Rowntree: Don’t pay penalties
penalties and would not have won but for Kiwi kicker Beauden Barrett missing three shots at goal and Sonny Bill Williams getting himself sent off after 25 minutes.
“We have got to sort out our discipline because it is going to kill us,” warned Lions’ assistant coach Graham Rowntree.
“We will be very frank and objective with the lads.
“We can’t lose a Test series on the back of some stupid penalties.
“That would be unacceptable. How do you live with that for the rest of your life?”
Having found a way to get across the finish line despite shooting themselves in both feet, the Lions’ good fortune continued yesterday.
Flanker Sean O’Brien, who along with skipper Warburton won the key battle of the breakdown in Wellington, was cleared of foul play for the challenge which left winger Waisake Naholo concussed.
A three-man Aussie disciplinary panel concluded O’Brien did not have a case to answer and freed him to play in Saturday’s Eden Park decider.
“Firstly, I hope Waisake is OK,” said O’Brien.
“I’d like to thank the panel for carefully considering the case and I am looking forward to rejoining the whole squad to prepare for the final Test.”
Team boss Warren Gatland, who stayed behind with his player in Auckland rather than accompany the rest of the squad to Queenstown, said: “Sean is a tough but fair player.”