Coach laughs off clown jibe Gatland refuses to rise to bait after Lions let win slip away

“Having a rugby international game at the Broch is a big occasion”

TEAM LINE-UPS

– J. Barrett, Milner-Skudder, Aso, Lauampe, J. Savea, Black, Tahuriorangi, May, Riccitelli, Toomaga-Allen, Abbott, Lousi, Fifita, Gibbins, Shields.

Apisai, Eves, Kainga, Blackwell, Prinsep, Hauiti-Parapara, Goosen, Jane.

– Nowell, Seymour, Joseph, Henshaw, North, Biggar, Laidlaw, Marler, Best, Cole, Henderson, Lawes, Haskell, Tipuric, Stander.

Dacey, Dell, Francis, Hill, Kruis, G. Davies, Russell, Halfpenny. match, with the Lions surrendering a 31-17 lead to end with the draw.

Robbie Henshaw suffered a shoulder problem that Gatland admitted could well end his tour, while the Lions coach felt that Courtney Lawes and Henderson – in spite of that sin-binning – produced strong performances.

Gatland conceded that Lawes and Henderson have posed strong arguments for selection for Saturday’s second Test against the All Blacks, which will also be held in Wellington.

The tourists led 23-7 at half-time and 31-17 ahead at the hour but leaked two quick tries after Henderson’s yellow card – allowing the Hurricanes to level and share the honours.

Callum Gibbins, Ngani Laumape, Wes Goosen and Vaea Fifita all crossed for the hosts, with Scot Tommy Seymour grabbing a brace and George North also touching down for the Lions.

George North finished one try but botched another by putting a foot in touch and was forced to shift from wing to centre after Henshaw’s injury.

“Iain Henderson carried fantastically well,” said Gatland, with Henderson sin-binned for a dangerous cleanout on Jordie Barrett.

“It was a big moment in the game, the yellow card.

“It’s a penalty to us which ends up being a penalty reversed and a yellow card, and that’s the game. It’s disappointing because you’re in so much control of it.

“It was a massive swing in the game.

“I thought Courtney Lawes carried well as well in the first half. It’s a position right from the start where we knew we had a lot of strength. It’s a toss-up in terms of selection (at lock for the second Test).

“We’ll meet tomorrow evening and look at selecting the side before we announce it to the players on Thursday.

“Henderson and Lawes had really strong games tonight to give us some real food for thought.”

The Lions refused to use their mid-tour replacements who were on the bench, aside from as a result of injuries.

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