforts. Try, yes or no for both …
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15 mins: Banks finds touch but because the scrum was just outside the 22, we’re coming back for the lineout. Best hits his man and Henshaw barges up on the short ball. Lawes isn’t held and the Lions are just short, with advantage …
13 mins: Lions on top at the scrum but out it comes. The Lions have it on the 22 but they’re being forced backwards. Haskell tries to pick and go … and drops the ball.
12 mins: Webb goes on the short side, throws and dummy ans Nowell is in support! He’s made good ground but he’s hauled down and the scrum-half’s loose pass gives possession away. The Lions have it back quickly though, and they have a scrum. Fekitoa is replaced by Banks, off for a HIA.
11 mins: Fekitoa is barged out on the right by Webb and we can catch our breath as the centre gets a bit of treatment. the Highlanders do look dangerous with ball in hand but the Lions’ line speed, as last Saturday, is ferocious.
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9 mins: A bit of kick tennis is ended when Fekitoa pounces on Webb’s loose pass. The Lions scramble and win it back though. Webb’s box-kick is a decent one but the Highlanders spread it to the right and Hammington kicks clear.
8 mins: Sinckler, Henderson and Lawes come up with some powerful carries and the Lions are inside the Highlanders 22. Hemopo holds up the maul though so we’ll have a scrum. Encouraging gain-line presence from the Lions though.
6 mins: The Lions gather Biggar’s hanging restart and Fekitoa smashes Henshaw.
Penalty! Highlanders 3-0 Lions (Sopoaga)
5 mins: The Highlanders come back for a penalty but that is sign of how dangerous they can be. Sopoaga was at the heart of it, but Payne’s tackle on Naholo was excellent. Henshaw also did well on the left against Fekitoa. Sopoaga can’t miss the penalty though after the Highlanders opt for the posts.
4 mins: Henshaw tries to kick but misses the ball, the Highlanders have it now, with advantage, approaching the 22. Naholo races on to a grubber … but he’s just short. The Highlanders look to have an overlap out left but Fekitoa goes himself.
2 mins: Naholo slips past Seymour on the right, a sign of things to come perhaps but Lawes turns it over.
Peeeeeeeeep!
1 min: Biggar kicks us off … it’s a first test for Payne under the high ball. He can’t take it cleanly but he gets away with it and Biggar goes to the skies. Nowell knocks on so the Highlanders have it.
Here come the Highlanders, led by Luke Whitelock, brother of Sam, and a bagpiper.
The Highlanders, unlike the Blues and the Crusaders, have opted against a haka before today’s match. But they will present the Lions with a claymore sword.
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Here’s more on Stuart Hogg’s withdrawal from the tour …
Struggling to pick this one. The Lions XV have huge pressure to continue to momentum built by Saturday’s win but not quite the fear of failure. They will also be out to individually press their claims which could potentially be a bad thing. The Highlanders have not quite hit the heights of their 2015 Super Rugby winning campaign this year and are missing seven players but they can certainly play and will be out to do so from the off under the roof.
A reminder that the Highlanders are missing seven players who are away on international duty with either New Zealand are the Maori All Blacks, which means no Aaron or Ben Smith. We will get to see Waisake Naholo on the wing though. He’s 10-1 to score the first try …
It’s a huge shame for Hogg. He has been named player of the Six Nations for the last two years but he didn’t really get the chance to showcase his running talents.
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Gatland is talking to Sky Sports about Hogg … he confirms that provided the Lions make it through today’s match without further injuries he believes there is enough cover at fullback. He also expressed concern over Hogg’s sight had he played any further part on the tour.
So it’s 15 changes for the Lions, following the defiant victory over the Crusaders last Saturday and Sam Warburton heads the list of players determined to stake their claim for a place in the Test XV. His situation is slightly different to the others – Warburton is trying to prove his fitness whereas players such as Joe Marler, Rory Best, CJ Stander, Robbie Henshaw and Jonathan Joseph are all looking to catch they eye. Indeed, if any of these backs can show the kind of finishing ability that has so far been conspicuous by its absence then they may force Gatland’s hand.
The big news of the day is that Stuart Hogg has been ruled out of the remainder of the tour following his unfortunate injury suffered against the Crusaders. Hogg inadvertently clashed with Conor Murray’s elbow and he has suffered a facial bone fracture. Hogg will return to Scotland but the Lions have opted against calling anyone up as a replacement.
“I’m gutted to be leaving the Tour at this stage,” said Hogg. “It is an honour to have been involved in a second British & Irish Lions tour and I have hugely enjoyed my time with the squad and I’m very excited about the potential of this group. I’m disappointed to be leaving in this way but wish all the squad the best in the coming weeks and will be cheering them on from home.”
It is a blow for Hogg and it is also a blow for Warren Gatland. The Scot had an off night in the tour opener against the New Zealand Barbarians but looked more assured against the Crusaders until injury struck. Jared Payne starts at fullback against the Highlanders but Anthony Watson, who impressed off the bench last Saturday, would appear to be in pole position for the No15 jersey now. Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams are other options.
“It is hugely disappointing for Stuart to have to return home early and for us to lose one of our touring party,” said Gatland. “Stuart has been a key member of our squad on and off the field and it is disappointing to see injury cut short his time with us in New Zealand. We all wish him the best with his recovery and we look forward to seeing him back in action in the future.”
Rugby, bloody rugby....commiserations to Stuart Hogg on his injury-enforced early exit from the #LionsNZ2017 tour.
— robert kitson (@robkitson) June 13, 2017
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Hello!
And welcome to the fourth match of the British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.
It’s the Highlanders for Warren Gatland’s side, who reach the southern most point of their trip before heading north to Rotorua but while there’s no doubt a chill in the Dunedin air, today’s venue is the Forsyth Barr stadium, complete with roof, which makes it the hardest, fastest track they will play on in New Zealand.
That may bode well for Gatland’s try-shy side but better for the Highlanders, who love to keep the tempo up and the pace high. Today will be another test for Andy Farrell’s defence but there is almost a sense that while the Lions will certainly want to maintain momentum after their impressive win over the Crusaders, the pressure is not quite what it was.
Gatland has selected a team full of players who need a strong showing to force their way into his Test plans, including the Ospreys half-backs Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar, who are two of eight that started against the Blues last Wednesday. Sam Warburton is captain and is another who needs to prove he is up to speed with such little rugby in the past couple of months.
The Highlanders are missing seven players who are away with New Zealand and the Maori All Blacks, including their Smiths, Aaron and Ben, but do field Lima Sopoaga, Waisake Naholo and Liam Coltman, who have all been released by Steven Hansen to play in this fixure.
Kick-off is at 8.35am BST and here are your teams.
Highlanders: R Buckman; W Naholo, M Fekitoa, T Walden, T Li;
L Sopoaga, K Hammington; D Lienert-Brown, L Coltman, S Tokolahi, A
Ainley, J Hemopo, G Evans, D Hunt, L Whitelock (capt).
Replacements: G Pleasants-Tate, A Seiuli, S Halanukonuka, J
Dickson, J Lentjes, J Renton, M Banks, P Osborne.
British & Irish Lions: J Payne; J Nowell, J Joseph, R
Henshaw, T Seymour; D Biggar, R Webb; J Marler, R Best, K Sinckler, C
Lawes, I Henderson, J Haskell, S Warburton (capt), CJ Stander.
Replacements: K Owens, J McGrath, D Cole, AW Jones, J
Tipuric, G Laidlaw, O Farrell, E Daly.
Gerard will be here soon.
