British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand 2017.

[Swami]

British and Irish Lions beat Provincial Barbarians 13-7 in tour opener
By Caroline Chapman

BBC Sport

• 2 hours ago
• From the section Rugby Union
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Anthony Watson scored the Lions' only try of the match
British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand
Provincial Barbarians (7) 7
Try: Anderson-Heather Con: Gatland
British and Irish Lions (3) 13
Try: Watson Con: Farrell Pens: Sexton, Laidlaw
The British and Irish Lions started their tour of New Zealand with a nervy victory over the Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei.

The first of the Lions' 10 fixtures was expected to be the most straightforward, against a side made up of fringe players from Super Rugby.

But the visitors were put to the test throughout and had to come from behind to secure the win after a scrappy performance.


A try from Sam Anderson-Heather, converted by Bryn Gatland - the son of Lions coach Warren - gave the Provincial Barbarians a 7-3 lead at the break.

Greig Laidlaw added to Johnny Sexton's first-half penalty before Anthony Watson crossed to restore the visitors' lead on 53 minutes.

Replacement Owen Farrell added the conversion but then missed a penalty, and the Lions survived a late surge from the hosts to hang on.

Warren Gatland's side face all five Super Rugby teams, the New Zealand Maori, and the All Blacks, during the five-week tour, with their next match against the Blues on Wednesday (08:35 BST).

A shaky start for the Lions
Gatland named 13 of the 14 players who attended the first training camp in his starting XV but the team, who landed in New Zealand three days ago, struggled to gel - especially in the first half.

Ireland's Sexton, picked ahead of Farrell and Dan Biggar in the number 10 shirt, missed a long-range penalty before getting the visitors off the mark from the tee on 17 minutes.

But the points failed to settle the Lions and moments later Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau was forced to make a try-saving tackle on Inga Finau, who was sent on his way after a quick break by Luteru Laulala.

Soon the Provincial Barbarians got the score they deserved when hooker and captain Anderson-Heather crashed over and fly-half Gatland added the extras against his father's team.

Captain Sam Warburton, Faletau and Jonathan Joseph went close to responding for the visitors before the break but they were continuously held up on the line by black shirts.

Replacements to the rescue
Gatland opted to make five changes on 50 minutes - bringing on Saracens quartet Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, George Kruis and Farrell, alongside Leinster's Tadhg Furlong.

And the impact was instant. England and Bath wing Watson spun over in the corner, and Farrell added the conversion for a 13-7 lead.

England fly-half cum centre Farrell should have extended the Lions' advantage further but saw a penalty come off the upright.

The Provincial Barbarians did not give up hope of an upset and it fell to Vunipola to disrupt what was to be their final attack of the game, ripping the ball clear in a maul.

Bigger tests to come

Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau was one of the few Lions to shine on Saturday
Gatland's side won the series 2-1 on their tour of Australia four years ago.

But the Lions have won only one series in New Zealand, back in 1971, and the All Blacks have not lost a Test on home soil to anyone since 2009.

Getting the first win on the board was always going to be Gatland's priority in this match, but now the backroom staff - as well as the players - have bigger tests ahead.

There are six more matches before their first meeting with the All Blacks on Saturday, 24 June and Gatland will need to decide which members of the 41-man squad are up to the challenge of facing the world champions.

Analysis - frustration for the Lions
Former Lions and England wing Ugo Monye

A win is a win, so that is the number one objective completed, but there will be frustration amongst the squad and coaches as to why the Lions weren't more convincing against a scratch Barbarians team.

They have plenty of areas to work on, but we knew that would be the case.

And, rugby tactics aside, it will have been an unbelievable feeling for those lads who put on the red jersey for the first time. England and Harlequins prop Kyle Sinckler in particular was outstanding, showing his ball-handling skills, work rate and physicality are all of Test standard.

Enjoy a beer tonight, rest up and roll on Wednesday.

England's young tight-head Kyle Sinckler made an impression on his first start in a Lions jersey
Were the Lions jetlagged?
Lions head coach Warren Gatland: "We would have preferred to have had a week in the UK with the full squad and a week in New Zealand before the first game.

"We arrived on Wednesday and we are still recovering from the travel and the guys haven't got into regular sleep patterns - perhaps the schedulers need to look at that for future tours.

"Some players are still seeing the doctor for sleeping pills to help them sleep."

Swami

 

[Swami]

British and Irish Lions beaten 22-16 by Blues in Auckland

• 6 hours ago
• From the section Rugby Union
• 659

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Ihaia West scored the winning try for the Blues after Sonny Bill Williams had broken through in midfield
British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand
Blues (12) 22
Tries: R Ioane, Williams, West Cons: Perofeta, West Pen: West
British and Irish Lions (10) 16
Try: Stander Con: Halfpenny Pens: Halfpenny 3
The British and Irish Lions suffered the first defeat of their 2017 tour of New Zealand after a dazzling late Ihaia West try gave the Blues victory.

A third Leigh Halfpenny penalty had put the Lions back in front with 10 minutes to play but West finished off a fine move that featured two superb offloads for the winning score in Auckland.

Earlier, Blues winger Rieko Ioane had opened the scoring with an emphatic finish before the Lions edged ahead through CJ Stander's converted try and a Halfpenny penalty.


But Sonny Bill Williams' converted score after a penalty came back off the posts gave the Blues the half-time lead, and set up a dramatic second period.

Warren Gatland's Lions had stuttered to a 13-7 victory over the Provincial Barbarians in their tour opener on Saturday, and they faced a sterner test in Auckland, albeit against supposedly the weakest of the New Zealand franchises.

However, the Blues always looked dangerous with the ball in hand, and despite spells when the power of the Lions gave them the ascendancy, West's winning try always looked on the cards.

The Lions now face Crusaders on Saturday (kick-off 08:35 BST), with their first Test against New Zealand on 24 June.

• Defeat can be pivotal moment on tour - Guscott
• Gatland confident over Biggar injury

The Blues turn on the style
While the Lions' first opponents on the tour were made up of fringe players from Super Rugby, the Blues are an established team and their pace and attacking style - despite wet conditions - ultimately proved too much for the tourists to handle.

Jack Nowell was given a torrid time on the wing by Ioane, who darted over in the corner for the opening try and went over twice more, only for the TMO to deny him both times - once for offside and once for a foot in touch.

The Blues claimed the half-time lead when the quick reactions of Williams saw him touch down with one hand - the try given after prolonged deliberation between the officials and TMO.

Stephen Perofeta's penalty had bounced off the upright and back into play. TJ Faiane and Nowell leapt for the ball and it was decided the Lions wing had knocked the ball back under his own posts, rather than the Kiwi knocking on, allowing Williams' effort to stand.

And they saved the best until last when Williams, who had taken a neat offload from Steven Luatua, offloaded the ball from the back of his hand to an onrushing West, who sailed past the Lions defence and crossed under the posts.

Positives for the Lions?
Although Gatland's side could not match the Blues' attacking prowess, they did show power up front, especially at the scrum.

They also scored from a driving maul to initially peg back the hosts when, having kicked two penalties to the corner, Stander drove over from a line-out.

They managed to win the 10-minute period when they only had 14 men on the field, after Liam Williams was sin-binned for making contact with Matt Duffie in the air twice in quick succession, with Halfpenny's boot accounting for the only three points scored.

And they bulldozed the Blues scrum backwards for a penalty with 10 minutes to go to enable Halfpenny, from 40 metres out, to edge his side 16-15 ahead.

But it was the hosts who showed the greater attacking threat, and the final piece of Blues magic not only won the game but also showed the scale of the task facing the tourists not just in the three Tests against the world champion All Blacks, but also against the other four Super Rugby teams they have to face.

Analysis - 'The impact of the loss cannot be underestimated'
Former Lions and England winger Ugo Monye

"A tough tour just got tougher. The impact of the Lions losing to the Blues cannot be underestimated.

"Winning is everything on these tours but a performance was a bare minimum. Unfortunately, and more so in the second half, we didn't get either.

"Congratulations to the Auckland Blues on a fantastic game - a once in a lifetime opportunity was grabbed with both hands.

"Under the tutelage of Tana Umaga we should've expected their team to be emotionally on the edge, well-drilled and powerful. They were all those things.

"Saturday's game, against the best franchise of the era in the Crusaders, is a must-win. Not quite panic stations but the Lions need to get this tour back on track in Canterbury."

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The views of the captains
Lions captain Ken Owens: "You are coming on a Lions tour, and you want to win every game. Unfortunately, we haven't done that, and we are going to have be harsh on ourselves, pick up where we lost the game and really analyse it."

Blues skipper James Parsons: "It is something I am going to savour. I am extremely proud of the effort, not only the leadership group, but the young fellas as well."

Lions bemoan indiscipline
Lions boss Warren Gatland: "The big message from [defence coach] Andy Farrell to the players was the penalty count. The first two games we have been a bit soft in that area and we've got to tighten up on that."

"It was a moment of magic that won the game tonight, but we've got to be better at stopping that offloading game.

"We're still not as fresh as we will be in a few weeks, to make sure that when we face the All Blacks we'll be strong in those areas."

Teams:
Blues: Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, George Moala, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Stephen Perofeta, Augustine Pulu; Ofa Tu'ungafasi, James Parsons (capt), Charlie Faumuina, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Scott Scrafton, Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson, Steven Luatua.

Replacements: Hame Faiva, Alex Hodgman, Sione Mafileo, Patrick Tuipulotu, Kara Pryor, Sam Nock, Ihaia West, TJ Faiane.

Lions: Leigh Halfpenny; Jack Nowell, Jared Payne, Robbie Henshaw, Elliot Daly; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Jack McGrath, Ken Owens (captain), Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, James Haskell, Justin Tipuric, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Rory Best, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Grieg Laidlaw, Johnny Sexton, Liam Williams.

Swami

 

[Swami]

British and Irish Lions beat Crusaders 12-3 to win second tour match

• 8 hours ago
• From the section Rugby Union
• 660

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Anthony Watson impressed as a stand-in full-back after coming on for the injured Stuart Hogg
Crusaders v British and Irish Lions
Crusaders (3) 3
Pens: Mo'unga
British and Irish Lions (9) 12
Pens: Farrell 4
The British and Irish Lions shut down the free-scoring Crusaders to make it two victories from three matches on their tour of New Zealand.

Coach Warren Gatland started arguably his strongest team so far and it was a much improved performance against Super Rugby's in-form outfit in a 12-3 win.

In a tight game on a greasy surface, it came down to the penalty count.


Owen Farrell kicked four from five attempts for the Lions, while Richie Mo'unga slotted one for the Crusaders.

It inflicted a first defeat on the New Zealanders this season, and the victory will give the Lions a much needed boost after a shaky start to the tour.

Gatland's side return to action against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Tuesday (08:35 BST) - their fourth of six warm-up matches before the first of three Tests against the All Blacks on 24 June.

• Farrell and Sexton? I'm not convinced - Guscott
• Players had to keep the faith - Gatland

The Lions begin to roar
After a narrow win in their opener against the Provincial Barbarians, the Lions put in a less-than-convincing performance in their defeat by Kiwi franchise the Blues on Wednesday.

They faced their toughest challenge yet against the Crusaders, who came into the match having won 14 consecutive games and boasted nine All Blacks in their squad.

The match felt as tense as a Test match, and the Lions rose to the challenge.

Farrell's accuracy with the boot helped the visitors capitalise on their opponents' scrappy errors, and the Lions defence was particularly impressive, earning nine turnovers compared to four from the Crusaders.

Like the Blues in the previous match, the Super Rugby outfit looked impressive on the counter-attack but the Lions were able to nullify the danger and keep them pinned back in their territory.

The Crusaders thought they had crossed the whitewash in the first half after a Mo'unga break, but the television match official ruled it was inconclusive, with a pile of players obstructing the view under the posts.

And early in the second half, George Bridge sprinted on to the end of a superb Jack Goodhue kick but his take was scuppered by the wet conditions.

Eyes on the tries
After showing an improvement in defence, the Lions' attention may now turn to their try-scoring ability - or lack of it, having only managed two so far on the tour.

Bath's Anthony Watson, who scored the opening try of the series, did go over again against the Crusaders but it was chalked off for a knock-on in the build-up.

Centre Jonathan Davies also had two decent chances early in the first half, but the wet conditions hindered the Welshman on the first attempt and he was blocked by Mo'unga on the second - a tackle which prevented the Scarlets centre returning to the field after a head injury assessment.

Team selection may also be a cause for concern for Gatland.

Full-back Stuart Hogg joined Davies back in the dressing room after receiving a nasty-looking laceration to the head following a collision with team-mate Conor Murray's elbow, while Dan Biggar missed out following a head injury against the Blues.

Analysis - 'The Lions are alive and kicking'
Former Lions and England Winger Ugo Monye

"Don't write off the Lions. There's something special about that jersey. A jersey that when worn can be empowering, and the boys looked just that - empowered.

"The Crusaders didn't play well, but they were also forced into poor play by a suffocating red wall in defence.

"The Lions have been slow starters but have made incremental improvements to give me and hopefully everyone watching enough evidence and hope to know they can create a real stir this summer.

"Taulupe Faletau, Conor Murray, Ben Te'o, George Kruis and Owen Farrell, to mention just a few, look like Test starters based on today."

We needed that - Gatland
Lions head coach Warren Gatland: "We needed that. That was the most important thing, the result.

"I thought our defence was outstanding, line-out was excellent, set-piece pretty good. We are creating opportunities we just need to finish off those chances."

Lions fly-half Owen Farrell: "I thought we were aggressive. We really got off the line [defensively], no matter where we were on the field.

"I thought we were really connected. We got up off the floor and pushed... and that gave us some great front-foot ball."

Swami

 

[Swami]

British and Irish Lions beaten 23-22 by Highlanders in Dunedin
By Alex Bysouth

BBC Sport

Highlanders v British and Irish Lions
Highlanders (10) 23
Tries: Naholo, Coltman Cons: Sopoaga, Banks Pens: Sopoaga 2, Banks
British and Irish Lions (10) 22
Tries: Joseph, Seymour, Warburton Cons: Biggar 2 Pen: Biggar
Elliot Daly's late attempt at a 57-metre match-winning penalty fell just short as the British and Irish Lions lost narrowly to the Highlanders.

Second-half tries from returning captain Sam Warburton and Tommy Seymour looked to have put the Lions in control, before the hosts responded.

Owen Farrell dragged a Lions penalty wide before Marty Banks landed what proved the decisive kick in Dunedin.


It was a second loss in four games for Warren Gatland's side in New Zealand.

• Hogg ruled out of tour with facial injury

Waisake Naholo's try had given the hosts a first-half lead, before Jonathan Joseph replied with a converted score.

But Liam Coltman drove over for the Highlanders and Lima Sopoaga added his second penalty after the break to set up the nervy finish.

Gatland made wholesale changes to the side that outfought the Crusaders in a 12-3 win on Saturday, with Warburton looking to prove his fitness after a knee injury.

The Lions coach was forced to replace Courtney Lawes when the lock took a heavy blow to the head in the first half.

The tourists next face the Maori All Blacks on Saturday (08:35 BST) - their fifth of six warm-up matches before the first of three Tests against the All Blacks on 24 June.

Lions improve in attack
The Lions headed into Tuesday's game having scored just two tries in their opening three fixtures in New Zealand, and were looking to establish their attacking credentials.

Despite failing to show the same resilience in closing out the game as they had against the Crusaders three days earlier, the tourists did outscore the hosts by three tries to two.

Centre Joseph accelerated through a gap from a fine Dan Biggar offload to touch down for their first, with Seymour intercepting a hanging cross-field kick from Sopoaga to dart over after the break.

Outscoring the 2015 Super Rugby champions, who have averaged more than four tries a game this season, is no mean feat, but Warburton's score ensured Gatland's men did just that.

Scrum-half Rhys Webb and prop Kyle Sinckler both made threatening breaks, but a touch of inaccuracy and too many dropped passes stopped the Lions adding to their try count.

It was a tale of the kickers in the end, with the normally reliable Farrell pulling his effort wide, and fellow replacement Daly's kick two minutes from time dropped agonisingly short.

Second string aim to stake claim

Sam Warburton missed six weeks with a knee injury
Back-rower Warburton was looking to prove his fitness after missing six weeks at the end of the domestic season with a knee injury.

The 28-year-old admitted before the game there was "every chance" he may not be involved in the first Test if he did not impress.

Warburton and his team-mates faced some ferocious Highlanders attack early on, but the Wales forward looked sharp as he crossed in the second half before being replaced with 12 minutes to go.

Tuesday's game was also an opportunity for those among the Lions' second string to stake their claims for a starting spot.

The versatile Jared Payne was solid in defence, stopping All Blacks winger Naholo in the opening exchanges from full-back - a position that was expected to be filled by Stuart Hogg before the Scot was ruled out of the tour with a facial injury.

Webb also dished out several big hits and was lively with ball in hand, while half-back partner Biggar proved he is a reliable option at 10.

But the concession of late penalties and position to the Highlanders will worry Gatland, with time running out before the first Test.

Analysis - 'More cohesive Lions performance'
Former Lions and England wing Ugo Monye

The Lions' game is starting to look more rounded and all the hard work attack coach Rob Howley has been putting in with the players is starting to pay dividends.

It was an impressive return for Sam Warburton. He played 68 minutes, which he'll be pleased about, and responded well to a great showing from Sean O'Brien on Saturday. He looked busy in defence and capped his performance with a try early in the second half.

It was a more cohesive Lions performance - there were not too many standout players but it was a good team performance.

Frustrations will be the loss, obviously. This tour is all about winning, but ultimately it is a tour that will be defined by the Test series itself.

However, the amount of individual errors in defence is a concern - there were far too many missed tackles, which prevented the type of continuous pressure with line-speed the Lions produced against the Crusaders.

Pick your Lions fly-half
Who should be Warren Gatland's first choice number 10?

First
1
Second
2
Third
3

Dan BiggarWAL

Johnny SextonIRE

Owen FarrellENG

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• Read more reaction from Gatland

Lions captain Sam Warburton: "For one reason or another the penalties got up into double figures. It was a game where it was going to be thrown around a bit more, but our first and second arrivals on the breakdown were a little late.

"We scored a couple of tries, we looked good when we were direct. We are looking forward to the challenge of the New Zealand Maori on Saturday."

Swami

 

[Swami]

British and Irish Lions power to win against the Maori All Blacks
By Matt Davis

BBC Sport

• 
  

The Lions won all of their set-pieces against the Maori All Blacks in a powerful display up front
Maori All Blacks v British and Irish Lions
Maori All Blacks (10) 10
Try: Messam Con: McKenzie Pen: McKenzie
British and Irish Lions (15) 32
Tries: Penalty try*, Itoje Con: Halfpenny Pens: Halfpenny 6
*Penalty tries are now an automatic seven points, with no conversion taken
The British and Irish Lions gained a confidence-boosting win as their power told against the Maori All Blacks in wet conditions in Rotorua.

Leigh Halfpenny - who landed 20 points in all - kicked them into a 15-10 half-time lead, with Liam Messam crossing for the hosts' try.

The Lions forwards dominated the second half and they earned a penalty try when they took the Maori apart at a scrum.


Maro Itoje crossed four minutes later as the Lions laid down a Test marker.

• Relive the Lions' victory in Rotorua

Warren Gatland's side came into the game with two wins from four games, following Wednesday's 23-22 defeat by the Highlanders.

That made this a must-win game and Gatland went with power in a bid to neutralise the dangerous Maori attack.

And the tourists did just that with a combination of smothering defence and precise kicking pinning the Maori back.

A tight first half saw Messam pounce to score an opportunist try after George North had fumbled Nehe Milner-Skudder's grubber kick.

But that was a rare foray into the 22 for the Maori and the hosts barely got out of their own half after the break as the visitors' power up front told.

They scored in the 10 minutes the Maori were without Tawera Kerr-Barlow after the scrum-half was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle on Halfpenny.

Many of the Lions team that started the game in Rotorua played themselves into contention to start the first Test against the All Blacks on Saturday, 24 June.

Forward power wins the day
It was no surprise that the Lions' two tries came from the pack.

They were imperious throughout the match, winning all of their scrums and line-outs.

The scrum brought the first try on 51 minutes as the Maori forwards, defending their 5m line, were forced to turn it illegally by the power of the Lions, with referee Jaco Peyper given no choice but to give the score.

Minutes later and it was another scrum, another score. This time Taulupe Faletau drove from the base but was held up just short of the line and lock Itoje, who had been outstanding all game, picked up and dived over from close range.

With his forwards excelling in the wet conditions, albeit against a disappointing Maori side, Gatland might be praying for rain in Auckland in a week's time.

Peter O'Mahony, who started as captain, was excellent in the back row alongside Faletau and Sean O'Brien and tour captain Sam Warburton will not be an automatic starter in Auckland.

The Maori's haka was the fiercest the Lions have faced so far
Gatland's first XV takes shape
With Owen Farrell an injury doubt for the first Test, England centre Ben Te'o produced the perfect audition to nail down the number 12 jersey.

The Worcester back was the visitors' most dangerous attacking threat, running for 70m in total and being able to break the gainline against a big, physical side.

His centre partner Jonathan Davies was another who excelled in the tricky conditions and both could start in midfield against the All Blacks.

Ireland half-backs Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton looked nailed on for the nine and 10 jerseys, while Halfpenny, with his metronomic kicking, will be hard to dislodge at 15.

While George Kruis looked one-dimensional in attack, his leadership of the line-out will be invaluable to Gatland, and Itoje's all-action game means he will surely start at lock.

Anthony Watson, despite being starved of possession, did enough to suggest he could start against the All Blacks, but doubts remain over North's form on the opposite wing.

Man of the match - Ben Te'o

Itoje pushed him close but Te'o excelled in midfield. He was a battering ram in attack and provided the greatest attacking threat from the visitors
We dominated things - Gatland

Lions boss Warren Gatland: "It was pretty good. If you look at territory and possession we dominated things. A couple of stupid penalties in the first half but we managed the game well and squeezed the life out of them.

"We've been guilty of putting ourselves under pressure but we got some going forward - even the try they scored was a lucky, speculative kick through.

"We're benefiting from the experience of playing the quality of sides we are."

Analysis - roll on next Saturday
Former Lions and England winger Ugo Monye

The Saturday team is unbeaten on tour and today's performance will have given them a huge shot of belief a week before the first Test. The fundamentals and foundations of the gameplan for the Lions were there for everyone to see, namely All Blacks boss Steve Hansen, who was an interested spectator in the stands.

Physicality, set-piece, line speed, work-rate and a top-notch kicking game are the hallmarks of a strong Gatland team, and these Lions are not going to deviate from what has brought him plenty of success before.

In saying all that, as impressive as tonight's victory was, you just know they'll have to be 10 or 20% better next weekend at least in order to win. Roll on next Saturday.

Teams
Maori All Blacks: J Lowe; N Milner-Skudder, M Proctor, C Ngatai, R Ioane; D McKenzie, T Kerr-Barlow; K Hames, A Dixon (capt), B May, J Wheeler, T Franklin, A Ioane, E Dixon, L Messam.

Replacements: H Elliot, C Eves, M Renata, L Price, K Pryor, B Hall, I West, R Thompson.

Lions: L Halfpenny (Wales); A Watson (England), J Davies (Wales), B Te'o (England), G North (Wales); Sexton, C Murray (both Ireland); M Vunipola, J George (both England), T Furlong (Ireland), M Itoje, G Kruis (both England), P O'Mahony (capt), S O'Brien (both Ireland), T Faletau (Wales).

Replacements: K Owens (Wales), J McGrath (Ireland), K Sinckler (England), I Henderson (Ireland), S Warburton (Wales), G Laidlaw (Scotland), D Biggar (Wales), E Daly (England).

Swami

 

[Swami]

British and Irish Lions beat Chiefs in final All Blacks warm-up
By Alex Bysouth

BBC Sport

• 
  

Jack Nowell scored either side of half-time for the Lions in Hamilton
Chiefs v British and Irish Lions
Chiefs (6) 6
Pens: Donald 2
British and Irish Lions (13) 34
Tries: Nowell 2, penalty try*, Payne Cons: Biggar 3 Pens: Biggar 2
*automatic seven points
Jack Nowell scored two tries as the British and Irish Lions' preparations for Saturday's first Test against New Zealand continued with a convincing win against the Chiefs in Hamilton.

The England wing crossed in either half as Warren Gatland's midweek side enjoyed a 28-point victory on Tuesday.

Centre Jared Payne then went over from a smart Liam Williams break, with the tourists also awarded a penalty try.


Dan Biggar added gloss to a morale-boosting performance with the boot.

Stephen Donald kicked two penalties for the Chiefs in reply, with one coming when Lions prop Joe Marler was in the sin-bin early on.

The Lions' focus now turns to the first Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday, which kicks off at 08:35 BST.

• Daly edges battle for Test consideration - Guscott
• Relive the action from Hamilton
• Love, laughter, Living with Lions
• 'O'Mahony ready to captain Lions'

Last chance to impress?

Jack Nowell's double saw him become the 2017 tour's joint-top try scorer, with the Lions awarded penalty tries against the Chiefs and the Maori All Blacks
You could read more into who coach Gatland will start against the All Blacks on Saturday by those who did not feature, but the Lions' second string impressed in their final audition at the FMG Stadium Waikato.

Following midweek defeats by the Blues and the Highlanders, the Lions were much more threatening in attack with the likes of Elliot Daly, Williams and Nowell finding space.

The versatile Williams, playing at full-back, started the move that saw Nowell dive over for his first try after fly-half Biggar was stopped just short.

And it was Wales international Williams' snaking run and offload that allowed Payne to sprint over and complete the rout.

Daly, meanwhile, set the tone for the tourists' best performance so far with a huge hit on Finlay Christie from kick-off.

The 24-year-old wing then showed superb acceleration to carry the Lions downfield before keeping the move alive with a clever inside pass early in the move that Nowell finished off for his second.

Lions' line-speed impresses again

Courtney Lawes was part of a Lions line-out that won 11 out of 13 of their own throws and three of the Chiefs'
A consistent trait of the Lions' tour of New Zealand so has been the impressive line-speed shown in defence.

It stifled the Maori All Blacks in a 32-10 win on Saturday, and the work defence coach Andy Farrell has been doing with the squad was again apparent as the Lions stopped the Chiefs from crossing the whitewash.

There were plenty of notable performances in the pack.

Courtney Lawes stole an early line-out and was typically lively round the pitch, and second row partner Iain Henderson also put in a strong showing that included four first-half turnovers, but does only a short stint from the bench for Alun Wyn Jones as a temporary injury replacement for Lawes suggest it will be the Welshman who makes the 23-man squad on Saturday?




Lions in a good place, says Best
Jones came on when Lawes suffered a second head knock in a week after his collision in the Highlanders game, but the England lock did return to the field of play this time.

Despite a positive performance from the midweek side, there is a still a touch of indiscipline that may play into Gatland's thinking.

The midweek Lions have conceded almost double the amount of penalties as the Saturday side have in their past two games, against the Maori All Blacks and the Crusaders.

Analysis - All Blacks will have to work hard
Former Lions and England wing Ugo Monye

What a performance from the Lions. They looked threatening with and without the ball and played for the full 80 minutes.

It is a perfectly-timed win to feed the energy back into the Test team for Saturday's first Test.

Defensively they suffocated the Chiefs, who didn't really have a sniff of a try.

Andy Farrell's defensive system has pretty much fully functioned this tour and the All Blacks are going to have to work hard for their points.

'I hope we're peaking at the right time'
Lions coach Warren Gatland speaking to Sky Sports: "I hope we are peaking at the right time. We always felt that we would get better the longer we spent together.

"We were more clinical today, we squeezed them, didn't concede any tries and played some good rugby, finished off a few chances."

Swami

 

[Swami]

New Zealand beat British and Irish Lions 30-15 in first Test in Auckland

By Tom Fordyce

Chief sports writer

Sean O'Brien scored a superb try but the Lions were outclassed in Auckland
First Test, Auckland
New Zealand (13) 30
Tries: Taylor, Ioane 2 Cons: Barrett 3 Pens: Barrett 3
Lions (8) 15
Tries: O'Brien, Webb Con: Farrell Pen: Farrell
New Zealand snuffed out the British and Irish Lions' hopes of a shock win with a ruthless display at Eden Park to take what looks like an iron grip on the three-Test series.

A breathless match had been poised at 13-8 at half-time, Codie Taylor's brilliant pick-up bringing the All Blacks' opening try before the Lions struck back with a wonderful length-of-field effort begun by Liam Williams deep in his own 22 and finished by Sean O'Brien.

But after the Lions had gone close early in the second period, the home side struck again through Rieko Ioane's try in the corner after more quick thinking and fast hands.


And the home side took control as the Lions' much-vaunted replacements struggled to make any impact, Ioane feasting off an error to race away for his second.

Led from the front in Auckland by the outstanding Kieran Read and with fly-half Beauden Barrett impeccable from the tee, landing six from six, this was the All Blacks every Lions supporter had feared, and Rhys Webb's late try was little consolation for the tourists.

Only once in their history have the Lions won a series in New Zealand, and never having lost the first match - the prospects are ominous with the world champions on this kind of form.

The second Test is in Wellington next Saturday with a match against Hurricanes before that on Tuesday (both 08:35 BST kick-offs).

All Blacks close to their best
After O'Brien's wonderful try on 35 minutes, arguably one of the greatest in Lions history, the tourists had dared to believe that they could pull off a huge upset at a stadium where the All Blacks have not lost since 1994.

But as on so many occasions in their six-year reign as world champions, Steve Hansen's men played at a level that no other team can match - dominant at the breakdown, incisive in attack, playing with both pace and precision.

The Lions never got close to the set-piece dominance they had hoped for after the tour wins over the Crusaders and NZ Maori, and while they made several line-breaks they again left points out there at the start of both halves.

Whether it would have made any difference had they crossed the try-line is questionable, the All Blacks able to accelerate away whenever required, scrum-half Aaron Smith another at the top of his game in a team that showed no sign of rustiness.

Gatland's selections justified
Williams' spectacular break for the Lions' first try, along with the swerve and pass of Elliot Daly that carried the move on, justified coach Warren Gatland's decision to change up his back three.

Ben Te'o also impressed at inside-centre while Jonathan Davies made several bullocking breaks, but Hansen's own big selections also paid off - Ioane showing remarkable pace to finish that brace of tries on his full debut, Read immense on his comeback from a thumb injury.

There were reasons for Lions optimism, not least the line-breaks made in the first 50 minutes, yet there were also too many errors, albeit brought about by sustained, heavy pressure.

Gatland may opt to start Maro Itoje - who came on for Alun Wyn Jones after 50 minutes - in next Saturday's second Test, but he will also know that precedent is against his men.

While Webb's late try kept the final margin below 20 points, this was a chastening experience for the Lions.

And, with the team that lost the first Test going on to take the series only four times in the 31 tours made by the Lions, history is now firmly against them.

Man of the match - Kieran Read

The New Zealand captain was relentless on his return to action, integral to a set-piece that was rock-solid, putting in the hit of the night on Lions fly-half Owen Farrell and producing a fabulous flick-pass from the ground in the build-up to his side's second try
Teams:
New Zealand: B Smith; I Dagg, R Crotty, SB Williams, R Ioane; B Barrett, A Smith; J Moody, C Taylor, O Franks, B Retallick, S Whitelock, J Kaino, S Cane, K Read (capt).

Replacements: N Harris, W Crockett, C Faumuina, S Barrett, A Savea, TJ Perenara, A Cruden/L Sopoaga, A Lienert-Brown.

British and Irish Lions: L Williams (Wales); A Watson (England), J Davies (Wales), B Te'o (England), E Daly (England); O Farrell (England), C Murray (Ireland); M Vunipola (England), J George (England), T Furlong (Ireland); AW Jones (Wales), G Kruis (England); P O'Mahony (capt, Ireland), S O'Brien (Ireland), T Faletau (Wales).

Replacements: K Owens (Wales), J McGrath (Ireland), K Sinckler (England), M Itoje (England), S Warburton (Wales), R Webb (Wales), J Sexton (Ireland), L Halfpenny (Wales).

Swami

 

[Swami]

Not looking good for the rest of the Test series unless Gatland brings in the likes of Henderson to the pack.

Swami

 

[Swami]

British and Irish Lions draw with Hurricanes in final midweek game
By Louise Gwilliam

BBC Sport

• 27 Jun
• From the section Rugby Union
• 761

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Tommy Seymour's two tries had looked like setting up a Lions win
Hurricanes v British and Irish Lions
Hurricanes (7) 31
Tries: Gibbins, Laumape, Goosen, Fifita Cons: Barrett 4 Pens: Barrett
British and Irish Lions (23) 31
Tries: Seymour 2, North Cons: Biggar 2 Pens: Biggar 4
Iain Henderson's yellow card proved costly as the Hurricanes clawed back a 14-point deficit to draw with the British and Irish Lions in Wellington.

The lock, who along with Courtney Lawes was otherwise impressive, was sin-binned after 65 minutes for a dangerous clear-out on Jordie Barrett.

A Tommy Seymour double and George North try had put the Lions in control, but down to 14 men they shipped two tries.


Dan Biggar's late long-range drop-goal to win fell under the bar.

• Analysis: Lawes makes case for bench role in Test - Guscott
• Reaction: Gatland did not want to 'devalue shirt'
• Relive the thriller in Wellington
• Meet the fan who roomed with All Blacks

The Lions will be back at the Westpac Stadium on Saturday for their second Test against New Zealand, which kicks off at 08:35 BST.

In their final midweek game of the 2017 tour the Lions led 23-7 at half-time courtesy of opportunistic scores from wingers Seymour and North, either side of Callum Gibbins' short-range try for the hosts.

The Super Rugby champions scored within a minute of the restart through Ngani Laumape, but a third try of the tour from Seymour should have set the Lions on the way to victory.

But, when Ireland's Henderson was sent from the field with the scores at 31-17, the Canes went on the attack and Wes Goosen and Vaea Fifita punished the Lions with converted tries to level the scores.

Second-row conundrum

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Lions' first Test defeat by the All Blacks but the midweek locks were imperious - bar Henderson's lapse - in Tuesday's draw.

Ulster's Henderson got a vital assist for the Lions' second try as his deft off-load set up North, but the 25-year-old also had an impressive game at the breakdown, securing a vital turnover at the end of the first half.

But his yellow card may ultimately have cost the Lions victory, giving Super Rugby's top try-scorers the chance to do what they do best.

Jordie Barrett picked out substitute Goosen on the wing with a fine miss-pass as the Lions were outnumbered.

And the Hurricanes then turned to their forward pack as the Lions' depleted line-out saw the NZ outfit secure good ball, with Fifita crashing over the line.

Englishman Lawes - who will have made fewer headlines than Henderson - also had an impressive game, carrying well and securing decent line-out ball.

He was hauled off with 30 minutes to play, which could well be an indication of Gatland's thinking.

Wingers on form

George North scored his first try of the 2017 Lions tour against the Hurricanes
There were also gains to be made by the likes of George North, perhaps a surprise omission from the first Test squad in Auckland.

The Welshman crossed for a classic winger's try, despite playing much of the game in the centre following an early injury to Robbie Henshaw.

Forced into a partnership at inside centre with Jonathan Joseph outside him, North popped up on Henderson's shoulder in the first half and accelerated away from the cover defence for his first try of the tour.

He could have had two tries, but for a foot in touch. It was a positive audition from a player out of position, whose explosive power and ability to make yards beyond the tackle could be used by Gatland on Saturday.

Scotland winger Seymour, despite not being a real threat to the Test team, also profited in Wellington in what was probably his final game in a Lions shirt in New Zealand.

After a mixed few weeks, his double on Tuesday means he is now the leading try scorer on the 2017 tour.

What did the boss make of it?
Lions head coach Warren Gatland: "The penalties we gave away were a bit soft and they allowed them back into it. We felt like we played some good rugby, but that yellow card [to Iain Henderson] was a penalty to us and it ends up being a penalty reversed.

"We had Henderson off the field for 10 minutes and conceded 14 points. To me that's the game in a nut shell."

Lions captain Rory Best: "You can't fault the effort, perhaps our composure a little bit. I don't know if it was a penalty but Iain Henderson was tremendous tonight and we have to be bigger than a yellow card."

The pundit's view
Former Lions and England winger Ugo Monye: "Two needless penalties, one yellow card, two kicks to the corner, two tries. Poor discipline killed the Lions on Tuesday - it was completely self inflicted.

"We've seen countless times this tour that you can't switch off for a moment, let alone 10 minutes.

"Iain Henderson covered what seemed like every blade of grass. It's one thing to have a big engine and workrate, another thing to have those qualities and be so effective with your involvements. Before his yellow card Henderson had been comfortably the best player on the pitch."

Teams:
British and Irish Lions: J Nowell (England); T Seymour (Scotland); J Joseph (England), R Henshaw (Ireland); G North (Wales); D Biggar (Wales); G Laidlaw (Scotland); J Marler (England), R Best (Ireland, captain), D Cole (England), I Henderson (Ireland), C Lawes (England), J Haskell (England), J Tipuric (Wales), CJ Stander (Ireland).

Replacements: K Dacey (Wales), A Dell (Scotland), T Francis (Wales), C Hill (Wales), G Kruis (England), G Davies (Wales), F Russell (Scotland), L Halfpenny (Wales).

Hurricanes: J Barrett, N Milner-Skudder, V Aso, N Laumape, J Savea, O Black, T Toiroa-Tahuriorangi, B May, R Ricitelli, J To'omaga-Allen, M Abbott, S Lousi, V Fifita, C Gibbins, B Shields (captain).

Replacements: L Apisai, C Eves, M Kainga, J Blackwell, R Prinsep, K Hauiti-Parapara, W Goosen, C Jane.

Swami

 

[Swami]

British and Irish Lions beat New Zealand 24-21 to set up series decider

By Tom Fordyce

Chief sports writer

• 
  
  

Taulupe Faletau's powerful finish sparked the Lions' thrilling fightback in Wellington
Second Test, Wellington
New Zealand (9) 21
Pens: Barrett 7
Lions (9) 24
Tries: Faletau, Murray Con: Farrell Pens: Farrell 4
The Lions pulled off one of their great wins to steal a thriller against New Zealand and set up a series decider in Auckland in a week's time.

When Sonny Bill Williams was red-carded for a shoulder charge on Anthony Watson - the first All Blacks sending off in 50 years - the Lions sensed a wonderful opportunity for a historic upset in Wellington.

At the break it was 9-9, three penalties apiece for Beauden Barrett and Owen Farrell cancelling each other out in the torrential rain and wind.


As the Lions' own discipline deserted them, Barrett kicked his side into a nine-point lead, Mako Vunipola sin-binned for a late charge on the fly-half, only for Taulupe Faletau to crash over in the right corner and give the Lions hope.

After Barrett's seventh penalty gave the home side a little daylight once again, Conor Murray's sniping try and Farrell's conversion from out wide then levelled it up at 21-21.

And with four minutes to go Charlie Faumuina was penalised for taking the charging Kyle Sinckler out in the air, and Farrell stroked over the critical three points to seal a famous win.

Brave but correct call for Williams red

Sonny Bill Williams was sent off in the 25th minute, but New Zealand still managed to carve out a nine-point lead with 20 minutes to go
Not since the legendary Colin Meads in 1967 had a New Zealand player been sent off in a Test match, and never before at home.

But it looked the right decision from French referee Jerome Garces, All Blacks inside centre Williams leading with his right shoulder to the unprotected face of Watson after the winger had gathered the ball in his own 22.

Garces checked with his television match official and then asked to watch the impact once again on the stadium's big screen.

Yet even the protestations from captain Kieran Read were muted, his team forced to reorganise and replace flanker Jerome Kaino with centre Ngani Laumape as the huge numbers of Lions supporters in the Westpac roared their approval.

First home defeat in eight years
After their 30-15 win in the first Test the All Blacks had been strong favourites to wrap up the series, and when they led 18-9 even with the man disadvantage the Lions' indiscipline looked to have cost them.

Not since 2009 had New Zealand lost a Test match on home soil, and they will look back with regret at the three kickable penalties missed by Barrett - the world player of the year but whose goal-kicking was singled out before the tour as a potential weakness - as their opponents wobbled horribly.

Warren Gatland's men conceded 13 penalties as well as Vunipola's yellow, and they were fortunate to still be in the match when Farrell stepped up for his own fateful chance.

The Lions have only won one series in New Zealand in their history, and if they are to repeat the achievement of their 1971 forbears they will have to improve dramatically in that area.

They will also have to break an even longer unbroken run - not since 1994 have the All Blacks lost at Eden Park - but the opportunity is there, and the occasion will be a huge one.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is not used to his side being kept from crossing the whitewash
'The Lions deserve the win'
Lions head coach Warren Gatland: "Even without the red card we were the better team. It's great to tie the series up and we go to Auckland next week with a series to play for.

"We need to fix the soft penalties and look at being more accurate in our kicking game."

New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen: "We didn't help ourselves by losing a player. Whilst I am proud of our players for playing like that with 14 men, the Lions deserve the win.

"The referee made the call. Whether he called it right or wrong you've got to go with what he says."

Lions captain Sam Warburton: "I'll be happy next week when we bring the Test series home. We've got to win.

"We gave away far too many penalties in the second half. The one disappointing thing was the discipline but to score a try out wide shows we were willing to play a bit."

Man of the match - Maro Itoje

English lock Itoje, only a replacement a week ago, was a force of nature throughout this epic, the Lions supporters serenading him in song as he left the field and they streamed into the pubs and bars of Wellington

Swami

 

[Swami]

New Zealand 15-15 British and Irish Lions

• 
  

Ngani Laumape seizes a Jordie Barrett knock-back to go over for the All Blacks' first try
Third Test, Auckland
New Zealand (12) 15
Tries: Laumape, J Barrett Pens: Barrett 2 Con: Barrett
Lions (6) 15
Pens: Farrell 4, Daly 1
A long-range penalty three minutes from time from Owen Farrell snatched a draw for the Lions in an epic third Test and with it a share of the series.

The All Blacks had led 12-6 at half-time through tries from Ngani Laumape and Jordie Barrett, and had blown at least two other clear try-scoring opportunities.

But three penalties from Farrell and a monster from Elliot Daly from beyond halfway tied it up at 12-12 with 20 minutes to go.


Not since 1994 had the All Blacks lost at Eden Park, and not in 19 years had they lost consecutive Test matches at home.

And with Jerome Kaino sin-binned and the red-shirted masses in the stadium roaring there was a glorious chance for the Lions to make even more history and win a series in New Zealand for only the second time in 100 years.

Handling errors crept in as minutes ticked away, and when replacement prop Kyle Sinckler was penalised at a scrum on his own 22, Beauden Barrett kicked the penalty, only for Farrell to hit back with a nerveless effort of his own.

And neither side could land the knock-out blow in a frantic final few moments - although Jordie Barrett came within a couple of yards of finishing off a desperate last-gasp All Blacks attack - with both sets of players left physically and emotionally exhausted by one of the great Test matches.

Before the series began, the All Blacks were clear favourites, and when they won the first Test at a canter the idea of a drawn series seemed a distant one.

To come back from there to share the spoils is a remarkable achievement, but there was a tangible sense of what might have been having come so close at the death.

All Blacks miss chances to move clear
That the Lions were within six points at the interval was mainly down to the unusual profligacy of the home side in a contest of breathless pace and intensity.

First Julian Savea dropped the ball on the left wing with his route to the try line open, and then the older Barrett brother spilled a short pass 10 metres out with the defence on its heels, before Laumape too knocked on with green space and the white line ahead of him.

But there was poise too from their least experienced men amongst the mayhem, 20-year-old Jordie Barrett tapping back his brother's cross-kick to set up the opening try for his fellow full debutant Laumape and then running on to Anton Lienert-Brown's flat pass for the second try after Laumape's brilliant off-load.

Beauden Barrett also missed a kickable penalty and conversion, the Lions staying in touch through Farrell's boot even as the inside-centre was uncharacteristically off-key with his passing game.

Lions left with pride and regret
For all their obduracy Lions too will look back at openings not taken in a match left open for a hero to step forward.

When Kaino was yellow-carded for a forearm to the face of Alun Wyn Jones on 49 minutes and the score at 12-9, the thousands of Lions supporters in the ground sensed that this might be their team's time.

But hard hands and anxious heads proved costly, a knock-on, forward pass and lost line-out all throwing away promising territory and momentum.

Even after Farrell's late leveller there were slim chances, the All Blacks initially awarded a penalty by referee Romain Poite from the re-start when replacement hooker Ken Owens caught the ball in an offside position after Liam Williams had got hands to it in the air.

But the French official then reviewed it and called it instead as an accidental offside, and from the subsequent scrum the Lions then almost broke away themselves.

When the final whistle went there was almost a surreal atmosphere in the ground, a sense of anti-climax that was soon washed away by the realisation that this had been one of great Lions matches.

Teams
Lions: Liam Williams (Wales); Anthony Watson (England), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Owen Farrell (England), Elliot Daly (England); Johnny Sexton (Ireland), Conor Murray (Ireland); Mako Vunipola (England), Jamie George (England) Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Maro Itoje (England), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales) Sam Warburton (capt, Wales), Sean O'Brien (Ireland), Taulupe Faletau (Wales)

Replacements: Ken Owens (Wales), Jack McGrath (Ireland), Kyle Sinckler (England), Courtney Lawes (England), CJ Stander (Ireland), Rhys Webb (Wales), Ben Te'o (England), Jack Nowell (England)

New Zealand: Jordie Barrett; Israel Dagg, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ngani Laumape, Julian Savea; Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Sam Cane, Kieran Read.

Replacements: Nathan Harris, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Aaron Cruden, Malakai Fekitoa.

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