MATCH REPORT: All Blacks v Lions | Rugby's Greatest RIvalry
All Blacks make it five wins from five in South Africa
For much of the game, the All Blacks were less assured in their decision-making, and that was down to the Lions taking the game to them and scoring five tries that were all converted by their deadeye first five-eighths Chris Smit, two of them in the first six minutes.
Flanker Siba Mahashe was effective with the ball in hand while halfback Nico Steyn was a constant in his control from the base of scrums and rucks.
For the All Blacks, flanker Ethan Blackadder made a massive contribution towards keeping his side in the game with two tries and strong carries complementing his turnover plays and tackles.
The performance of centre Rieko Ioane, who scored two key tries, helped turn around a 17-35 deficit and set up a stronger run from home.
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And when Lakai, prop Xavier Numia and lock Jamie Hannah joined the action, there was a noticeable lift in the continuity play that carried the All Blacks home.
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For first five-eighths Richie Mo’unga, it was a workmanlike return, with some of his trademark runs at the opposition but less influential than when in his prime.
Six minutes of early embarrassment for the All Blacks saw the Lions two tries up, and helped them to a 21-17 lead at halftime.
The Lions raced out with their big pack charging onto the ball at pace to test the All Blacks’ defence from the outset. Then, from a fifth-minute lineout, it was lively halfback Nico Steyn who pierced the defence when breaking from a ruck to score under the posts.
The home team cleared the restart to touch. The All Blacks claimed the lineout, but halfback Noah Hotham’s pass was intercepted by barnstorming Lions blindside flanker Siba Mahashe, who intercepted the ball and ran 35 metres to score.
It reflected a disjointed All Blacks effort, with mistakes and penalties mounting.
However, the All Blacks responded and but for a last pass, a forward pass from flanker Wallace Sititi to wing Fehi Fineanganofo, a minute from the break, after some magic from Beauden Barrett, who dropped a high pass to his right hand with control to his left foot to kick ahead, they would have taken the lead for the first time.
Emoni Narawa impresses on the left wing
Hotham had almost immediate relief from the intercept when wing Emoni Narawa ran from the base of a ruck to beat two defenders before slipping the ball to the unmarked Hotham for a 10th-minute try.
Narawa, who enjoyed plenty of ball in hand in the free-flowing game, was in the action again in the 24th minute when the All Blacks ran the ball from their line through second five-eighths Timoci Tavatavanawai and Fineanganofo, initially. The ball was moved across the field where Barrett’s backhand pass was moved on perfectly by captain and lock Patrick Tuipuloto to Narawa, who scored.
A clever break and kick ahead by home fullback Quan Horn gave the Lions momentum that saw them strike deep into All Blacks territory with good ball control before Steyn ran across the front of the All Blacks’ defence before popping a pass to wing Kelly Mpeku, who dived in at the corner after 32 minutes.
But three minutes later from the restart, the All Blacks utilised a quick lineout throw by Barrett, and a thrilling counter-attack with the ball passed perfectly through player after player before flanker Ethan Blackadder capped his hard-working first half with the try.
However, if the Lions' first-half start was electric, their second half was nuclear as Smit put up a box kick, which was taken at speed by wing Erich Cronje. He linked with Mahashe, who charged down the line before dropping a pass to Cronje in support. He kicked the ball ahead and over the line to score a minute after the start.
Then, the Lions got back into All Blacks’ territory and from a five-metre scrum in the 46th minute they pushed the All Blacks back for No8 Francke Horn to score.
WATCH: All Blacks Head Coach Dave Rennie and Captain Patrick Tuipulotu review the tense win over the Lions
All Blacks fight back from big deficit
At 17-35 down, the All Blacks lifted the tempo, and it was Barrett, who passed out to Ioane, who cut through two defenders and raced 40m to score. Then, six minutes later, as the Lions looked to stretch their lead, Ioane picked off an errant midfield pass, and he ran 50 metres to get the All Blacks within four points.
They claimed the lead for the first time after 61 minutes when, from a turnover in their territory, they moved the ball wide with a Mo’unga punch, resulting in him getting the ball to Ioane, who had moved to wing. He passed to Tavatavanawai, who had Blackadder inside him to take a pass and run in his second try.
The win was finally sealed at full time when Narawa made the most of the All Blacks’ scrum power, which revealed itself in the last 10 minutes with two crucial scrums. The first got them out of their territory. It set them up for their final chance, which saw replacement No8 Peter Lakai take the ball into the goalmouth before it was sent through the line for Narawa, to cut back past four cover defenders to score his second try and secure the victory.
Scoring Summary: All Blacks v Lions
Lions 35 (Nico Steyn, Siba Mahashe, Kelly Mpeku, Erich Cronje, Francke Horn tries; Chris Smit 5 con) All Blacks 41 (Noah Hotham, Emoni Narawa 2, Ethan Blackadder 2, Rieko Ioane 2 tries; Beauden Barrett con; Richie Mo’unga 2 con*)*. HT: 21-17
