LOSING LESSON

WELLINGTON: Another loss, another lesson for the British and Irish Lions, coach Warren Gatland said after they squandered a nine-point lead to lose 23-22 to the Highlanders yesterday.

It was the second loss of their 10-match tour of New Zealand after they were also overhauled by the Blues in their 22-16 loss at Eden Park last Wednesday.

The loss at Otago Regional Stadium, however, was a bigger blow after the tourists impressed with a 12-3 win over the Crusaders last Saturday and looked to have gained momentum into their tour.

“The guys are disappointed,” Gatland said in Dunedin. “We shot ourselves in the foot with some turnovers and penalties in the last 10 minutes.

“There are some key moments to learn from. The big (lesson) is that New Zealand sides play for 80 minutes.”

Marty Banks won the game for the home side when he slotted a 74th minute penalty, however, two powerful scrums from their replacement front rowers had given them the field position for the flyhalf to seal the opportunity.

The Lions had failed to put the game away with Owen Farrell missing a penalty that would have given them a 25-20 lead with 12 minutes to go.

Gatland, however, said his side should have taken control of the match before then.

“At 22-13 we have got ourselves in front and the boys said they were reasonably comfortable and unfortunately some big moments that we didn’t nail allowed them back into the game,” Gatland added.

“We just needed strong game management to close the game down . ... (Then) we missed a penalty that Owen would normally kick every day and Marty Banks (made his).

“Those are the fine margins.”

The Lions next face the Maori All Blacks in Rotorua on Saturday.

Scottish fullback Stuart Hogg was ruled out of the tour after tests showed he had suffered a bone fracture in his face. – Reuters