Sonny Bill’s red is not issue.... Lions deserved to win

NEW Zealand coach Steve Hansen refused to be drawn into whether Williams deserved a red card for a dangerous tackle on Anthony Watson in the 25th minute.

“I’m not stunned. I have always said they are a very good side and we didn’t help ourselves by losing a player,” Hansen said.

“Whilst I am very proud of our team of how we hung in there with 14 men, you have got to take your hat off and say well done to the Lions.

“He (the referee) made the call so whether he got it right or wrong is irrelevant. I have always said you have got to go with what he decides.

“Don’t make the issue about the tackle. The Lions deserved the win. Happy for them but we are disappointed. I am very proud of our guys.”

But Williams’ teammate Jerome Kaino said he was sure the midfielder didn’t mean to target the head of Watson with his shoulder.

Kaino had to leave the field soon after Williams did for his illegal tackle on the Lions’ wing, the All Blacks coaches deciding to take the No.6 off in favour of test debutant Ngani Laumape in order to shore up the midfield.

“Naturally he’ll be disappointed but ... he went into that with the best intentions,” Kaino said of Wil- liams. “It wasn’t out of malice or anything. I really feel for him. Naturally he’ll be feeling it’s his fault.”

Kaino looked a dejected figure when leaving the field, but said it was for the good of the team.

“For us to be able to get our strikes going we need a full backline,” he said.

“I knew someone would have to come off and the coaches decided it was me. It was an early (finish), but you have to trust what the coaches see and how they view things.

“I thought the guys played well in the middle stages of the game. It was just the beginning and the end which cost us.

“We had our opportunities in the game. We’ll review that and see how we can capitilise on those.

“It’s game on – one apiece. It’s why you play the game– for these occasions.”

New Zealand skipper Kieran Read admitted his side failed to take their chances after letting a 19-12 lead slip in the final 20 minutes.

“The Lions were probably the better side,” he said.

“What an atmosphere. We had our chances. The fact that we got in front and couldn’t keep that lead probably showed that we let them off the hook.”