British Lions
All Blacks show their class in Auckland
continued to test them with high kicks, but New Zealand gradually began to find their feet.
Barrett made it 3-0 through a 14th-minute penalty. And matters soon deteriorated for the Lions, as just five minutes later, New Zealand sacrificed a kickable close-range penalty and sent possession wide at a rate of knots before Taylor scored out wide, Barrett converting.
Ten points down and struggling to cope with the hosts’ sheer pace and precision handling, alarm bells were ringing for the tourists.
New Zealand suffered some disruption when full-back Ben Smith went off for a head injury assessment, while centre Ryan Crotty departed with a leg injury. Anton Lienert-Brown took over as Farrell and Barrett exchanged penalties.
The Lions needed to stir, but no-one could have predicted their response, which came through a breathtaking score.
Deep inside his own half, Williams’ mesmeric running saw him beat a number of players and leave New Zealand in reverse gear. Davies was then involved twice in the move, linking initially with Daly, and then giving the scoring delivery to O’Brien and sending the thousands of Lions fans wild.
Farrell could not convert, yet the Lions could have hardly made a more devasatating statement of intent, just 13-8 adrift at half-time.
The Lions almost struck another wonder score soon after the re-start. Wllliams, Davies and Daly were again heavily involved but New Zealand repealed it stoutly.
Maro Itoje replaced Alun Wyn Jones, with prop Jack McGrath and tour captain Sam Warburton also going on before Ioane’s try effectively sealed the contest.
And when Barrett completed his penalty hat-trick and Ioane claimed his second try, there was no way back for the Lions.
The wait for a Test victory over the All Blacks, last achieved 24 years ago, goes on.