Series draw may have saved Lions, says legend Mcbride
● Irish legend hails ‘remarkable job’ by Gatland squad but calls for longer tours
Willie John Mcbride believes the British and Irish Lions may have been saved from extinction by the performance of this year’s side in New Zealand.
The Lions surprised the world champions by recovering from defeat in the first Test to claim a share of the spoils in a drawn three-match series.
The viability of the Lions, a composite side of four nations making a lengthy tour every four years, is often debated because of the position in the world game’s calendar.
There has also been discontent in Scotland about the low level of representation, with no Scots picked for any of the three Test match squads.
But Mcbride, a star of the only Lions side to win a series in New Zealand in 1971, wants to see the concept preserved and thinks the performance of Warren Gatland’s team has underlined its important and unique status.
Mcbride said: “It’s a tremendous achievement and, quite honestly, I think it has shocked a few people. A lot of people had written them off before they left because they didn’t really have enough time to put the team together. They have done a remarkable job.
“I think that this has, in many ways, saved the Lions. The concept is really unique and has gone now for well over 100 years. It would be dreadful in this professional era if it was ever messed around with.”
Mcbride believes Lions tours should be even longer. This summer’s schedule had the Lions playing three Tests and seven other matches over five weeks, a much shortened fixture list than in Mcbride’s day.
In 1971, for example, the Lions played 26 games, including four Tests, and were in New Zealand for three months.
Mcbride, who played 17 lions Tests as well as 63 for Ireland, said: “The one thing I feel sorry about is that the tour is actually too short. There are some tremendous players on this tour and they really haven’t had the time to gel together.”
Mcbride, however, does not believe the Lions should start playing matches at home, an idea recently revived by Sir Graham henry, a former lions and All Blacks coach.
Mcbride said: “He must have had the head wobbles because the Lions concept is really about a touring team. My answer to that is no.
“The concept of the Lions was to tour. To play at home would be a nonsense.”
NEW ZEALAND 15 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS 15
With a plastic clown nose perched above a wry smile, it was hard to find a happier man at Eden Park on Saturday than British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland.
Heavily criticised from the moment they arrived in New Zealand, and given no hope of beating rugby’s reigning world champions, the Lions defied the odds to draw the final test 15-15 and tie the three-match series.
For most of the players and spectators who had expected to see a clear winner, there was an overwhelming feeling of bewilderment, frustration and disappointment. But not for Gatland, a New Zealander himself. Lampooned as a clown by one New Zealand newspaper, he couldn’t resist the chance to poke fun at his detractors.
“For us to come here to New Zealand, against the back-to-back world champions, and draw a series, I think is an unbelievable achievement considering we were completely written off,” Gatland said. “Everyone was talking about this being a 3-0 whitewash... this group of players has shown unbelievable character.”
Everything seemed to be going according to the script for the home team when the All Blacks convincingly won the first Test 30-15, but the Lions outscored New Zealand two tries to nil to win the second Test 24-21 and force a decider which ended in a thrilling but anti-climactic stalemate, resulting in just the second drawn series, after 1955 in South Africa, in the almost 120-year history of Lions tours.
“I can understand everyone feels a bit flat because you want a result,” Gatland said. “But I think we’ll reflect on it and say it was pretty special to put a team together to play against the best team in the world in their backyard and particularly here at Eden Park, where they have a phenomenal record in terms of their success over a number of years.”
The All Blacks led 12-6 at half-time through tries from Ngani Laumape and Jordie Barrett, pictured, but squandered at least two other clear try-scoring opportunities. Three penalties from Owen Farrell and a magnificent longranger from Elliot Daly from beyond halfway tied it up at 12-12 with 20 minutes to go. As the clock ticked down, Beauden Barrett kicked the penalty to make it 15-12, only for Farrell to respond with cool aplomb in the 77th minute.
Perhaps fittingly after an epic series that captivated the rugby world, there was a hint of controversy right at the end when French referee Romain Poite initially awarded a late penalty to New Zealand that would have given the All Blacks a shot at victory only to reverse the decision after consulting the video review official. New zealand captain Kieran Read thought the penalty should have stood but All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said his team should have already wrapped up the match after scoring two unanswered tries and wasting several other chances.
“We could have won if we’d taken the opportunities we created,” Hansen said.
Gatland coached the Lions to victory over Australia in 2013 and said he might consider doing the job again. “There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before that,” he said. “My focus now is on Wales and the autumn and looking towards the 2019 World Cup. I’m definitely finishing there unless they get rid of me before that time ... you never say never.”