CANCEL your plans for the next two Saturdays.
After this absolute thriller at Eden Park involving one of the greatest Lions tries ever scored this series could still go to the wire.
Warren Gatland’s men are 1-0 down – but with everything to play for going into Wellington – despite a scoreline that tells a different story from the events on the pitch.
Liam Williams made sure they have hope as he put on the afterburners to kick-start one of the greatest tries of all time, which Sean O’Brien finished off.
The Wales back’s electric pace caught out the back-peddling Kiwi’s who watched in shock as the Lion roared past.
Eden Park has seen nothing like this from the Lions. In fact, the locals might have even enjoyed it.
The Kiwi’s have been banging on about how the Lions brand of rugby was killing rugby.
It was billed as beauty and the beast – modern sport against its prehistoric cousin.
What a load of cobblers.
If there was one thing these Lions proved, it was that they were here to stick it to Steve Hansen’s men and at times, could match the world champs when it came to flair.
Jonathan Davies. Elliot Daly. Anthony Watson.
All three of them matched Williams’ wonderful running to frighten the hell out of the All Blacks.
In the pack – Sean O’Brien and Toby Faletau were absolute menaces.
From the off the Lions tried to give it to the All Blacks and hit them with running rugby.
Crusaders wideman Israel Dagg stuck Daly into touch when the Wasps man darted for the line early on – although the 10,000 Red Army supporters behind the far goalposts thought he was in.
Beauden Barrett, with 15 points in total from his boot, showed why he is the world's best with an absolutely superb one-hand scoop pick-up with Murray hunting him down.
Hurricanes hero Barrett was at it again for Codie Taylor's score as he flung it wide and Dagg picked out the hooker to slide over from close range.
At 10-0 down no one was giving the Lions a chance. Barrett took his tally to eight points in the first half before the Lions were really back in it thanks to Williams' heroics.
MOST READ IN SPORT
When Williams finally ran out of pace he off-loaded to Daly who jinked a few tackles, found Davies who trucked it up and there was O'Brien to score.
This was serious catch your breath rugby. These boys are here to play. And will play.
Davies ran riot at the start of the second half and caused more panic. Watson too.
The tidal waves of attack couldn't be finished, though. And you can't lose your bottle in the danger zone against the All Blacks.
Not at this ground where they are undefeated for 23 years.
Ben Te'o dumped opposite man Sonny Bill Williams on his back, but ref Jaco Peyper didn't like it and penalised the England centre for what seemed like a fair, but fiercely aggressive shot.
Then surprise pick Rieko Ioane, who also scored for the Blues against the Lions at this very same stadium, was on the money as he finished a move out wide after the All Blacks scrum put on the heave-ho.
At 23-8 down, the game had slipped away from Gatland's tourists.
Ioane then killed them off when he beat Williams to a high ball and absolutely stormed past Daly.
Whilst the score looks harsh on the Lions, they have the potential to tighten up their game and sort out the errors.
Don't bet against a comeback in Wellington, not after these flashes of brilliance that if stitched together could cause a real stir down here.
JONNY FORDHAM'S RATINGS FROM EDEN PARK
LIONS
Liam Williams 7
Anthony Watson 8
Jonathan Davies 9
Ben Te'o 7
Elliot Daly 7
Owen Farrell 6
Conor Murray 6
Mako Vunipola 6
Jamie George 7
Tadhg Furlong 6
Alun Wyn Jones 4
Jamie George 6
Peter O'Mahony (c) 6
Sean O’Brien 7
Taulupe Faletau 6
Subs: Owens 5 McGrath 5 Sinckler 6 Itoje 6 Warburton 6 Webb 7 Sexton 5 Halfpenny 5
ALL BLACKS
Ben Smith 6
Israel Dagg 5
Ryan Cotty 6
Sonny Bill Williams 7
Rieko Ioane 8
Beauden Barret 8
Aaron Smith 8
Joe Moody 6
Codie Taylor 7
Owen Franks 7
Brodie Retallick 8
Sam Whitelock 5
Jerome Kaino 6
Sam Cane 8
Kieran Read 6
Subs: Harris 7, Crockett 6, Faumina 6, S.Barrett 5, Savea 6, Perenara 7, Cruden 7, Linert-Brown 6.
Leave a comment