NEW ZEALAND
half-time. It’s oneall and we’ve got a big week ahead.” Gatland s aid: “We showed great character to come back a nd t he way we controlled that last 10 minutes was especially significant. “We kept the All Blacks try- less, I don’t know the last time that happened. And WE are the ones who have played some pretty positive rugby. “We i mproved in certain areas and we will look to improve in others. Hopefully it will be one hell of a Test match in Eden Park next week. We know we are going to be in for an almighty battle.”
In truth, the Lions made hard work of it after Williams’ red card for a blatant shoulder to the unguarded face of ball-carrying wing Anthony Watson.
Whining
He left the field with almost an hour of the game to go, taking the walk of shame that only Cyril Brownlie (1925) and Colin Meads (1967) had taken before him.
On both those occasions New Zealand still went on to win and with an hour gone, and the ill-disciplined Lions shooting themselves in the foot at every turn, it seemed they would do so again.
But Beauden Barrett missed three kickable penalties and a lead which should have been out of reach was nine points and about to disappear.
“The red card was a red card,” All Blacks boss Steve Hansen conceded. “There’s no point in us whining about it.
“Sonny didn’t use his arms so he put himself at risk, and unfortunately he collected young Anthony’s head and put him at risk. You don’t want that and the referee deemed it a red card, so off you go boy.”
Williams faces a judicial hearing today and will be a spectator next week. It could yet prove to be the moment that swung the series.