On the level... what we learned from the Eden Park stalemate

WARREN Gatland and his 2017 Lions will leave New Zealand with the tourists’ reputation firmly restored following a drawn series against the world champions. It finished in contentious fashion in what was one of many talking points from a gripping contest that was locked at 15-15 at the close. ROB LLOYD digs deeper.

THE FOX LOVES THE LIONS

SCARLETS centre Jonathan Davies couldn’t have imagined things could have gone better than they did in Australia four years ago, but the Bancyfelin favourite, the man popularly known as Jon ‘Fox’, has been arguably the Lions player of the series on this trip.

He has made the No. 13 jersey his own since the win over the Maori, giving the tourists an attacking threat in the outside channel and also shutting down the doors on the All Blacks’ threequarter line.

At the start of the season, Davies, following his arrival home from Clermont Auvergne, was struggling to command a starting spot at the Scarlets, but was sensational in the Guinness PRO12 title run-in and raised the bar again on tour.

If ever a player has embraced the power of the Lions shirt it has been Davies and he will return to West Wales having established himself as one of the best outsidecentres in the game.

Voted by his fellow players as the Lions Player of the Series.

THE LIONS DESERVE HUGE CREDIT

THEY were on the cusp of history, so close to joining the legends of 1971 as All Black conquerors, yet even though Warren Gatland’s Class of 2017 failed to join those icons on the Lions’ roll of honour, they deserve huge credit for what they have achieved on this trip.

They were up against a New Zealand side who have been in imperious form since being crowned world champions in 2015, a side stacked with audacious attacking talent and hailed as one of the best the game has seen.

Add in the crazy build-up which saw a number of players involved in domestic finals just a week before the opening tour match as well as a brutal schedule featuring all the Super Rugby franchises and you get an idea of the mountain Sam Warburton and Co have climbed in the land of the long white cloud.

The future of the Lions has been questioned in the global calendar, but there has been an energy and vibrancy that has built over the last six weeks, with the travelling fans adding a splurge of colour wherever they have gone.

Try telling those 30,000 that turned Auckland and Wellington into a sea of red, that the Lions shouldn’t have a prime slot in rugby’s new world.

YOU WON’T HEAR THE LAST OF ROMAIN POITE’S LATE CALL

THE headlines will be dominated by that final decision by referee Romain Poite, when he decided on ‘accidental offside’ and a scrum as opposed to a full penalty against replacement Ken Owens

The Frenchman originally awarded the penalty, but after being urged by captain Sam Warburton to check with the TMO for Liam Williams being taken out in the air by Kieran Read, Poite downgraded to a scrum, much to the amazement of the Kiwi skipper.

It is a decision that will be dissected to the last detail over the coming days, particularly in the New Zealand media.

In matches of such tight margins, it was always going to come down to a big call by the referee and so it proved.

IT WAS AN UNSATISFACTORY FINISH

THERE was a surreal sense of anti-climax when New Zealand were bundled out in the corner, prompting Poite to call time on this thrilling decider with the scores locked at 15-15.

In arguably the biggest game rugby has seen since the 2015 World Cup final, it was in desperate need of an outcome for either side.

What drama there would have been had extra-time been factored in, or even a golden point to separate the sides.

There were some heart-warming scenes at the close as Read and Warburton shared the trophy and both sides sat together for a keepsake photo that will stand the test of time, but elite sport is about the elation of victory and the despair of defeat. A series as gripping as this needed a better finish.

THE ALL BLACKS POSSESS RIDICULOUS DEPTH

IN a match of such enormity it would have been easy for Steve Hansen to have gone safe in his selection for Eden Park.

Instead, he handed 20-yearold full-back Jordie Barrett and Hurricanes team-mate Ngani Laumape their first Test starts.

The pair were inspired in Auckland, underlining the huge depth of talent New Zealand possess, particularly behind the scrum.

Barrett was one of the game’s stars, setting up the first try for Laumape with his touchline leap and tap down and finishing off another.