“I’m a pretty happy clown this week,” says Warren Gatland. “We go to Auckland with everything to play for. I thin we were the better team and deserved to win. We gave away dome soft penalties which were disappointing. We need to rectify that.
“When we got the ball in their half we stressed them. With Sonny Bill Williams off it makes it difficult for them but I’m proud that we’re 1-1. But we know what happened in Chicago and what happened the next game after that.”
That’s about all from me. Thanks very much for reading – be sure to tune in next week!
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Here’s the match report from our man on the ground …
“I’m not stunned,” says Steve Hansen. “I’ve always said it’s a very good side but we didn’t help ourselves by losing a player. He made the call, whether it was wrong or right is not the issue. The Lions deserve the win. Happy for them but we’re disappointed. But I’m proud of our guys.”
Lost in among the celebrations, that inch-perfect clearance from Murray was on the volley. Absolutely outrageous.
“The Lions were probably the better side,” says Kieran Read. “But we had our chances but got ahead and we couldn’t keep it. We had the energy levels but he couldn’t execute. It sets it up nicely for next week.”
“Half a job done,’ says Sam Warburton. “It’s great that we got it to 1-1 but we’ve got to win the Test series.”
He also acknowledges the penalty count, which was too high. “The one disappointing thing was the discipline.”
Full time! New Zealand 21-24 Lions
I’m not quite sure how the Lions have managed to win that but they have inflicted a first defeat on the All Blacks in Wellington for the first time since 2003. Farrell’s kick it was that sealed the victory but they had so little territory in the second half and scored two wonderful tries. Let’s not forget how long New Zealand played with 14 men – a full 55 minutes – but the Lions have levelled the series on a night when defeat would have further called into question their very existence.
80 mins: A minute to go. Keep it simple and the Lions are home and dry. Ardie Savea is playing like a bull. An absolute bull.
So, it’s a Lions lineout. Inside their 22. First things first, George needs to hit his man. It’s not clean so Murray kicks and it’s worked perfectly. The All Blacks go quickly. Barrett chips but O’Brien has it. The Lions have it. The clock is red. The Lions have won! The Lions have won in Wellington to square the series!
79 mins: The All Blacks gather the restart. and already they are up to the 22. Ioane looks like he’s got space on the left! but he spills it. Davies hacks on but Barrett brings it back. Cruden goes for the cross-kick. It’s out!
Penalty! New Zealand 21-24 Lions (Farrell)
78 mins: Never in doubt!
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76 mins: The All Blacks are scrummaging with seven … bold but they back themselves. The Lions play it through the hands … and Sinckler is taken out. It’s a penalty. It’s dangerous. He’s tackled in the air and it’s well within Farrell’s range. What a huge kick this is!
75 mins: Laumape spills it. Farrell looks to kick. He’s charged down but it’ll be a Lions scrum right on the halfway line.
74 mins: New Zealand have a lineout near the Lions 10-metre line. Read is smashed back but Sinckler. Itoje hits Lienert-Brown. Itoje hits Cruden. The Lions are forcing the All Blacks back.
72 mins: George throws in ti Faletau and O’Brien crashes up but the Lions are penalised for blocking. A let-off for New Zealand. Silly mistake again.
71 mins: Discipline! Discipline! Discipline!
Itoje takes the restart cleanly again. The Lions form the maul but it’s going sideways so it goes through the hands. Daly grubbers but Williams is bumped by Cruden so it’s a penalty to the Lions. Not quite within range though so Farrell finds touch.
Try! New Zealand 21-21 Lions (Murray)
70 mins: Davies crashed up to the 22. George breaks the line! Murray grabs it and goes. And he’s over! A fantastic finish. What a break from George and what a try. The Lions are back to within two with a conversion to come … through it goes. All square!
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68 mins: Cruden takes the restart and Barrett finds touch. Not a great deal of distance though, just outside their 22.
Penalty! New Zealand 21-14 Lions (Barrett)
67 mins: Barrett lines it up from inside the 22, to the right. Through it goes. Seven points the gap.
66 mins: In the ball eventually goes as Laumape barges over the gainline. Cruden grubbers … Iaone can’t quite get there! But we’re back for another penalty.
64 mins: Smith chips over the top but Daly is there to wallop it down field. It’s too long though and goes all the way out! It means the All Blacks have a scrum on the Lions 22.
Savea is on for Cane.
63 mins: Itojes the restart, the Lions maul goes nowhere so Murray clears as Watson chases well. Faletau has a bit of a carry as Murray kicks again. Iaone, in off the fields it.
On comes Sinckler for Furlong.
62 mins: Huge kick this for Farrell, Right out on the touchline. It’s nowhere near. So the gap is four points.
60 mins: Nearly another penalty but they play on with the lineout. The ball goes to the right, Watson pins back his ears and darts down the right. It comes back to the left … and Faletau is over. Brilliant try from the Lions! Game on!
Faletau scored a try just like that in New Zealand last year.
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59 mins: Lawes is on for Jones as Sexton restarts. Smith clears to touch.
Penalty! New Zealand 18-9 Lions (Barrett)
58 mins: Barrett finds touch by the Lions 10-metre line. Taylor hits Read. Taylor picks and goes as the All Blacks approach the 22. Barrett goes to the skies, Williams take it but advantage was being played. That’s five penalties given away be the Lions in the second half and here goes Barrett to extend the lead to nine. It’s there.
56 mins: Davies grubbers, spins out and makes a bit of ground. Smith finds touch but Vunipola is in trouble AGAIN for his clean-out on Barrett. Idiotic again. Surely he’ll go to the sin-bin for this. Indeed he does. So stupid. But Gatland ought to have taken him off by now.
55 mins: Barrett clears well after a deep restart from Sexton. The Lions have a lineout just inside the New Zealand half. O’Brien crashes up.
Penalty! New Zealand 15-9 Lions (Barrett)
54 mins: Another let-off for the Lions. They could really do with some territory now. Sexton restarts, but Vunipola has taken Barrett late. Idiotic. The Lions only have themselves to blame for this. The TMO is checking it … penalty. Where the ball came down so Barrett gets ANOTHER shot at goal.
Got to think there may be a yellow card in the offing. Time for Gatland to turn to the bench.
Barrett squeezes the kick over – New Zealand lead by six.
53 mins: Barrett goes for goal again. From the Lions’ 10-metre line. This is a very impressive start to the second half from New Zealand but he’s missed another one.
51 mins: Lienert-Brown makes ground, then Retallick. Dagg has some room on the left, This is ominous for the Lions … Dagg finds a gap down the middle, Barrett grubbers but Daly is there to cover. Advantage though. Itoje again the offender.
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49 mins: Dagg takes the restart and Barrett goes to the skies, it’s bouncing around and New Zealand have it back. Smith goes to the skies this time but Williams takes a clean catch this time and Farrell kicks loosely.
Penalty! New Zealand 12-9 Lions (Barrett)
48 mins: Big moment for Barrett, in a very similar position to the one he just missed. This time he makes no mistake.
47 mins: Another penalty for New Zealand after a high tackle from Murray. Very silly. If they don’t cut these stupid mistakes out they’re done for.
46 mins: Dagg takes the restart but has been held up. It’ll be a scrum, but to New Zealand because it came straight from the kick. Naholo it is this time running at Sexton, Retallick makes yards …
44 mins: Laumape is making an impact for New Zealand. Time for Te’o? Barrett’s kick is from a fair old distance but it’s pretty straight … Barrett’s pushed it though. That’s another bad miss.
43 mins: Murray goes to touch with his clearance again but New Zealand win the lineout and feed Laumape again. He crashes towards Sexton and gets over the gainline. New Zealand have advantage for offisde, we’ll come back for it. Itoje it was. Barrett to go for goal again.
42 mins: Barrett with a clever grubber – it goes into touch but the Lions have a lineout in an area of the field they don’t want to be in. Fast start to the second half from the All Blacks.
Peeeeeeep!
41 mins: Here we go again. Barrett kicks off. Faletau takes it and Murray goes long with his clearance and into touch. New Zealand lineout, cleanly taken. The maul makes a few metres but Smith finds Laumape.
Wow …
First All Black to be sent off since 1967...
— robert kitson (@robkitson) July 1, 2017
Cool heads needed in the Lions changing room at half-time. They need to be confident in the second 40, but patient. And they must be accurate. Too many mistakes in the first half, even allowing for the weather.
Half-time! New Zealand 9-9 Lions
Well, well, well. It’s level at the break on the scoreboard, but not in terms of playing numbers after Sonny Bill Williams’ red card. The first thing to say is that the red card was fully warranted – it was a shoulder charge by Williams to the head of Watson.
The match has been cagey, the weather playing its part. The Lions have done a lot of good things but there are a few silly mistakes in there too. They would have taken this position before kick-off though but it is worth reiterating that New Zealand are the best in the world at playing with 14. You get the feeling the Lions need to put them to bed in the second half rather than edge past them.
The aerial duel is fascinating between Williams and Dagg while Itoje is having a stormer for the Lions. They wanted to up the physicality and they have certainly done that. Patience and accuracy required. Don’t go anywhere.
Penalty! New Zealand 9-9 Lions (Farrell)
40 mins: Correction, it’s a Lions put in as Sexton was held up directly from the kick. I think it was Murray who reminded the referee about that – very clever. The Lions have a penalty from the scrum, and into the corner it goes. This is a huge moment. Lineout on the New Zealand 22, the maul is going backwards though. Excellent from the All Blacks – it’s going through the hands, Davies straightens … the Lions have a penalty. It’s advantage, Murray looks for Faletau on the right, the ball is loose, but it’s out of touch. Back with come for a penalty … Farrell to go for goal, it’s not an easy one though, out on the right. Through it goes – all square.
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39 mins: Smith and Sexton are kicking high at every opportunity. Sexton is held up though and the All Blacks have a scrum, just inside the Lions half.
38 mins: Dagg takes it cleanly this time as Barrett launches one. It’s allowed to bounce – Daly grabs it but is forced out so New Zealand take a swift lineout. Barrett kicks again but Watson takes an excellent catch.
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Penalty! New Zealand 9-6 Lions (Barrett)
37 mins: Barrett knocks over his third penalty of the night.
36 mins: It’s another New Zealand penalty – Vunipola the guilty party this time. It’s within Barrett’s range. The Lions need to cut out these silly errors.
35 mins: Itoje takes an excellent restart – he’s improving as the game goes – but Murray’s box-kick is out on the full. New Zealand have the lineout then, not far from the Lions 22.
Penalty! New Zealand 6-6 Lions (Farrell)
34 mins: Itoje pinches the restart and earn a penalty, on the New Zealand 22, right in front. Farrell should really knock this over … and that he does.
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Penalty! New Zealand 6-3 Lions (Barrett)
32 mins: Through it goes so the All Blacks lead again.
31 mins: The scrum is reset, another minute or two wasted, here comes Barrett down the short side and Murray gives away a silly penalty after a good tackle. Barrett to go for goal as Watson returns.
29 mins: New Zealand opt for the scrum, Barrett has it and turns Nowell around. Williams clears, gets it back and off goes O’Brien. Sexton kicks, but it’s far too long. Back we come for a scrum. The Lions need to settle – the red card has perhaps affected them a bit more.
27 mins: It’s not a great kick from Dagg. There’s a break in play temporarily. Warburton and Itoje are holding court. There’s no doubting this is a great chance for the Lions but they must have patience and belief. Laumape is on for is All Blacks debut meanwhile. Kaino goes off.
Jones takes the lineout and the Lions form the maul … but it’s not straight.
26 mins: That red card is greeted with a huge cheer by the Lions supporters. Worth bearing in mind though that there is no one better than playing with 14 than New Zealand.
The All Blacks have the ball though, Smith goes high and Nowell – on for Watson who is off for a HIA – clears well and Dagg thumps the ball out.
Red card! Sonny Bill Williams!
It looks nasty in slow motion – it always does. It’s a shoulder right into the head of Watson. It’s red. Williams is off!
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25 mins: Itoje takes the restart, just, but the maul makes very good ground before Murray clatters clear. Watson has it back in his half and is under a bit of pressure. The TMO has stepped in for SBW not using his arms in the tackle …
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Penalty! New Zealand 3-3 Lions (Farrell)
24 mins: It’s to the left, and not very far inside the New Zealand half. It’s not easy at all in this weather … but through it goes. Fantastic kick from Farrell!
22 mins: Williams spills Smith’s clearance so there’s another scrum. The camera is on Rowntree, he looks an anxious man. The Lions could do with a strong response here … Solid enough as Naholo runs at Sexton again. Smith launches clear again but the Lions have a penalty for the All Blacks runners going too early. Farrell will go at goal – it is absoluely hosing down in Wellington. Big kick this.
Penalty! New Zealand 3-0 Lions (Barrett)
20 mins: It’s towards the left but much closer in. Just outside the 22 … and this one goes through the middle. First blood All Blacks.
19 mins: The Lions supporters are full voice – Jones is really winding up Itoje. Murray puts the ball into the scrum but New Zealand have a penalty. Smith thinks about going quickly … but no. Barrett will go at goal again.
18 mins: Barrett finds touch inside the Lions 22 and Kaino takes it. Here comes the New Zealand maul but it’s not going far – and the Lions have forced the turnover. Jones enjoyed that. So did the huge Lions support in Wellington.
16 mins: Lions scrum bang on half way – it’s worked to the right and Watson cuts inside but Cane milks a penalty at the breakdown. Textbook.
15 mins: Retallick carries in the middle of the pitch but it’s coughed up – Warburton has it and offloads … but it goes to ground again. Read it was with the first knock-on … a couple mistakes from him so far.
14 mins: It’s a fair way out but it’s straight – but Barrett strikes the post. He didn’t miss a thing last week but that’s a bad miss.
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12 mins: Smith feeds Naholo who runs straight at Sexton. Kaino then makes some ground and Jones gives away a penalty at the breakdown. Barrett will go for goal.
11 mins: There’s a break in play with Sexton getting a bit of treatment but we’re back under way with a New Zealand scrum. Barrett looks crossfield for Naholo – Daly interrupts but Naholo has it. The Lions drive New Zealand back but they have a knock-on advantage and it’ll be another scrum, over on their right, on halfway.
10 mins: Solid again as Faletau picks up and feeds Murray – Farrell and Sexton combine well as the Lions near the New Zealand 22. Sexton with a lovely delayed pass to Davies, who flips the ball out to Day – Davies drops it in midfield, backwards though and Vunipla has a big carry … Wiliams gets clear down the right! But it’s forward.
Really promising for the Lions so far, but they could really do with some points.
8 mins: It’s in, out and Dagg thumps clear. It stays in field though and Williams launches one high … chases and forces the drop from Dagg, who is furious with himself. The end result is another scrum, Lions to put in.
6 mins: Warburton takes the lineout and off goes O’Brien, then Itoje bashes up and over the gainline. Then Furlong rumbles further into the 22 – it’s promising for the Lions but Itoje takes his eyes off the ball and fumbles. Disappointing but plenty to be positive about in the buildup nonetheless. New Zealand scrum inside their 22.
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4 mins: Scrum is rock solid so Murray goes down the short side and feeds Daly – and it’s a penalty to the Lions. They’ll be pleased with this start as Sexton hammers the ball into the corner.
3 mins: Taylor takes an age to throw it in and the Lions have disrupted it – Read knocks it out so we’ll have a Lions scrum. A lot of chat from Itoje during that lineout.
2 mins: Retallick takes it and makes a few metres. Jones flies into the tackle and bashes the carrier back – that’s more like it. Daly calls a mark after taking the kick and finds another touch.
Peeeeeeeeeep!
1 mins: Take a deep breath … Sexton kicks us off and Naholo gathers cleanly. Smith box-kicks and Williams knocks it on. Barrett kicks long though and Sexton finds touch so we’ll have a lineout. Smith’s kick was on the money there.
There’s a huge amount of Lions supporters here. You can feel the sense of occasion from 12,000 miles away. Time for the haka now, led by Perenara again. Magnificent again.
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Five minutes until kick-off – hold on to your hats. The first 10-15 minutes is likely to be lively …
Here come the Lions to a huge cheer from the swathes of supporters in the Cake Tin. A lot of steely looks on their faces. To have been a fly on the wall of the changing room just a few moments ago …
New Zealand are on their way now. Read leads them out – Ioane again looks like he doesn’t have a care in the world. He’s 20 years old.
Not long to go now … the tension is mounting.
Whenever the All Blacks are playing there is always the danger that they run away with things but with the weather filthy, with the Lions hurting after last week’s schooling and with there being no tomorrow, this has the making of a Test match for the ages. The Lions could dearly do with an early lead but you get the feeling they would take being in contention with 10 minutes to go.
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News coming out of Wellington … Sir Ian McGeechan has been taken to hospital after falling ill at the stadium. Here’s the wires take and I’ll bring you updates as and when I receive them. Our best wishes go out to Ian and we’re all hoping for a speedy recovery.
Sir Ian McGeechan has been taken to hospital after falling ill at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium while covering the British and Irish Lions, New Zealand Rugby has confirmed. The former Lions coach, 70, was taken by ambulance to Wellington Hospital. McGeechan has been working as part of Sky Sports’ team covering the Lions tour in New Zealand. The four-time Lions head coach, who also played eight Tests for the tourists as a centre, walked himself to the ambulance before being transferred to hospital. McGeechan’s daughter, Heather, offered an update to her father’s condition on Twitter. Responding to a number of journalists, pundits and former players, Heather McGeechan (heathermcgeech1) tweeted: “PaulMorganrugby robvickerman BenKay5 spoken to my dad, Geech and he is fine, just a bug. Thank you everyone for all your best wishes x.”
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Here’s a better weather update for you from our man on the ground …
The camera lies...hosing down here at the Cake Tin. Soggy bottoms guaranteed... #LionsNZ2017 pic.twitter.com/za8B6EFGXY
— robert kitson (@robkitson) July 1, 2017
Wise words from John …
@gerard_meagher 3 words 4 The Lions 'Whatever it takes" they were the last words the 2nd Test 97 Lions heard leaving the dressing room
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) July 1, 2017
Weather update …
Meanwhile in New Zealand. pic.twitter.com/If9XYXyBnc
— Paul Cully (@whiskeycully) June 30, 2017
There are mouthwatering clashes all over the pitch today – Sonny Bill Williams v Owen Farrell, Aaron Smith v Connor Murray to name just a couple – but perhaps no more than Brodie Retallick against Maro Itoje. Itoje has been brought in to up the Lions’ physicality while Retallick was colossal last weekend.
Have a read of what our columnist Nick Evans makes of it all …
Preamble
Hello!
And welcome the the second Test of the British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.
It’s now or never for Warren Gatland’s side. Lose and not only is the series gone but the very existence of the Lions will come under intense scrutiny. Win – become the first side to inflict defeat on the All Blacks in Wellington since 2003 – and we head back to Eden Park for a decider next week.
It’s the tallest of orders for the Lions. The All Blacks were dominant in their 30-15 victory last week and Gatland’s troops will have to raise their game significantly today. Gatland has made changes to his side – three to be precise – with tour captain Sam Warburton replacing Peter O’Mahony, Maro Itoje in for his Saracens team-mate George Kruis, and perhaps most significantly, Johnny Sexton in for Ben Te’o with Owen Farrell moving to inside-centre.
On one hand it looks like a roll of the dice from Gatland and the danger is that the Lions get sucked in to taking the All Blacks on at their own game. Having said that, you get the feeling that this might have been the plan all along and but for Sexton’s poor start to the tour, Te’o’s impressive form and Farrell’s untimely injury, Gatland would have tried this 10-12 combination last weekend.
The All Blacks meanwhile, make two changes – both injury enforced – with Israel Dagg shifting to fullback, Waisake Naholo coming in on the right wing and Anton Lienert-Brown replacing Ryan Crotty at outside-centre. They are hardly understrength as a result and remain red-hot favourites to clinch the series today.
Here are your teams in full, kick-off is at 8.35am BST.
New Zealand: I Dagg; W Naholo, A Lienert-Brown, S B Williams, R Ioane; B Barrett, A Smith; J Moody, C Taylor, O Franks, B Retallick, S Whitelock, J Kaino, S Cane, K Read (capt).
Replacements: N Harris, W Crockett, C Faumuina, S Barrett, A Savea, TJ Perenara, A Crruden, N Laumape.
British & Irish Lions: L Williams; A Watson, J Davies, O Farrell, E Daly; J Sexton, C Murray; M Vunipola, J George, T Furlong, AW Jones, M Itoje, S Warburton (capt), S O’Brien, T Faletau.
Replacements: K Owens, J McGrath, K Sinckler, C Lawes, CJ Stander; R Webb, B Te’o, J Nowell
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