Lions produce storming fightback to stun 14-man All Blacks
Sonny Bill Williams’ red card proved to be costly as the British and Irish Lions produced a storming fightback to end New Zealand’s 47-match winning run on home soil and level the series with a famous 24-21 victory in Wellington.
Williams was dismissed by referee Jerome Garces after only 25 minutes for a shoulder charge on Anthony Watson in the driving rain at a raucous Westpac Stadium on Saturday, becoming the first All Black in 50 years to be sent off.
Beauden Barrett booted seven penalties – as well as missing three – to ensure the world champions led for much of a pulsating second Test, but the Lions came roaring back with tries from Taulupe Faletau and Conor Murray in the final 20 minutes.
And Owen Farrell’s penalty three minutes from time consigned New Zealand, who led by seven points with just 12 minutes to play, to their first loss on home soil since 2009 and kept the Lions in the hunt for a first series win over the All Blacks for 46 years.
The composed Farrell scored 14 points with the boot as Warren Gatland’s men showed great character to set up a decider at Eden Park next weekend.
What a moment for the players as they leave the pitch… incredible reaction! #AllForOne #LionsNZ2017
https://t.co/62s0ymT1s2 pic.twitter.com/a3biX6KzO0
— British&Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 1, 2017
The Lions made a confident start, putting together some slick passing moves as they asked early questions of the All Blacks defence, and they breathed a sigh of relief when Barrett’s first penalty struck an upright.
Barrett made no mistake from the tee 19 minutes in after the fired-up All Blacks pack won another penalty when a scrum went down, but Farrell levelled with a superb long-range strike.
Moments later the game turned in the Lions’ favour when centre Williams was given his marching orders by Garces for taking out Watson with his shoulder.
Jack Nowell replaced Watson, while Ngani Laumape came on for his debut in place of Jerome Kaino in an All Blacks reshuffle as the rain continued to hammer down.
Watson returned after passing a head injury assessment before Barrett restored New Zealand’s advantage after Murray was penalised for not rolling away, but great work from Maro Itoje and Liam Williams enabled Farrell to level again.
Farrell made it three from three right on the stroke of half-time to make it 9-9 after Barrett had edged the All Blacks in front once more.
Barrett was off target with two penalties, but also landed a couple to put the All Blacks six points in front as the Lions paid the price for failing to keep their discipline early in the second period.
Mako Vunipola was sent to the sin bin for illegally cleaning out the influential Barrett, whose sixth penalty of the night in easing conditions extended the world champions’ lead.
The Lions had offered nothing going forward, but came up with the opening try just after the hour-mark despite also being down to 14 men when Faletau ploughed his way through Israel Dagg to finish in the corner after the ball was worked swiftly from right to left.
Barrett slotted home another penalty as the tension mounted, yet the Lions hit back again when Murray got quick ball and darted through a gap to go over following a great break from Jamie George.
Farrell added the extras to level a gripping contest 10 minutes from time and after Kyle Sinckler was taken out in the air, held his nerve to complete the comeback with time running out, sparking huge celebrations from the tourists.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments