LIONS ROAR!
PLUS all the GAA action
THEY came as underdogs and left as kings of the jungle.
On a wet and windy night in Wellington, the British and Irish Lions did what few outside their immediate circle thought possible. They handed the mighty All Blacks their first home defeat for eight years to send the series back to Auckland for a decider next Saturday. Victory came after Sonny Bill Williams had become the first All Black in 50 years to be sent off – the first-ever on home soil. But elated boss Warren Gatland (left) insisted: “Even without the red card, we were the better team. In two Test matches, they haven’t really stretched us from an attacking perspective.” Assistant coach Andy Farrell had warned New Zealand that every underdog has its day and this one would belong to the Lions. How fitting that the defence for which he is responsible should be the first for 39 Tests to deny the world champions a try. And that his son Owen should emerge as the match-winner, coolly stepping up to kick the 5/1 no-hopers to a win, which keeps alive a series that is enrapturing the rugby world. There were heroes all over the park – as well as in the coaching booth where Gatland’s gamble of playing Farrell and Johnny Sexton together was vindicated.
Taulupe Faletau and Conor Murray scored tries in the final quarter, while each and every Lion put their bodies on the line to preserve the historic result.
None more so than Maro Itoje, who turned in a man-of-thematch display and was serenaded by chants of “Oh-h Mar-o Itoje!” by the massed ranks of Lions fans in the 38,931 crowd.
Asked if he had heard the deafening chants, Itoje replied: “I did and, obviously, it’s nice, but I was fully concentrated on the game at the time, so I can only really enjoy it now.
“I’m very honoured to be a part of this team. We’ve achieved something pretty good today, but it’s only half-time. It’s one-all and we’ve got a big week ahead.”
Gatland added: “We showed great character to come back and the way we controlled that last 10 minutes was especially significant.
“We kept the All Blacks try-less, I don’t know the last time that happened. And we are the ones who have played some pretty positive rugby.
“We improved in certain areas and we will look to improve in others. Hopefully, it will be one hell of a Test match in Auckland next week. We know we are going to be in for an almighty battle.” In truth, the Lions made hard work of it after Williams’ red card for a blatant shoulder to the unguarded face of ball-carrying wing Anthony Watson. He left the field with almost an hour of the game to go, taking the walk of shame that only Cyril Brownlie (1925) and Colin Meads (1967) had taken before him. On both those occasions, New Zealand still went on to win and, with an hour gone and the illdisciplined Lions shooting themselves in the foot at every turn, it seemed they would do so again. But Beauden Barrett missed three kickable penalties and a lead, which should have been out of reach, was nine points and about to disappear. “The red card was a red card,” All Blacks boss Steve Hansen conceded. “There’s no point whining about it. “Sonny didn’t use his arms, so he put himself at risk and, unfortunately, he collected Anthony’s head and put him at risk. You don’t want that and the referee deemed it a red card, so off you go, boy.” Williams faces a judicial hearing today and will be a spectator next week. It could yet prove to be the moment that swung the series.