A pulsating tussle as both sides show mettle
Lions put up stiff opposition but All Blacks triumph.
All Black fans celebrated long into the evening last night after the men in black overcame a spirited Lions team – and a string of injuries to star players – to secure first blood in the best-of-three test series.
After a pulsating 80 minutes at Eden Park, Kieran Read’s brave men secured a 30-15 win in a titanic series opener.
The clash was billed as the mostanticipated rugby match here since the 2011 Rugby World Cup final – and it didn’t disappoint.
All Black fans at Eden Park – and hundreds of thousands of other supporters cheering at sports clubs, bars and homes up and down the country – were on the edge of their seats for much of the clash as the Warren Gatland-coached British & Irish Lions pushed the home team hard early.
The All Blacks also had to contend with a horror injury toll, as key players fullback Ben Smith, centre Ryan Crotty and openside flanker Jerome Kaino were forced from the field.
The relief after the win was evident in the stands on fulltime, with mates and strangers hugging and giving high-fives.
“Too much class, the second half was just too much,” All Black fan Shaun Davidson told the Herald on Sunday. “I'm especially happy for [two-try hero] Rieko [Ioane], he's an Auckland boy and he had an awesome game.”
Lions fan Stuart Griggs said the All Blacks were just too good.
“The All Blacks probably played better than we thought [they would]. We did okay in the first half but we just couldn't keep up in the end.”
A couple of All Black fans had more to celebrate than most.
One punter who bet $4500 at the TAB on All Black hooker Codie Taylor to score the first try of the test, at odds of $26, scooped a $117,000 windfall.
Another will today wake up with $222,000 in their TAB account after placing a brave $111,000 on the All Blacks to win by 13 points or more, at odds of $2, at halftime when the All Blacks were up by just 13-8.
Eden Park was a sea of red and black an hour before kick-off, with an estimated 22,000 British & Irish Lions fans in the 48,100 crowd – and Lions fans definitely won the barracking stakes. But it was those supporting the back-to-back world champions who had the most to cheer about.
All Black fans had every right to be nervous at the break, when the All Blacks held just a five-point lead after the Lions had launched a late half comeback.
Inside Eden Park, Lions fan Sam Davis was confident Sean O’Brien’s try would spur his side on to great things in the second 40 minutes.
“To be fair the All Blacks have played most of the rugby but we’re hanging in there,” he said. “I think that try right at the end will really spark them up.”
But All Black supporter Matt Goddard still backed the men in black to do the business.
“We've looked more threatening,” he said. “They [the Lions] haven't really offered anything. I'm thinking we will run away with it.”
And 40 minutes later his prediction proved true – when Ioane’s second try of the night, in the 70th minute, secured the result.
And as injury struck and some feared the men in black might be over-run, All Black fan Steve Strong still backed Read’s side.
“It's that sort of game, it's been physical,” he said. “Neither team is giving an inch. The All Blacks have the best bench in the world. Most teams lose a bit when their starters go off but our reserves are just as good as the starters.”
The Lions fans brought life to Eden Park that hasn’t been witnessed since
I’ve come halfway across the world for this, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Lions fan
the Black Caps’ run into the 2015 Cricket World Cup final.
Since Thursday, Auckland’s CBD streets have transformed into a sea of red as the Lions’ touring troupe of fans have made the city their home away from home.
And the good-natured fans were again out in their numbers yesterday, with bars, restaurants and cafes doing a roaring trade in the hours leading up to kick-off.
The Fan Zone set up for the first test on Auckland’s waterfront was a popular gathering point for supporters of both sides from midafternoon.
And one Lions fan, who just wanted to be known as Don, summed up the views of his side’s passionate support crew when he said prematch: “I’ve come halfway across the world for this, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I’m just looking forward to a good game, regardless of the score. The Lions will win though, of course.”
Added Leanne Stevens – who has travelled from Ireland to cheer the Lions on: “It doesn’t matter what happens it’s awesome to be here. I’m looking forward to having a really good time.”
Last night’s result continued the All Blacks’ staggering unbeaten run at Eden Park which goes back to July 3, 1994, and their 23-20 loss to France — three years before last night’s star Ioane was born.
The next test is in Wellington on Saturday.