Blues grab win with spectacular late try
West’s spectacular late try, created by double World Cup-winning All Black Sonny Bill Williams, condemned the British and Irish Lions to their first tour defeat as the Auckland Blues triumphed 22-16 yesterday.
The tourists, especially in the forwards, were much improved on their lacklustre 13-7 win against the Provincial Barbarians but the backs struggled with the speed and cutting edge of the New Zealanders’ attacking game.
The Blues – who have the worst record this season of New Zealand’s five Super Rugby teams – scored three tries to one, with the Lions needing three penalties and a conversion from the flawless boot of fullback Leigh Halfpenny to keep them in the match.
The tour will only get more difficult for coach Warren Gatland’s men, who face the table-topping, undefeated Canterbury Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.
Gatland said he was unfazed by the loss, with his main focus on the three-test series against the world champion All Blacks which begins on June 24. The Lions conceded 13 penalties. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen saw Williams score a try and lay claim to a return to the All Blacks squad.
Blues winger Rieko Ioane also continued to press his case for selection with his seventh try in six matches.
Prior to kickoff, there was a minute’s silence to honour victims of the London terror attacks, then the Blues performed a haka specially commissioned for the occasion.
The Lions came out of the blocks hard and skipper Ken Owens said he was disappointed they had failed to take more of their chances.
Blues flyhalf Perofeta set up the opening try, turning the Lions defence with a cross-field kick then sending out a long-range pass to put Ioane through on the wing.
The tourists were patient in response and were rewarded when Munster’s CJ Stander drove over.
Halfpenny converted and added a penalty to put the Lions 10-5 up before Williams sensationally stole the lead back on the stroke of half time.
Perofeta’s penalty goal attempt struck the post and Williams was quickest to react as Lions winger Jack Nowell knocked the ball back behind his tryline under pressure.
The former rugby league international darted between two defenders to get a hand on the ball first under the posts. Perofeta converted and suddenly the Blues were 12-10 ahead.
The Lions worked their way back into the game, drawing two penalties which Halfpenny kicked to edge them into a slender 16-15 lead.
But Williams produced his moment of magic to seize the advantage back with six minutes remaining, breaking the line and offloading behind his back to West.
The replacement flyhalf’s lightning pace took him through a gap, past four defenders and under the posts. West kicked the conversion himself to make it 22-16.