JACK NOWELL showed the Lions have the bite with a two-try special against the Chiefs.
But the England winger looks to have left it too late to make the Test team against the All Blacks on Saturday.
The mid-week dirt-trackers were staring down losing three in a row for the first time in Lions history in Hamilton.
Nowell – and his wide-man partner and Red Rose teammate Elliot Daly – made sure that didn’t happen and kept the Lions juggernaut ticking over as they head to Auckland tonight.
None of Warren Gatland’s back three have lit up this tour and George North and Anthony Watson look to have got into the Test XV on reputation more than anything alone right now.
But try-scorer Nowell, Daly and Wales full-back Liam Williams all had a strong attacking cameos at Waikato Stadium.
Fly-half Dan Biggar was also well up for it scoring 12 points with his boot and putting in some big hits, although one was high and late and he was lucky to not get yellow carded.
Prop Joe Marler did for a late, no-arms hit and that opened up the door for controversial call-up Allan Dell to come on and become the 834th Lion.
The Chiefs were without 18 players missing from the squad but still put up a fight for 40 odd minutes with cult hero fly-half Stephen Donald scoring their points.
They were twice done for blocking – just a day after Gatland warned of the illegal tactics used by there All Blacks and Kiwi Super Rugby sides.
With the same group of match officials going on to do the First Test on Saturday Gatland’s messages are clearly getting through to people he intends them to.
Huge Lions pressure in the second half saw them awarded a penalty try as Mitch Brown brought down their driving maul off a 5-metre line-out.
MOST READ IN SPORT
Ireland’s Jared Payne also finished off another superb team move linking up with Nowell and Williams in the build-up.
But Tommy Seymour butchered a plumb chance when his shocking pass was dribbled on the floor to support man Payne.
The win will give the 45-man squad a huge lift for the Test series, even if these are the guys who will play no huge part in that game.
GATLAND UPBEAT ON FIRST TEST
“THE result was pretty important for that group of guys.
“We’ve spoken about the disappointment of the players who were involved in the Blues and Highlanders games where we have been in front after 70 minutes.
“The result was the first priority and the performance after that. We were pleased with that and some guys put their hands up tonight.
“Whatever people might say about a split in the camp, those boys are pretty together. There was a real spirit in there and there was a sing-song after the game.
“It was important for this group. It was a really strong performance against the Maori and we didn’t want this group not winning tonight and they put in a commanding performance.
“In the changing room afterwards, everyone realised just what it meant, not just for the players that took the field, but the rest of the squad. We had quite a big sing song in the changing room. It was a good feeling, I was pleased for the players.”
Leave a comment