BRITISH & IRISH LIONS2017 THRILL

Owen gives All Blacks’ unbeatable reputation a real kicking in epic draw

OWEN FARRELL kicked the Lions to a famous series result – and 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.eam 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 go around 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, warned they would be hammered 3-0, accused of turning back the clock with their dour rugby and told that three-quarters of New Zealand had never heard of them.

There weren’t so many wisecracks