DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017: Blues and Barbarians

The British and Irish Lions now move south to Christchurch after the first two matches of the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017, after the sides left honors even between the hosts and the tourists from Europe.

The ultimate test of any touring team kicked off with two games in or around Auckland – the first against the New Zealand Barbarians and the second against the first of the country’s Super Rugby sides, the Auckland Blues.

Victory against the Barbarians was followed by an agonising defeat to the Blues. The latest match was on a knife-edge until the final minutes when – with the Lions leading 16-15 - a sensational try and conversion from Ihaia West gave the hosts a memorable victory.

The DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017 has certainly lived up its expectations, captivating the hearts and minds of rugby supporters across the world and fans from countless countries have tuned in already to watch the men in red take on the New Zealand sides.

The Series is making memories wherever it goes and the Blues match was preceded by an unforgettable haka, led by West. At Eden Park, the Aucklanders produced a spine-tingling pre-match haka, unveiled in tribute to Jonah Lomu and Kurtis Haiu.

A special haka

The new haka was composed by Whiria Meltzer and Ruka Makiha, inspired by Blues coach Tana Umaga, who captained the All Blacks when the Lions last visited New Zealand in 2005.

You could have heard a pin drop in Eden Park as the first tones became public, a haka that followed a moving minute’s silence for those affected by the recent terrorist attacks in London.

Two of rugby’s great teams – and their supporters - united in tribute as 40,000 in the ground were captivated. This rugby tour is about so much more than the rugby.

Blues fan Andrew Bason told the New Zealand Herald the haka and the atmosphere around it was “electric.” He said: "I haven't felt the stadium this electric since the Blues of 2003. It feels like an All Blacks game."

The haka was a fitting precursor of what was to come on the field, CJ Stander scoring a first-half try for the Lions who trailed at the break to Rieko Ioane's earlier score and Sonny Bill Williams' try just before the half-time whistle.

In the second match of the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017, the Lions took the lead through two Leigh Halfpenny penalties only for West to break the Lions’ hearts late on.

On the Saturday before the Lions lost to the Blues they endured a predictably tough start to the tour in Whangarei, but crucially for the tourists emerged with a victory to get their trip off to a good start.

New combinations will take time to bed in but the match will also be remembered for the fantastic atmosphere in Whangarei, the incredible Maori welcome before the match and the ability of the New Zealand Barbarians side.

The Barbarians had Bryn Gatland, the son of the Lions head coach Warren, pulling the strings at outside half and crucially for the Lions he ensured they received a stern test in their first match.

Gatland even steered the Barbarians to a 7-3 lead at half-time but a raft of second-half substitutions which included Saracens quartet Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, George Kruis and Farrell, alongside Leinster's Tadhg Furlong, ensured the Lions got home 13-7 thanks to a try from Bath Rugby’s Anthony Watson.

The Provincial Barbarians showed real grit and skill, refusing to go quietly and giving the Lions some indication of how tough this tour will be.

For the Lions Taulupe Faletau, Owen Farrell, Ross Moriarty, Ben Te’o and Sam Warburton put down early markers for Test selection but with 26 Lions still to start a match in New Zealand there is an awful long way to go.

Maori welcome

The day after the match against the Barbarians, the Lions received a Maori welcome at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, which left tour captain Warburton “in awe,” and showed there is far more to a Lions tour than the rugby.

More than 400 warriors, mainly Ngāpuhi, received the Lions with a spectacular Pōwhiri on the grounds that are the birthplace of New Zealand as a country.

During the welcome, the tourists received three challenges.

The first, in front of ceremonial war canoe Ngātokimatawhaorua, was a private challenge for the Lions squad with the wero – or ceremonial spear – accepted by Tour Manager John Spencer.

And in show of the friendship that is growing between the nations on this trip, the Lions choir – forged in the training camps - delivered all four of their songs in fine style, with the Welsh hymn Calon Lan the real showstopper according to Warburton.

Those show stoppers now travel to the South Island when the most successful Super Rugby side, the Crusaders - unbeaten after 14 Super Rugby matches this season - will prepare a big welcome for the Lions.

With several of the 41-man Lions squad still to start a match on this trip, Saturday’s match in Christchurch will be crucial as Warren Gatland and his coaches start to formulate their starting XV for the all-important Test Series that kicks off on 24 June.

What they said?

Lions Head Coach Warren Gatland

“I think it was a big improvement from Saturday (the match against the Blues) – it was a close game and probably what hurt us was the number of penalties we gave away. That costs us momentum in the game.

“There were lots of positives out there today, and I thought our set-pieces were good. We played some positive stuff.”

Blues captain James Parsons

“I’m extremely proud of the effort, not just from the leadership group but the young guys who came on at the end – we trained for that, we prepared for that and a lot of credit has to go to the coaches. To get across the line, we’re extremely proud.”

Martyn Williams, a player on the 2005 Lions tour

“Incredible strength in depth in NZ. The Lions are playing against teams who have been together for seven months rather than seven days. They will improve.”

Results so far…

Provincial Barbarians 7 British and Irish Lions 13

Provincial Barbarians: L Laulala; S Vaka, I Finau, D Sweeney, S Reece, B Gatland, J Stratton, A Ross, S Anderson-Heather, O Jager, J Goodhue, K Mewett, J Tucker, L Boshier, M Dunshea.

Replacements: A Makalio, T Fahamokioa, M Renata, M Matich, P Rowe, R Judd, J Lowe, J Ngaluafe.

Try: Anderson-Heather Con: Gatland

British and Irish Lions: S Hogg; A Watson, J Joseph, B Te'o, T Seymour; J Sexton, G Laidlaw; J Marler, R Best, K Sinckler, AW Jones, I Henderson, R Moriarty, S Warburton, T Faletau.

Replacements: J George, M Vunipola, T Furlong, G Kruis, J Tipuric, R Webb, O Farrell, E Daly.

Lions - Try: Watson Con: Farrell Pens: Sexton, Laidlaw

Auckland Blues 22 British and Irish Lions 16

Teams:

Blues: Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, George Moala, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Stephen Perofeta, Augustine Pulu; Ofa Tu'ungafasi, James Parsons (capt), Charlie Faumuina, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Scott Scrafton, Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson, Steven Luatua.

Replacements: Hame Faiva, Alex Hodgman, Sione Mafileo, Patrick Tuipulotu, Kara Pryor, Sam Nock, Ihaia West, TJ Faiane.

Tries: R Ioane, Williams, West Cons: Perofeta, West Pen: West

Lions: Leigh Halfpenny; Jack Nowell, Jared Payne, Robbie Henshaw, Elliot Daly; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Jack McGrath, Ken Owens (captain), Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, James Haskell, Justin Tipuric, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Rory Best, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Grieg Laidlaw, Johnny Sexton, Liam Williams

Try: Stander Con: Halfpenny Pens: Halfpenny 3

Fixtures to come..

All kick offs 8:35 a.m. (UK and Ireland time)

Saturday 10 June – Crusaders (Christchurch)

Tuesday 13 June – Highlanders (Dunedin)

Saturday 17 June – Maori All Blacks (Rotorua)

Tuesday 20 June – Chiefs (Hamilton)

Saturday 24 June – New Zealand (Auckland)

Tuesday 27 June – Hurricanes (Wellington)

Saturday 1 July – New Zealand (Wellington)

Saturday 8 July – New Zealand (Auckland)