Murray Kinsella reports from Eden Park, Auckland
THE LIONS ARE trailing in the Test series in New Zealand after the All Blacks won 30-15 at Eden Park in the opening Test.
Read our match report here.
A different sort of tale
The widespread expectation was that the All Blacks would play the counter-attacking rugby – and they certainly did in patches – and the Lions would look to grind their way to victory, but this brilliant Test match was a different sort of story.
[image alt="Sam Warburton dejected" src="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2017/06/sam-warburton-dejected-630x438.jpg" width="630" height="438" title="" class="alignnone" /end]
It was the All Blacks who built long periods of multi-phase attack in this game, using direct ball carriers and a high-tempo to stretch and fatigue the Lions defence.
The tourists, meanwhile, were dependent on their counter-attacking and kick returning to keep them in the game, with the stunning try created by Liam William, Jonathan Davies and Elliot Daly, and finished by Sean O’Brien, the prime example.
The Lions’ kicking game was excellent, as expected, and that will certainly be one area they pursue even more strongly next weekend, with Conor Murray’s box kicks constantly causing the All Blacks trouble.
However, the Lions have a bit of work to do at set-piece time – one area where many thought they would have an advantage.
It was a huge scrum from the All Blacks that led to Rieko Ioane’s second try, while a big defensive play against the Lions maul and then a scrum free kick eventually led to the opening try from Codie Taylor.
For Gatland and the Lions, there is work to be done in that area.
Penalty count
The Lions got on the wrong end of the penalty count and giving up 11 of them in the first Test was always going to cause real trouble.
[image alt="Peter O’Mahony (c) speaks to Jaco Peyper" src="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2017/06/peter-omahony-c-speaks-to-jaco-peyper-630x413.jpg" width="630" height="413" title="" class="alignnone" /end]
They will have their gripes and Johnny Sexton aired them immediately after Jaco Peyper’s final whistle – approaching the South African and telling him that “you gave them everything.”
The All Blacks only conceded six penalties, though they could easily have been done for more than that. But that has to be a compliment to Steve Hansen’s side. They were tough enough and smart enough to play to the referee’s disregard for certain offences.
And the Lions will need that edge if they are to drag themselves back into this Test series.
Breakdown battle
The Lions certainly came out second best in this area collectively, with the All Blacks consistently able to poach or at least slow their attacking possession.
[image alt="Sam Cane" src="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2017/06/sam-cane-3-630x438.jpg" width="630" height="438" title="" class="alignnone" /end]
Sam Cane was the leader in the battle for turnovers for the Kiwis and his all-round performance was immense. The openside hammered into meaty tackles along with the big-hitting Sonny Bill Williams, laying down major physical markers.
But his influence was greatest over the tackle, and the Lions will need to be far more accurate with their clearing out in Wellington. The first arriving player was too often passive or upright, allowing the likes of Cane to get a grip on the ball.
The Lions probably feel they didn’t get the rewards they deserved at the breakdown when they were defending, with Sean O’Brien frustrated on a number of occasions.
The temptation for Gatland now will be to introduce breakdown specialist and tour captain Sam Warburton into his starting team, whether at openside or in the six shirt.
All Blacks finishing
The Lions dotted down two tries – one of which was an all-time Lions great – but the All Blacks had the greater ability to clinically convert chances at Eden Park.
[image alt="Liam Williams dejected" src="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2017/06/liam-williams-dejected-630x425.jpg" width="630" height="425" title="" class="alignnone" /end]
Rieko Ioane’s first finish in the left corner was supreme, as was the handling and scrum power that preceded it, while hooker Codie Taylor’s pick up of Isreal Dagg’s pass for the first was also sensational.
And the 20-year-old Ioane showed how ruthless this Kiwi side can be on turnover possession with their third score, collecting the loose ball after Liam Williams dropped a kick and scorching home from 45 metres out.
The Lions, on the other hand, had a couple of big missed chances early in the second half. First, Ben Te’o opted to carry – slipping in the process – when there was space wide on the right after Williams and Jonathan Davies made a break on the counter-attack.
And then Anthony Watson’s offload went loose after he had beaten three defenders off a Williams switch pass. With the Lions trailing only 13-8 in those moments, a score could have taken them into the lead and truly tested the All Blacks’ mental mettle.
But the Lions never got in front and that will be a major disappointment to them.
Series still alive but All Blacks will get better
Fine margins, and all that. There were the aforementioned missed chances, and Elliot Daly almost scored a try for the Lions in only the second minute. This game could easily have swung the Lions’ way, even if the All Blacks were the better team on reflection.
[image alt="Rieko Ioane celebrates scoring their third try with TJ Perenara" src="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2017/06/rieko-ioane-celebrates-scoring-their-third-try-with-tj-perenara-630x437.jpg" width="630" height="437" title="" class="alignnone" /end]
Gatland will believe there were enough positives in this performance to carry into next weekend in Wellington, although the concern is that the All Blacks will get better in the second Test.
This was just their second Test of the season, having dismantled Samoa last weekend, and they will have firm belief that they can create more attacking opportunities and be an even more cohesive force at set-piece.
The Lions pushed them tonight, but it looked like there was more to come from this All Blacks side in round two, meaning the Lions will need to find even more as they bid to claw their way back into the series.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
