New Zealand start Test series in ominously impressive form
Too good. Plainly and simply too good. For the British & Irish Lions, this was a chastening, bruising, evening – ending in a 30-15 defeat by the All Blacks which will hurt the proud home nations greatly.
In the build-up to the first test, there was a growing media optimism around the Lions’ chances – from some, at least – based on the improvements in form of the midweek teams, and of those players ultimately selected.
True, the previous two midweek victories, over the Maori All Blacks (32-10), and the Chiefs (34-6), had steadied the ship somewhat after earlier defeats against the New Zealand Maori All Blacks and the Blues – defeats which had many predicting a 3-0 series defeat when it came to facing the All Blacks.
But for those players that Head Coach Warren Gatland had already decided were not in his immediate plans for a starting place, their performances were not quite enough – wing Jack Nowell, full-back Leigh Halfpenny, and fly-half Dan Biggar among them
There were a couple of surprises in Gatland’s line-up for this game, the absence of lock Maro Itoje, who many had assumed was virtually guaranteed a place, and his choice of skipper in Ireland’s Peter O’Mahony – that was a selection that would have carried long odds prior to the start of this tour.
O’Mahony’s steel and leadership had clearly impressed Gatland, enough to see him leading out the team with tour captain Wales’s Sam Warburton only on the bench, although of course his fitness and match sharpness were still not really one hundred percent.
Also playing himself into the side fairly late in the day was England utility back Eliot Daly, who claimed the left-wing’s shirt. Daly’s inclusion was something to be celebrated within this parish – the Croydon-born, former Cumnor House & Whitgift schoolboy proudly representing our corner of Surrey, at the highest of levels.
But the Lions now have to reflect on a convincing victory for New Zealand. They only added their last 7 points at the death, giving the final score a better look than 30-8 would have done. The All Blacks raw power, unreal handling skills, all-around-the-park athleticism and derring-do were simply too much for the spirited but well-beaten Lions.
Had the Lions taken all their chances, however, it would have been interesting. But as we all know, you spurn your opportunities against New Zealand and you usually live to regret it. The first of these saw Eliot Daly fail to ground the ball at the try line under terrific pressure from All Black full-back Israel Dagg, after a clever break from scrum half Conor Murray, aided and abetted by centre Jonathan Davies. Tantalisingly close.
The All Blacks drew first blood after 13 minutes. Beauden Barrett – their mercurial fly-half with majestic handling skills but also a right foot of clay from the kicking tee at times – thumping his first kick through the posts with minimal fuss.
Barely four minutes later it was 10-0. A quickly taken Aaron Smith penalty, two quick passes later, and Codie Taylor crossed the line imperiously. Taylor’s brilliant pick-up from Israel Dagg’s pass, quite literally scooped up from toenail height, was a convincing impression of a right-wing, belying his true position of hooker. For the umpteenth time, we saw a demonstration of the handling skills every member of an All Blacks team seems to have – irrespective of the numbers on their backs. It was quite brilliant.
Another chance – or half-chance? – went begging for the Lions soon after. On 27 minutes Daly fielded fly half Owen Farrell’s high kick, passed to Davies who sadly lost the ball in a robust tackle from Kiwi centre Ryan Crotty. Had Daly passed to full back Liam Williams, who was just behind him, it would have been a far better option. But again, chance gone.
A Farrell penalty pulled back 3 points for the Lions, but Barrett replied in kind on the 33 minute mark to restore the 10 point All Black lead, but happily, joy was imminent for the Lions with a superb try from Sean O’Brien.
Liam Williams started it with a mazy, side-to-side of the pitch foray from deep in his own half. When he was finally tackled by Dagg, he offloaded superbly to Jonathan Davies. The Welshman exchanged passes with Eliot Daly, who executed a perfect, last-second pass inside to flanker Sean O’Brien, who’d made a terrific supporting run and was in the perfect position to score from close range. A great try – flowing movement, pacy, and powerful – a Lions roar indeed.
As the half drew to a close, one could only applaud the handling, soft hands and general finesse of the All Blacks – Barrett, scrum half Aaron Smith, centre Sonny Bill Williams, Codie Taylor for his try – and skipper Kieran Read , playing with the strength and majesty of a giant pine but with a gossamer touch reminiscent of the finest spiders web – extraordinary. Lock Brodie Retallick also offloaded beautifully at times.
Ominously for the Lions, Aaron Smith was dictating play as though he was sat in his armchair, and the sleek All Black machine was purring. The half ended with New Zealand easily on top, and a 13-8 scoreline in their favour.
The Lions started the second half well. centre Ben T’eo crunching into his opposite number Sonny Bill Williams, exchanging pleasantries from their old Aussie Rugby League days, no doubt. A fine move then started down the left-wing, Davies rampaging through, with Conor Murray and wing Anthony Watson helping out. Liam Williams was stopped close to the All Blacks line, but earned a penalty as result.
Farrell kicked it to the corner, in positive fashion. It gave the Lions a good platform for a sustained attack on the Kiwi line but sadly it ended without a score – another missed chance.
Meanwhile Kieran Read stunned Owen Farrell very hard with a massive hit – the only thing missing being the cartoon birds tweeting over his head, Tom & Jerry style. Farrell tried hard to look unconcerned and undamaged – I doubt many were convinced.
But suddenly the Lions had found momentum . Anthony Watson jinked and weaved impressively through several would-be tackles but just failed to offload decisively when he was eventually tackled. This was a good spell. Lock Maro Itoje came on for the tiring veteran Alun Wyn Jones. Itoje was all noise, attitude and positivity. For one so young he has clear and obvious leadership qualities.
But the failure to add to their points tally was compounded in the 54th minute when the flying All Black winger Rieko Ioane crossed the whitewash. A mighty All Black scrum yielded a penalty – but scrum-half Aaron Smith urged the pack to drive forwards. Skipper Kieran Read – a colossus all game long – expertly, deftly flipped the ball off the ground to Smith. Smith to Dagg, Dagg to replacement Aaron Cruden, Cruden to Ioane, who then showed electric pace to touch down one-handed in the corner – sublime.
Barrett converted – 20-8 to the All Blacks. At which point Jonny Sexton came on for Ben Te’o, enabling the Lions to field the 10/12 combination of Sexton and Farrell that many thought may have started. The change added a bit more guile and unpredictability to the Lions midfield – although Te’o had done well against the multi-sport expert that is Sonny Bill Williams.
The All Blacks, however, moved up a gear and started to dominate. Another Barrett penalty was slotted over. The Lions were quiet – as were their fans. Little spark was evident as they toiled hard to keep the All Blacks at bay, no doubt feeling the pace, along with several bruises.
On 69 minutes New Zealand broke through once again. A long clearance kick from just outside their 22 found Liam Williams, who calamitously let the ball drop through his hands. It bounced high into the air, where Ioane was first to react, poachers instinct working overtime. He switched on the afterburners and – impressively – scorched Daly for pace and touched down. Daly is no slouch – but this little sprint battle was no contest.
Barrett converted, the All Blacks moved to a 30-8 lead. The substitutions continued. Thankfully, the Lions replacement scrum-half Rhys Webb came on – more of which later. All Blacks skipper Kieran Read left the field to huge acclaim and it was thoroughly deserved. He was magnificent. Incredibly, due to a hand injury, this was only his fifth game this year. His leadership, technical prowess as a No. 8, power, speed (yes, speed), and of course his deftness of touch, soft hands and finesse . Quick, someone check his passport – it surely states concert pianist, not professional number 8 rugby player. Read’s 18 carries probably say more about his performance than any other stats available.
But at least there was some comfort still to come for the Lions. Right on full-time, they capitalised well from a maul, pushing forward with purpose, with Webb, Davies and Warburton all contributing well, going into contact but gaining ground, with Webb cleverly sniping over from close range. Together with Farrell’s conversion, it gave the final score a better look from the tourists perspective.
Game over – a 30-15 defeat for the Lions and much to ponder before next weekends all-important 2nd Test. the phrase “must win” can be over-used, but for this coming match it really is the most apt description. Everything now depends on them getting a result in Wellington next Saturday.
As if the size of the task now facing the Lions wasn’t clear enough, the All Blacks have now gone 47 successive Test matches unbeaten in New Zealand, since losing to South Africa at the Waikato stadium in Hamilton, in 2009. They haven’t lost in Auckland – the venue for the 3rd and final Test – in the professional era.
Apart from coping with the All Blacks’ physicality, technical excellence and ruthlessness, (as if that wasn’t enough), the biggest area of concern for Gatland’s Lions will be writ large on a dressing room flipchart page, headed: “Taking our chances”. If the Lions can’t nail that one, they are in big trouble.
By Chris Tribe
24th June 2017
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