LIONS FANS HIT RIGHT NOTE AS GATLAND’S MEN SET UP DECIDER
IN Brisbane in 2001, it was “Waltzing O’Driscoll”. In Wellington in 2017, it was “Oh Maro Itoje”. Two famous Lions wins 16 years apart, two anthems that will forever be associated with them.
I never thought I would see that night at the Gabba in June 2001 surpassed as a rugby-reporting experience.
The memory of Lions fans singing “Waltzing O’Driscoll” as they left the stadium after watching a 29-13 victory over the Wallabies is one that has always stayed with me.
But what I witnessed at the Westpac Stadium was on another level again.
Quite simply, I have never experienced an atmosphere like that at a rugby match before... and I have been to a fair few over the years!
The Lions supporters have made a massive contribution throughout this trip and Kiwis I have spoken to have been stunned by the numbers who have made the journey over.
From day one up in Whangarei, the red army have been there, backing their team to the hilt.
But this was to be the night when they really took centre stage and became the Lions’ 16th man.
The All Blacks, for their part, only had 14 men for most of the match, with Sonny Bill Williams having been rightly red-carded for a no-arms shoulder charge to the head of Anthony Watson.
It didn’t look as though a one-man advantage was going to be enough for the Lions though, with their own indiscipline costing them dear in the third quarter as they fell 18-9 down.
But, crucially, they had another extra man to call on in the shape of their supporters, who provided just the lift they needed.
You suspected you were in from something special when you looked out on the sea of red before the game and so it proved.
Whenever the tannoy announcer tried to whip up some home support, the travelling hordes had the answer.
Efforts to get any kind of organised chanting going were overtaken by choruses of “Lions, Lions”.
But best of all was when the White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army was pumped out over the speakers. That’s normally the cue for the “Waiseke Naholo” chant from the home fans.
The Lions supporters were having none it however, belting out “Oh, Maro Itoje” to drown out the Kiwis. It was great theatre and just awesome to be there to see it. The place was just bouncing, absolutely bouncing, and it was about to get even louder.
The Lions were winning the battle in the stands and, suitably inspired, the players in red followed suit in the decisive final quarter to take things to fever pitch.
Digging deep into their reserves of character, they turned the game around in dramatic and thrilling fashion.
They’d hardly had any time in opposition territory for the first 20 minutes of the second half, with a series of penalties hurting them badly.
But then, in the next 10, they were to carve out two scoring opportunities and took them both, showing the cutting edge and finishing that has been lacking at times on tour.
Ironically enough, having failed to take advantage of their extra man, they proceeded to claim their first try when it was 14-a-side, with Mako Vunipola in the bin for a dangerous clear-out on Beauden Barrett.
Taulupe Faletau was the scorer and it was a virtual carbon copy of his effort for Wales against the All Blacks at Eden Park last summer.
Just as then, the ball was moved right and then back left, with Gatland’s decision to go with the 10-12 combination of Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell paying off.
They linked up twice amid some slick passing before Faletau was fed by Liam Williams and bounced Israel Dagg out of the way to touch down in the corner.
Suddenly it was game on, with the visiting fans going beserk, and there was more to come.
Having earned reward for putting the ball through the hands and stretching the All Blacks defence, the Lions looked to do the same again, this time with their one-man advantage restored.
Off an attacking lineout, Jonathan Davies carried up the middle before hooker Jamie George picked a great line off a short ball from Sexton, with Conor Murray providing the finish as he dummied and darted over from the close-range ruck. The place erupted.
Farrell’s conversion made it all square and then three minutes from time came the deciding moment as Kyle Sinckler was tackled while in the air by opposing prop Charlie Faumuina, having jumped up to take a pass from Murray.
An incensed Sinckler was intent on revenge as he got to his feet, but crucially Murray and George both restrained him, preventing any pos- sible penalty reversal.
Their presence of mind effectively won the match, with Farrell slotting the kick and the Lions seeing out the last few minutes.
The final whistle signalled scenes of wild celebration and red rejoicing both on and off the pitch .
There were chants of “Lions, Lions” as the players went round the ground to acknowledge the incredible support and more of the same as the fans poured out into the passageways.
When I finally made it to the press conference room, all I could hear echoing down from the concourse above was “Oh, Maro Itoje, Oh, Maro Itoje”.
It was a famous, famous night and no-one who was there will ever forget it, myself included.
Now people will point to the fact New Zealand were down to 14 men for 55 minutes and that Barrett missed three shots at goal.
But any win, in any circumstances, is special against this lot.
Let me give you a couple of stats to emphasise the point.
This was the All Blacks’ first home defeat in a Test match since they lost to South Africa in Hamilton in 2009. They had won 45 in a row in the eight years that followed.
And this is the first time they have failed to score a try in an international match since their 12-12 draw with
Australia in Sydney in 2014.
That latter stat is a really notable one and speaks volumes for the Lions’ defensive effort, which was spearheaded by Itoje (14 tackles), Faletau (13) and Sean O’Brien (12).
Skipper Sam Warburton also contributed significantly to that resilient rearguard with 10 hits, doing what he had been brought in for, which was to provide physicality in the collisions and at the breakdown, while winning four lineouts too.
It was a commanding all-round display from the captain, who wholly vindicated his selection, as did fellow Welshman Alun Wyn Jones.
There had those who had questioned Jones’ place in the team, but he provided the perfect response.
It was clear from the outset how much he was up for this one and he hurled himself into the contact, standing toe to toe with whichever black jerseyed figure he encountered. It was a big, big effort from the big man.
And, of course, alongside him was young Itoje. Yes, the Saracens lock gave away a couple of soft penalties, but what a game he had aside from those indiscretions.
The figures speak for themselves, joint top carrier with O’Brien, top tackler and three lineout wins as well.
No wonder the fans were singing his name long into the night. They are probably still singing now.