LION TAMED
AUCKLAND: Blues first fiveeighth Ihaia West scored a brilliant 75thminute try to consign the British and Irish Lions to a 2216 loss in the second game of their 10match tour of New Zealand at Eden Park last night.
The Lions put in a muchimproved performance than in their opening victory over the semiprofessionals of the Provincial Barbarians last Saturday, but it was all undone by a few moments of magic from two All Blacks and a replacement back.
Just as the tourists looked to have seized the momentum with a 1615 lead over the Super Rugby side, West put on the afterburners to race to the line after being set free by offloads from Steven Luatua and Sonny Bill Williams.
‘‘Hugely disappointed. We came here to build on Satur day’s performance. We got a good victory up in Whangarei and we came here to get another win, but unfortunately we’ve got a defeat,’’ Lions captain Ken Owens said.
‘‘All credit to the Blues; they took their chances. I think we’re going to have to tidy up slightly on our discipline and be a little bit more clinical.’’
Winger Rieko Ioane and centre Williams also scored first half tries for the Blues, while starting first fiveeighth Stephen Perofeta added a conversion. West slotted a penalty and then converted his own try.
No 8 CJ Stander scored a try and fullback Leigh Halfpenny slotted the conversion and three penalties for the Lions, who next face the seventimes Super Rugby champion Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.
‘‘We’ve got to jump straight back on the horse. Big game down in Christchurch on Saturday,’’ Owen added.
‘‘We need to get the tour back on track and build some more momentum.’’
The visitors had been heavily criticised for their stuttering 137 victory over the Barbarians in Whangarei and wanted to show greater urgency and better execution against the
Blues.
For much of the game they showed they had taken the step up, as their forwards were more in control of their possession and willing to build pressure, while their defence kept the Blues pinned in their own half and did not allow them to get wide.
The Blues, however, seized what opportunities they had. Ioane’s try came after they stretched the Lions across the field, while Williams chased up a missed penalty and beat the defenders to the loose ball.
That gave the hosts a surprise 1210 lead at the break, which West extended with a penalty before the Lions replacements added some much needed impetus, especially at the scrum.
Despite a yellow card shown to winger Liam Williams, Halfpenny slotted two penalties to give them the 1615 lead, only for West to finish off the superb counter attack.
‘‘That’s why Steven and Sonny are All Blacks, because they did something special and we know how quick Ihaia is off the bench,’’ Blues skipper James Parsons said.
‘‘It’s pretty special . . . it’s something to hang our hat on.’’
The visitors still had the opportunity to seal victory with an attacking lineout in the final minute, but replacement hooker Rory Best overthrew his targets and the Blues cleared. — Reuters