Eden Park BREAKDOWN

Not making it count IRELAND conceded just four penalties when ambushing the All Blacks last November, so keeping the penalty count low was an imperative. It didn’t happen, the tally finishing 11-6 against having been 5-3 at the break and 3-1 after 20 minutes when they were 10-0 in arrears. It was rare for the All Blacks not to concede a double figure number. Chances not converted IT SOUNDS trivial when the winning margin was 15 points but Owen Farrell’s missed conversion of Seán O’Brien’s try was crucial as it would have left just a threepoint interval gap. Whereas sub Leigh Halfpenny was 11 from 11 on tour, Farrell was running at just 62.5 percent with five from eight. He was two from three here with that miss. The fortress remains WHEN you play at a fortress – the All Blacks hadn’t lost in Auckland since 1994 – you need to take your chances and jumping in front just two minutes in would have seriously rattled the hosts and set the travelling support alight. Elliot Daly, though, was forced into touch, a costly let-off as the lead would have set a different tempo. Game, set and match SET-PIECE was where the Lions planned to dominate. However, the key moments went the way of the All Blacks, such as the scrum penalty advantage for Rieko Ioane’s first try and the missed Ken Owens throw that was the initial error for the wing’s second. The Lions also failed to get their maul marching. No Wyn situation GETTING selection right was a fraught business for Warren Gatland. He paid a price for backing Alun Wyn Jones, who remained sluggish. The Welshman’s replacement Maro Itoje, who stole a lineout, was the better option. So too Johnny Sexton instead of Farrell in terms of the guile to better challenge Aaron Cruden, who slotted in at out-half on 27 minutes.