Lions held to draw by Hurricanes after surrendering second-half lead
The tourists led 23-7 at half-time and 31-17 ahead of the hour.
The British and Irish Lions were held to a dispiriting 31-31 draw in Wellington after succumbing to a final-quarter fightback by the Hurricanes.
The tourists led 31-17 with 14 minutes remaining but leaked two tries when lock Iain Henderson was in the sin-bin to set up a grandstand finish that could have finished in their favour only for Dan Biggar to fall agonisingly short with a drop goal.
The final midweek match was a thrilling spectacle but the Lions, who enter Saturday’s second Test at the same venue trailing 1-0 in the series, will be disappointed at their failure to win from such a commanding position.
Tweet of the match
Star man – Courtney Lawes
Ultra-physical Lawes wanted to put himself in the Test team selection frame, and he did not disappoint. Lions boss Warren Gatland must surely have been impressed.
Hero to zero
Henderson has enjoyed a superb tour and the Ireland lock was at his marauding best in Wellington. Charging down kicks, carrying into space and powerful in defence, he could have done nothing more in his bid for Test selection. A yellow card for a tip tackle blotted his copybook and it appears that Lawes has won Gatland’s favour after the England second row was brought off in the third quarter.
Moan of the match
Gatland’s refusal to use a replacements bench populated with his controversial ‘Geographical Six’ meant the Lions were denied fresh legs when they were desperately needed to quell the Hurricanes’ final-quarter uprising.
A bit rich
The Cake Tin chanted ‘off, off, off’ after Henderson – with a brief helping hand from Jonathan Joseph – lifted Jordie Barrett off the floor and dropped him on his shoulder. Referee Romain Poite was right to award a yellow card, but the reaction of home fans was disappointing given the lack of All Blacks contrition over the spear tackle by Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu that ended Brian O’Driscoll’s tour in 2005.
Player ratings
Who’s up next?
New Zealand v British and Irish Lions, second Test (Saturday, July 1, Wellington).
