FARRELL’S BOOTIFUL GAME
Brilliant Lions kicking star tells the All Blacks: You’re not untouchable!
OWEN FARRELL kicked the Lions to a famous series result then told the shellshocked All Blacks: ‘Nobody is untouchable!’
A drawn series ended the run of superiority New Zealand had enjoyed over the best of Britain and Ireland, dating back 46 years.
And, while boss Warren Gatland claimed he would have preferred to “roll the dice” with extra-time rather than settle for a share of the spoils, there was no disguising the pride of these Lions. “It feels weird to be on the end of a draw, but actually this is a brilliant achievement,” said Farrell. (left). “They’re No.1 in the world, the best team. But we always thought we were going to be competitive. We came here to win. I don’t think anyone is untouchable.”
Not with Farrell kicking, they’re not. In Wellington, a week ago, he beat the 14-man All Blacks with a cleanly- struck penalty, two minutes from time.
This time there were 180 seconds left on the clock, but he was almost on the halfway line, knowing a miss would cost the Lions the whole shooting match.
“You know what the kick means, but I don’t think anything changes for you as a kicker,” he said, in his usual matter-of-fact way.
As the ball sailed through the posts, a month of jibes became stuck in the throats of the Lions’ Kiwi critics.
The tourists had been mocked as no-hopers, had been warned they would be hammered 3-0, were accused of turning back the clock with their dour rugby and were told that three-quarters of New Zealand had never heard of them.
There weren’t so many wisecracks last night, just thinly disguised All Black bitterness at a penalty awarded to them in the last minute, which
was then scrubbed out. Lions skipper Sam Warburton cleverly talked Romain Poite into taking a second look at the incident and, on review, the French ref downgraded it to an accidental offside.
“I don’t think there’s anger, more disappointment,” said fly-half Aaron Cruden.
“Sometimes those calls go your way, sometimes they don’t.”
Their frustration was understandable, as the Lions led for only TWO minutes across the three Tests.
Yet, given the chance to call for drawn series to be outlawed in future, All Blacks boss Steve Hansen said: “Rugby’s always had a draw, and it’s not a World Cup final, it is a three-match series.
“So, my own belief is probably leave it the way it is.”
Hansen knew, as we all did, that New Zealand had been authors of their own downfall. Missed kicks and a red card killed them in Wellington, dropped balls had the same effect yesterday. So dominant were they in the first half, with newbies Jordie Barrett and Ngani Laumape scoring tries and running riot, that the game could and should have been done and dusted by the break.
Instead, the door was left open to a fightback and, in Farrell and Elliot Daly, who landed a monster shot from his own half, the Lions had the means to extricate themselves.
“I understand people feel a bit flat because you want a result,” said Gatland.
“But some of these players have been on two tours now and are undefeated as Lions.
“No one gave us a hope in hell at the start.
“So the boys should be really proud of what they have achieved.”
I understand people are a bit flat because you want a result