All Blacks in mean mood as Lions are tamed

New Zealand 30, Lions 15:
THIS morning’s defeat at the hands of the All Blacks in Eden Park in Auckland was emphatic enough to cause concern for the rest of the tour for Warren Gatland’s side. They started in determined fashion and Conor Murray almost put Elliot Daly in at the left corner, the winger just failing to ground the ball. The Blacks responded with some wonderful off-loading rugby and a Bowden Barrett penalty saw them go in front. Hooker Taylor scored the first try of the game for the home country, converted by Barrett as the Blacks raced into a 10-0 lead. Some sparkling rugby by the tourists resulted in Owen Farrell kicking a penalty to make it 10-3 and a Barrett restored his side’s ten point lead from another penalty.
The game sparked to life on 35 minutes. Liam Williams made one of the breaks of the season, taking the ball from almost his own try line to the opposing red zone. A series of inter-change saw Jonathan Davies twice involved before Daly sent Sean O’Brien in for a super try to reduce the lead to 13-8, Farrell narrowly missing the conversion.
The opening stages of the second half were evenly contested but it was New Zealand who gor the crucial next score, Kieran Read scooping an audacious pass from the deck and Rioke Ioane cruising over. Barrett added the two points and the game began to drift from the Lions at 20-8. Johnny Sexton came in at out-half with Farrell going to the centre but a second Ioane try after an error by Liam Williams, converted by Barrett, pushed the lead to 27-8. Another Barrett penalty saw the Blacks lead 30-8 with minutes remaining while the Lions got a crumb of consolation with the last action of the game when Rhys Webb got a try, converted by Farrell.
The display was disappointing for the Lions camp and much work faces them in the coming week before the sides meet in the second test of the three match series.
New Zealand: Ben Smith; I Dagg, R Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, R Ioane; B Barrett, A Smith; J Moody, C Taylor, O Franks, B Retallick, Sam Whitelock, J Kaino, S Cane, Kevin 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).
Lions tour fixtures
3 June Provincial Barbarians Won 13-7
7 June Blues Lost 22-16
10 June Crusaders Won 12-3
13 June Highlanders Lost 23-22
17 June Maori All Blacks Won 32-10
20 June Chiefs Won 34-6
24 June New Zealand 30, Lions 15
27 June Hurricanes
1 July New Zealand
8 July New Zealand

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