NEW ZEALAND 15 LIONS 15 FARRELL
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 i t to an accidental offside. “I don’t think there’s anger, more disappointment,” said Kiwi f l y- 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 the 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 for Sonny Bill Williams 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 for a fightback and in Farrell (right) and Elliot Daly, who landed a monster shot from his own half, the Lions had the means to extricate themselves.
ItI feelsfl weird to be on the end of a draw... but actually this is an absolutely brilliant achievement
Proud
“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.”