Crossbar challenge? Rock, paper, scissors? How should Lions series have been settled?

A controversial end to the British and Irish Lions’ tour of New Zealand saw the third Test – and the series – end in a draw after the All Blacks were denied a chance to kick at goal in the dying moments at Eden Park.

After Owen Farrell’s 78th-minute three-pointer had levelled the score, the Lions were dramatically penalised from the restart when Liam Williams knocked on under pressure and team-mate Ken Owens collected the ball in front of him.

However, after initially awarding a penalty, referee Romain Poite changed his mind following a TMO review and instead deemed Owens guilty of accidental offside, meaning the All Blacks were only given a scrum.

The Lions held on to secure a 15-15 draw, but there was a sense of anti-climax at the final whistle as the reality of a tied series hit home.

Helpfully, Twitter was full of suggestions for how the teams could be separated.

Rugby league star Sam Tomkins wrote: “Nobody wants a draw. It should go cross bar challenge, 1 shot for every player from the 22m line, most hits wins the tour. #LionsNZ0217.”

Nobody wants a draw. It should go cross bar challenge, 1 shot for every player from the 22m line, most hits wins the tour. #LionsNZ0217

— sam tomkins (@samtomkins1) July 8, 2017

Former England back Andy Goode cheekily made the case for the Lions to be declared series winners, tweeting: “Do we win overall as we won the unofficial 4th test against the Maori’s?!”

https://twitter.com/AndyGoode10/status/883625952886104068

Two Lions tourists from 2009 jokingly called for the tour to continue. Rob Kearney posted: “Let’s have a 4th Test!!!” 

Let's have a 4th Test!!!

— Rob Kearney (@KearneyRob) July 8, 2017

And Ugo Monye echoed that view, tweeting: “Test match next week by any chance?!!! Can’t be a draw!!!

Test match next wk by any chance?!!! Can't be a draw!!! ??

— Ugo Monye (@ugomonye) July 8, 2017

Bath fly-half Freddie Burns had an alternative option. He wrote: “Rock Paper Scissors?? Anything! We need a winner”

Rock Paper Scissors ?? Anything! We need a winner ?????

— Freddie Burns (@FreddieBurns) July 8, 2017