That’s all from me, join me again on Tuesday for the final midweek match against the Hurricanes.
Cheerio!
Here’s the match report from our man in Auckland …
For all the huffing and puffing it's the All Blacks who have strangled the Lions!!! #LionsNZ0217
— Nick Evans (@nick10evans) June 24, 2017
Full time! New Zealand 30-15 Lions
You have to say New Zealand are thoroughly worth that win, probably by a few points. The Lions had some magical moments of their own but New Zealand were in total control. The dominated the gainline, they were on top at the scrum and they were lethal when they had their chances.
O”Brien’s try has a thing of beauty and the Lions will rue failing to take advantage when Davies broke down the left early in the second half but there were too many errors and too many penalties against. New Zealand force them however. Kieran Read was quite magnificent on his comeback and things will get harder for the Lions now next week in Wellington.
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Try! New Zealand 30-15 Lions (Webb)
80 mins: The Lions have advantage as Farrell tries to step in from the right. Back we go for the penalty. The clock is read but the new laws dictate that Sexton can still kick to the corner. Owens hits Faletau, the Lions have another penalty. We’re playing advantage, Webb throws the dummy, Davies can’t quite get there. Webb tries again though … and this time he’s over.
Farrell adds the extras and a little respectability.
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79 mins: The scrum will be re-set so we’ll go again. The Lions could really do with something to take with them here.
78 mins: The Lions work to ball to the left, Sexton’s pass goes out but it’s a knock-on from Barrett. Sexton thinks it was deliberate but it’s just a scrum.
77 mins: Lions win a penalty on halfway at the breakdown, Sexton goes for the corner, this time on the right.
Read goes off to a standing ovation.
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76 mins: The throw is overcooked though and Sinckler goes hard up the middle again.
75 mins: Cruden finds touch, Whitelock takes the lineout, and the All Blacks have another penalty. That’s No11 conceded by the Lions.
74 mins: Sinckler makes ground with a bust up the right, O’Brien then makes ground on the left but he’s penalised for holding on.
73 mins: Halfpenny is on for Williams. Faletau is penalised for taking the man in the air but Barrett, perhaps his first mistake, fails to find touch.
Try! New Zealand 30-8 Lions (Ioane)
71 mins: The Lions come forward through Davies but loses it … Williams can’t take the high kick and Ioane picks up the loose ball. Wowsers, Ioane turns on the afterburners – Daly is not slow but Ioane burns him on the outside. That’s the game.
Barrett knocks over the conversion to make it six from six.
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69 mins: Whitelock steals … Kruis charges down though. New Zealand take the lineout swiftly and Cruden has plenty of time to clear so we’ll have a lineout for the Lions on the All Blacks 22.
68 mins: The Lions have the advantage and we’ll come back for it. Cane pinged for blocking. Sexton goes for broke with the kick, it’s inch perfect. The maul has been very well defended so far but the Lions must take advantage of this. Webb and Owens on for Murray and George.
67 mins: Scrum to the Lions, on the left, on their 10 metre line. Time to make something happen. Murray puts in, Sexton dummies but is hit hard.
66 mins: Itoje steals it. Murray clears well in touch. That has just about kept the Lions alive. Taylor finds Read … but it’s not straight.
65 mins: New Zealand kick to the corner. Ominous.
64 mins: Ioane takes New Zealand up to the 22. The All Blacks are looking for the killer blow here, Barrett is almost there … it’s knocked on but we’re back for a penalty. The Lions are almost out for the count.
63 mins: Sexton restarts. The Lions have it all to do now. Perenara clears and Williams takes it under pressure … the Lions put width on the ball but Watson can’t take it, it’s a knock-on. He scrambles to avoid anything worse than a scrum to New Zealand in a dangerous area.
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Penalty! New Zealand 23-8 Lions (Barrett)
61 mins: It’s in front of the posts and Barrett will stretch New Zealand’s lead to 15 points.
60 mins: Warburton takes the lineout but New Zealand have stolen it. Dagg threatens on the right. Warburton doing what he’s brought on to do, slowing the ball down, but Read takes New Zealand to five metres. Itoje comes up with a thumping tackle. Cane takes New Zealand to a couple of metres out, we’re back for a penalty to the All Blacks.
Sinckler comes on for Furlong.
59 mins: SBW carries hard – New Zealand are winning the gainline at the moment. Lienert-Brown juggles but still has it. Barrett grubbers so we’ll have a Lions lineout near their 22, or where they don’t want to be in other words.
57 mins: Farrell kicks off for the Lions, who need the next score. Perenara is on for New Zealand and clears … it’s an untimely knock-on from Kruis.
Sexton is on for the outstanding Te’o. Farrell goes to 12.
Try! New Zealand 20-8 Lions (Ioane)
56 mins: Smith puts in, but we’ll go again. In it goes, and the scrum is going forward … the penalty is awarded but the ball bounces about and into Smith’s hands. New Zealand have numbers on the left, out it goes to Ioane and his over in the left corner. We’re going upstairs though … the Lions are hoping Read has knocked it on. He hasn’t.
Barrett’s conversion is from the touchline … and it’s straight through the posts.
Updated
Sam Warburton is on for Peter O’Mahony.
54 mins: The ball is loose and Daly is running on to it … but we’ll come back for a Lions knock-on in the tackle from Te’o. Excellent defence from Te’o though. New Zealand change their props.
53 mins: Taylor hits his man, Itoje is in the thick of it for the Lions … Cruden thinks he’s seen some space but it’s patient from the All Blacks.
52 mins: SBW grubbers, Williams collects it but his kick to touch is poor. Williams has a massive shiner and his head is bandaged. McGrath is on for Vunipola.
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51 mins: The All Blacks take a quick lineout … Dagg has it wide on the right near halfway.
50 mins: O’Mahony takes the lineout again. Murray box-kicks. Dagg takes it under no pressure though and Barrett kicks again, this one stays in though. Williams’s kick is allowed to bounce but Dagg evades the tackle. Smith clears and Williams knocks it on.
49 mins: Farrell thumps clear, Barrett takes it and measures his kick to touch. The Lions will have the lineout, just inside their own half. It’s raining.
Maro Itoje is coming on. Ardie Savea is already on for Jerome Kaino.
48 mins: New Zealand put in to the scrum just inside their 22. Smith gets it out, finds Cruden and then Ioane and the All Blacks are looking dangerous but Read has lost it forward. A let-off.
Cane it was that lost it forward, sorry.
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47 mins: Watson is stepping, and stepping, and stepping! He offloads, he should have held on to the ball. This is breathless stuff. Absolutely breathless. The Lions need to keep their heads though.
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45 mins: The Lions go for the corner, they go short with the lineout but can’t get the maul going. New Zealand have stolen it, but the Lions have it back, now the All Blacks have it back again and Dagg clears.
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44 mins: The Lions have burst down the left, Davies wriggles clear gives it to the left, then gets it back. Watson is almost there, then Williams has a go. What a break! The penalty is coming but will be there more? Te’o slips at just the wrong moment before Read wallops Farrell. The ball goes loose so we’re back for the penalty. Wow.
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43 mins: SBW then tackles Te’o just outside the Lions 22. It’s taken back so Davies’s kick stays infield.
42 mins: Te’o wallops SBW in the tackle. The legs were taken just too high. There was some feeling in that … Cruden finds a good touch though but the Lions have it back.
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Peeeeeeeep!
41 mins: Here we go again. Farrell kicks off … Daly takes the restart but it’s lost forward so there’s a scrum on the New Zealand 22.
Great half. NZ playing some top-drawer stuff, Lions doing outstandingly well to stay in it. Bench impact could yet decide this... #NZLvBIL
— robert kitson (@robkitson) June 24, 2017
The Lions, we must remember are still five points down, but they went an early try behind four years ago until a moment of magic from George North sparked new life into them. Is Liam Williams’ break going to have the same effect?
Half-time! New Zealand 13-8 Lions
Well, well, well – Gatland said he had something up his sleeve and Liam William at full-back has come up with an ace just when the Lions needed it. He started the move that ended in one of the great Lions tries in history, finished off by Sean o’Brien, just when the Lions needed it.
Things were looking ominous up until then. After an even, breathless opening New Zealand were on top, keeping the tempo high and forcing mistakes and penalties from the Lions. Taylor has scored their only try but they have looked threatening indeed.
It’s game on after O’Brien’s try though. Farrell could not add the extras, which the Lions would dearly have loved, but they are back in the game after the try which will give them oodles of belief.
Don’t go anywhere!
40 mins: Smith has pinched it though but Cruden is charged down. New Zealand have it back though and have advantage … it’s very messy. The Lions needs to keep their discipline here. Retallick brings them up into the 22. The LIons have turned it over though and Murray kicks out. And breathe again. Huge and crucial hit in there from Te’o.
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39 mins: Murray finds a good touch after the restart. He’s hurt his hand though, which will be a worry. New Zealand lineout but the Lions have stolen it. Farrell tries to go through the middle, then Te’o. Some points from this would be very nice …
Try! New Zealand 13-8 Lions (O'Brien)
37 mins: What. A. Try! Williams steps inside in his own 22 and arcs his way up the middle. He’s looking around him, he gets to halfway and offloads to Davies. Davies passes on to Daly, who looks to go in, then out, then back inside to Davies, who has O’Brien - where did he come from! – on his inside to splash over. What. A. Try! Farrell pulls his conversion though.
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35 mins: Watson can’t gather Barrett’s high kick cleanly but Farrell has it, Murray goes high but Barrett takes it from Watson.
Penalty! New Zealand 13-3 Lions (Barrett)
34 mins: Barrett from the tee, wide on the left but not quite from the touchline … and through it goes.
33 mins: Lienert-Brown is not a bad replacement though.
32 mins: Cruden hangs it up and Retallick taps it back. Kaino goes hard at Faletau and Read wriggles away and finds Crotty … Aaron Smith milks the penalty from George but Barrett kicks … Murray calls for the mark so we’re back for the penalty. Crotty is limping off here.
Penalty! New Zealand 10-3 Lions (Farrell)
31 mins: Farrell finds touch, the Lions move in to the New Zealand 22 after the lineout, New Zealand think they’ve stolen it but it’s a penalty. Farrell will go for goal. It’s there – the Lions needed that.
Updated
29 mins: Faletau takes it and the Lions have a penalty advantage. Farrell finds Daly with a crosskick. His gathered it … but he can’t get the pass away – had he seen Williams behind him the full-back was away. As it is we’re coming back for the penalty. Another chance goes begging.
28 mins: Ben Smith is off for a HIA – which means Barrett goes to 15 and Cruden to 10. Dagg comes in to first receiver and looks for Ioane on the left wing. It’s just overcooked though. Lions lineout.
27 mins: The Lions have it back and this looks promising, they’re approaching the Lions 22 but Jones spills the ball. Retallick nearly gets through – Aaron Smith’s kick is charged down by Furlong! But he can’t gather the ball, he’s knocked it on. Scrum-time.
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26 mins: There’s a break in play while George receives treatment. He’s good to go though and he’ll take the lineout. The Lions badly need the next score. George finds Jones, Te’o gets nowhere so Farrell kicks high.
25 mins: Barrett finds touch near the Lions 10 metre line after a short break. Taylor hits Read again but SBW loses the ball in contact and Murray kicks into space. Barrett is under pressure but stays cool. Aaron Smith eventual clears long with a superb kick.
23 mins: It’s a Lions scrum … Farrell is hit hard by SBW. This is a rare bit of possession for the Lions before Murray goes high again. Again the Lions get it back … but they’ve shipped a penalty. Too many of those.
21 mins: New Zealand have been ominously good so far and Kruis has been stripped. Barrett spills it though – the Lions needed that.
Try! New Zealand 8-0 Lions (Taylor)
20 mins: Free-kick against Furlong, Read goes quickly and now Ben Smith is stepping … Moody carries strongly and the All Blacks are up to the 22. The Lions are under increasing pressure. Jones makes an important tackle on Read but Kruis gives the penalty away. Aaron Smith goes quickly and the ball is worked to Taylor out on the right wing … and he’s over! Barrett knocks over a fine conversion from the touchline.
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16 mins: The All Blacks have a scrum after disrupting the Lions there. They’ll be happy with that.
15 mins: Ben Smith takes the restart and Aaron Smith clears to touch near halfway. George finds Jone but the Lions can’t get the drive going.
Penalty! New Zealand 3-0 Lions (Barrett)
14 mins: Barrett makes no mistake. New Zealand have already made four offloads by the by. Lions defenders must go a bit higher.
13 mins: New Zealand take the lineout quickly, this is relentless. Kaino carries hard, then SBW. Cane tries to step Faletau, then Retallick has a bust before the Lions are pinged for offside. Barrett will go at goal.
Updated
12 mins: The All Blacks are getting closer … Barrett looks for Ioane with a delicate chip wide but Watson takes a superb catch.
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11 mins: New Zealand have numbers on the left and are slowly making ground. SBW goes up the guts as Te’o makes a firm tackle on Barrett.
10 mins: Here comes the Lions maul after O’Mahony takes the lineout again. Murray kicks again but Dagg takes this one cleanly.
9 mins: Farrell fizzes a pass to Daly on the left touchline. Murray goes to the skies again, Ben Smith can’t take it. Another excellent kick from Murray so the Lions have it back. That’s a risky pass from Furlong though – and it doesn’t come off. Aaron Smith chips over the top so the Lions get away with that mistake.
7 mins: Aaron Smith puts the ball in, and out it comes. SBW and Crotty bosh up the middle, Smith wriggles free but the Lions have turned it over and Farrell boots it into space. Dagg then finds touch.
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5 mins: Barrett takes it so New Zealand have it in the middle of the field. Barrett tries a grubber, it hits Murray’s legs but Barrett’s pick-up is ridiculous. There’s a knock-on so we’ll have a scrum. And breathe.
4 mins: Taylor hits Read with the lineout. Aaron Smith box-kicks and Daly takes it but gets smashed back. The ball is out though and Vunipola carries before Murray kicks clear.
3 mins: No try! Fantastic scramble defence by Dagg, who got Daly into touch. Just Very encouraging for the Lions though and New Zealand are under pressure with a lineout five metres out. Whitelock takes it under pressure but the Lions are offside.
2 mins: Te’o charges up from the lineout, the Lions are up to the New Zealand 10 metre line … Davies ghosts up the middle! He’s got Murray on his inside! Murray can’t quite get there though. But Daly thinks he might be over in the corner! We’ll go up stairs …
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Peeeeeeep!
1 min: Here we go then … Barrett gets us going and Faletau takes the ball cleanly. Murray box-kicks and Watson gives chase. A sign of things to come? No one takes it cleanly but Aaron Smith gives away a penalty and Farrell finds touch.
Time for the New Zealand national anthem, Gatland opts against singing. Probably best. Now the haka, led by Perenara. Magnificent.
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And now here are the All Blacks … looking a little more relaxed than the Lions it must be said. The opening few minutes of this are going to be ludicrously fierce. Not long to go now …
Rieko Ioane is smiling from ear to ear. What were you doing when you were 20?
Here come the Lions, led by O’Mahony – Sean O’Brien looks like someone has just told him his favourite tractor is broken.
Here are your teams once more:
New Zealand: B Smith; I Dagg, R Crotty, SB Williams, R Ioane; B Barrett, A Smith; J Moody, C Taylor, O Franks, B Rettalick, S Whitelock, J Kaino, S Cane, K Read (capt).
Replacements: N Harris, W Crockett, C Faumuina, S Barrett, A Savea, T Perenara, A Cruden, A Lienert-Brown.
British & Irish Lions: L Williams; A Watson, J Davies, B Te’o, E Daly; O Farrell, C Murray; M Vunipola, J George, T Furlong, G Kruis, AW Jones, P O’Mahony (capt), S O’Brien, T Faletau.
Replacements: K Owens, J McGrath, K Sinckler, M Itoje, S Warburton, R Webb, J Sexton, L Halfpenny.
Drink responsibly ladies and gents …
Because drinking in your pyjamas on a Saturday morning is an ideal start to the weekend, here's the #LionsDrinkingGame#LionsNZ2017 pic.twitter.com/jNVfXHyfM3
— Dai Lama (@WelshDalaiLama) June 2, 2017
Just over 10 minutes until kick-off, time to set myself up for a fall. New Zealand to win by more than a score …
COIN TOSS: @lionsofficial have won the toss and decided the #AllBlacks will kick off.#NZLvBIL #LionsNZ2017 pic.twitter.com/iKmjX4HRVg
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) June 24, 2017
Some more pre-match reading for you, from yours truly, on Peter O’Mahony – British & Irish Lions captain.
A couple of late tries for Australia have seen the Wallabies home against Italy 40-27.
Sky Sports has gone montage crazy, meanwhile, I can’t stop putting bets on …
A wee bit of a bad language in this, but worth a watch nonetheless …
@gerard_meagher I'm sure PO'M' last words to the team will be short & impacting bit MJ in 2001 https://t.co/FzjExVlUMN
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) June 24, 2017
From the looks of things it’s been a fine day in Auckland, maybe the odd shower or two, but that will suit the All Blacks. It is probably a bit simplistic to bill this as attack against defence but there is little doubting New Zealand want an open game, the Lions a set-piece focused, territorial battle.
Well that settles it …
Decisive prediction from a Lions insider... #NZBIL pic.twitter.com/MZ2dOc3wxh
— robert kitson (@robkitson) June 24, 2017
Time for a bit more reading to whet the appetite – here’s how our columnist Nick Evans thinks things may pan out …
By the by, there are less than 10 minutes to go in Australia’s clash with Italy. Australia lead just 28-27 … woof!
You can follow that one here …
Hello!
And welcome to the first Test of the British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.
It’s the day of reckoning for Warren Gatland’s side – six matches down, four wins and two defeats but none of that will matter in a couple of hours’ time. Gatland has been bold in his team selection as the Lions arrive at Eden Park with a bit of momentum and supporters arriving in their droves and turn Auckland a sea of red.
There is no harder task in world rugby than facing the All Blacks in Auckland though. They have not been beaten at Eden Park since 1994 and have won their last 37 matches in a row there.
The dust has settled on Gatland’s somewhat surprising team selection, Liam Williams starts at full-back despite 80 minutes on Tuesday, Elliot Daly gets the nod on the left wing and Alun Wyn Jones starts ahead of Maro Itoje, meaning it’s the same pack as against the Crusaders.
New Zealand meanwhile, have, as expected, recalled their captain Kieran Read and Ryan Crotty at outside-centre. Rieko Ioane, just 20 years old, gets the nod on the left wing in place of Julian Savea.
The All Blacks are 1-4 for victory, the Lions 10-3 but there is a creeping feeling that New Zealand are a little concerned by the way the tourists have grown over the last few weeks.
Your teams are below but first, have a read of Andy Bull’s wonderful piece from Auckland.
New Zealand: B Smith; I Dagg, R Crotty, SB Williams, R Ioane; B Barrett, A Smith; J Moody, C Taylor, O Franks, B Rettalick, S Whitelock, J Kaino, S Cane, K Read (capt).
Replacements: N Harris, W Crockett, C Faumuina, S Barrett, A Savea, T Perenara, A Cruden, A Lienert-Brown.
British & Irish Lions: L Williams; A Watson, J Davies, B Te’o, E Daly; O Farrell, C Murray; M Vunipola, J George, T Furlong, G Kruis, AW Jones, P O’Mahony (capt), S O’Brien, T Faletau.
Replacements: K Owens, J McGrath, K Sinckler, M Itoje, S Warburton, R Webb, J Sexton, L Halfpenny.
Referee: J Peyper (South Africa).
Gerard will be here soon.
