Fans and players jubilant after historic performance by Lions
Here we take a pictorial look back at the remarkable scenes of sportsmanship and celebration at the end of the brutal All Blacks v Lions series which ended in an extraordinary draw
IT WAS a day that British and Irish rugby fans will remember forever as the Lions secured a historic draw from their Test series with the All Blacks.
It was a defiant performance from the Lions, who went into the series as underdogs, but a never-say-die attitude saw them take away their best result in New Zealand since 1971.
As captains Sam Warburton and Kieran Read lifted the trophy with one hand each and both sides congregated for the team photo, it showed that the spectacle of the Lions was just as important as ever.
The spirit of the triumphant occasion was symbolised when Taulupe Faletau brought his toddler son Israel on to the pitch and held him in his arms as he waved to fans who had flown to New Zealand and had the time of their lives.
Skipper Sam Warburton tweeted afterwards: “It has been a privilege to be part of this special @lionsofficial group. Thanks for the incredible support for the team”.
Wales centre Jonathan Davies has been named by his British and Irish Lions teammates as their player of the tour of New Zealand.
Tour captain Sam Warburton distributed voting cards to the players after the third test and Davies was selected as the player who had made the biggest contribution to the 10-match tour.
He said afterwards: “I’m blown away to receive this award from my peers. I have loved every minute of this amazing tour, with an amazing group of players and to receive this from them is very special.
“To come to somewhere like New Zealand, the home of the double world champions, after such a short time together and to run them as close as we did is a huge achievement.
“Both teams have put in a huge effort and we have to be very proud of what we have achieved on this tour. It’s been very special for me.”
One fan, Richard Lawrence, 24, of Pontyclun, was lucky enough to have seen a match during the tour.
He said: “The atmosphere was amazing – it was just superb.
“I was in Dunedin and as you walked round you bumped into anybody and everybody – Irish fans, English fans and Scottish fans. You’d be chatting in the bar with them and get invited to random parties and it was great to be there.
“There was great banter with the Kiwis – they were great, to be fair – and they were complimentary about our fans. It was quite brilliant.
“It was a tour I always wanted to do, especially in New Zealand, and it’s nothing like I ever imagined it.
“I have been to Wales games in Scotland, England and France but it’s even bigger and you feel like you’re a part of it and that something massive is going on in the country.
“It really is unique and is not something you’ll get anywhere else.”
Ryan Pring, 27, originally from Cardiff, was in the crowd for the Lions’ victory in Wellington last week and at the draw at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday. After the final whistle he managed to get a couple of selfies with Ken Owens and All Blacks Sam Whitelock and Malakai Fekitoa.
He said: “The atmosphere was the best I’ve ever seen and there was great banter between the fans.”
Back home it was the same story, with rugby clubs and pubs throughout Wales and the rest of the UK and Ireland packed out in the early morning to watch the Lions in their final Test of 2017.
Endaf Williams, club secretary of Llandaff RFC, said: “The atmosphere in the club was fantastic – the place full to the brim, which was great to see at that time of the morning. There was a level of anticipation which was great to see and a lot of people thought the Lions would get there.
“In terms of how the game went, we were pleased to see the Lions stick at it and stay with New Zealand. They put pressure on them in defensive situations and the All Blacks made mistakes in attack.
“I think it shows how special the Lions as a concept is.”
It was even more special for the former home of skipper Warburton, Glamorgan Wanderers RFC, where he spent two years playing before making the Cardiff Blues side.
Club chairman Alyn Humphreys said: “It’s obviously a superb achievement for Sam to be an unbeaten Lions captain – you can’t get a lot better than that.
“I thought he had a good game today and, forget about the rugby, Sam is a wonderful bloke and he’s such a nice man. Despite what he has achieved in the game it doesn’t seem to have fazed him.
“We played a small part in his development when he was 17 and 18 years old and joined the Blues so he played a couple of seasons with us.
“From the very first day he played for us, in a pre-season friendly against London Welsh, we all knew he was special, but we didn’t think at the time he would be as good as he has been. To play a small part in that has been amazing and as a club we’re really proud of him.”