Lions waste chance to subdue Hurricanes
THE British and Irish Lions squandered a 16-point lead as the Wellington Hurricanes roared back to snatch a 31-31 draw and dent the test prospects of several touring players.
The Lions leaked four second-half tries, and then missed a drop-goal attempt after the siren as they threw away a commanding position against the Super Rugby champions.
It was a frustrating result for the Lions as coach Warren Gatland looks for reinforcements after the first-test loss to the All Blacks.
There were some bright spots, with Tommy Seymour scoring two tries on the right wing and George North one on the right.
Lock Courtney Lawes excelled, as did hard-running No 8 CJ Stander.
Iain Henderson also played well but marred his test hopes when he was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle, allowing the Hurricanes back into the game in a thrilling finale.
A Dan Biggar penalty at the start of the match in front of a 39 000 sellout crowd put the Lions ahead but Hurricanes wing Julian Savea went on the charge.
Just as they were building pressure and looked poised to score, Lions scrumhalf Greg Laidlaw intercepted an Otere Black pass and pinned his ears back. He was run down just over the halfway line but off-loaded to fellow Scot Seymour, who dotted down between the posts, with Biggar adding the conversion and another penalty.
Flanker Callum Gibbins hit back with a pick-and-go try as the Hurricanes outmuscled the Lions defence, but the visitors kept the scoreboard ticking over with another Biggar penalty.
North then scored their second try when the Hurricanes failed to claim a Biggar high ball and Henderson flicked it into the path of the giant Welsh winger.
The Hurricanes pressured the Lions with a lineout drive as half time approached, but the defence held to send them into the break up 23-7.
A perfectly timed Savea pass set up fellow All Black Ngani Laumape for a try seconds after the restart and a Jordie Barrett penalty narrowed the gap to 23-17.
The Lions patiently worked the ball forward after Wellington scrumhalf Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi was sinbinned for a high tackle, then sent it out for Seymour to score his second.
But the Hurricanes replied with tries to Wes Goosen and Vaea Fifita after Henderson’s yellow card, locking up the scores at 31-all and setting up a barnstorming final 10 minutes.
The Hurricanes could not find a way through, and then Biggar’s attempted drop goal fell short.