Winners and losers after Blues slay Lions

THE Lions were outscored 3-1 in tries as they suffered their first defeat of the tour of New Zealand, going down 22-16 to the Blues in Auckland.

It was a riveting encounter which swung one way then the other. So, who were ANDY HOWELL’S winners and losers from the battle of Eden Park?

WINNERS

Justin Tipuric The Wales flanker could be in both categories because, unless Lions captain Sam Warburton plays at blindside flanker in the Tests, he’s unlikely to start against the All Blacks.

So, while Tipuric was a winner, with New Zealand great Sean Fitzpatrick describing his first-half performance and all-round excellence in Auckland as “phenomenal”, it may not be good enough.

However, if he continues to produce this type of performance, Lions coach Warren Gatland will be under pressure to start with him back at Eden Park for the opening Test on June 24. Jack McGrath At one point in the first half, New Zealand prop Charlie Faumuina, who is expected to be in Steve Hansen’s All Blacks squad when it’s announced today, was shaking his head in apparent disbelief after being penalised for a second time.

But he was about the only one who seemed to be in denial – Blues’ captain and hooker James Parsons said as much afterwards – that he had been worked over by the Ireland loosehead prop.

McGrath also had a solid game in the loose, making 12 tackles and not missing any as he put forward a strong case to start against New Zealand. Sonny Bill Williams Was stretchered out of the Olympics with a ruptured Achilles tendon and picked up a concussion after making his comeback in this year’s Super Rugby tournament.

It took the World Cup winner time to get his game going, but he’s been on the up in recent times and is mounting a case to start at insidecentre against the Lions.

He worked hard for the Blues, in attack and defence, and his timing saw him pierce the Lions’ line in the break-out which saw them pinch the spoils. Ken Owens ‘Cannonball’ Ken wasn’t only making his Lions debut but he was captaining Gatland’s team.

Apart from his final throw before being substituted in the second half, the line-out had gone well. So had the scrum with the Lions having had an edge.

Owens was up against a quality opponent in Blues’ skipper James Parsons with both catching the eye.

LOSERS

Rob Howley The Lions attack coach has acquired a new word in his rugby vocabulary since arriving in New Zealand: chaos.

But the problem is the Kiwi teams benefit the most when matches become loose and open.

If the Lions want to take them on at that game they will almost certainly come off second-best.

What Howley needs to focus on is sharpening what has so far been a blunt attack and devising some backs moves because, as with Wales, they don’t appear to have many in their locker. Jack Nowell Made 10 runs for 46m from the right-wing, but failed to collar Ioane after the Lions’ narrow defence was exposed by an accurate long pass.

Ioane skinned him as he scorched over and Nowell made a hash of another challenge in the second half.

Although it wasn’t his best day at the office, he did manage to force Ioane into touch as he dived for the try-line on another occasion.

But the Exeter Chiefs warrior will know he has damaged his chances of making the Test team. Liam Williams You have to wonder whether the Welsh crowd favourite knows the rules after two extraordinary lapses in discipline within minutes of appearing as a substitute.

What made it worse was the second offence – taking Matt Duffie out in the air – was a repeat of the first and he was sin-binned.

Gatland has raised concerns about the disciplinary record of Williams in the past and lapses like these could cost him a chance of facing the All Blacks in the opening international. Dan Biggar The Wales outside-half is in this category because he only lasted 36 minutes before departing with a head injury and failing a concussion test.

Biggar had been tidy but the knock is almost sure to rule him out of Saturday’s must-win clash with the Crusaders and perhaps next Tuesday’s with the Highlanders.

Not featuring in either of those matches would be a major blow to his bid to Lions’ Test play-maker. Rory Best Had a shocker during the Lions tour of Australia four years ago to become a fringe figure and the same is in danger of happening in New Zealand.

Failed to impress against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians and had another wobble throwing into a key line-out at the Blues.