DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017: First Test match post-game

From the spine-tingling haka before the match to the final ten minutes when the Lions closed the gap on the world champions, the first Test at Eden Park was captivating from the first minute to last.

Rugby fans across the world had waited 12 years to see the British & Irish Lions take on New Zealand in the first Test of the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017, and the match certainly didn’t disappoint as the All Blacks went 1-0 up to start off the scoring.

New Zealand came into the match with a staggeringly good record in Auckland, not having lost at Eden Park since 1994, and that run was duly extended by one match as the All Blacks scored three tries alongside 15 points from the boot of Beauden Barrett.

Man of the Match Barrett could prove to be one the greatest players of his generation, moving seamlessly during the game from outside-half to full-back and producing gasps from the crowd for a superb one-handed pick up from the ground. And showing what a grounded young man he is, Barrett was seen a long time after the final whistle signing autographs and posing for selfies with adoring fans, young and old.

But the victory in the first Test of the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017 didn’t come without a titanic battle as the Lions arrived in Auckland after impressive victories over the Crusaders and Maori All Blacks behind them.

Exceeding expectations

There was naturally a great deal of hype around the first Test and it didn’t disappoint. The match started at breakneck speed as some of the best players in the world competed for a prize that could define their careers.

The Lions scored two tries of their own. The first from Sean O’Brien was considered one of the greatest in their history. It started yards from their own line by Bath Rugby’s Anthony Watson and Wales and Saracens full-back Liam Williams.

The try also involved Elliot Daly and Jonathan Davies before O’Brien popped up close to the line to dive over.

The Lions may have scored the best try of the match, but the spoils went to the unrelenting All Blacks who found a dynamic game plan and a strategy that ensured they won not only the battle of the breakdown, but the collisions as well. Any thoughts that the front five was going to be New Zealand’s soft underbelly were dispelled in the first 20 minutes.

Taking stock

It is the breakdown where most of the Lions’ focus will be this week. With only George Kruis from the first Test 23 featuring in the midweek match against the Hurricanes, you can expect Lions training to be dominated by honing their physicality at scrum, breakdown and in the collisions.

The Lions will also need to consider a different approach at line outs with the All Blacks nullifying their maul – expect a few more throws to the back of the line so the Lions can get their backs moving quicker.

The skills on display from the All Blacks were probably best demonstrated by New Zealand’s Codie Taylor, who - perched out of the wing - picked a long pass from his bootlaces to speed over in the corner. If a back had produced that finish, it would have been good enough, but for a front rower to do the same, it created another ‘wow moment’ from the first Test of the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017.

But Lions fans and their coaches will know there was plenty for them to build on for their trip to Wellington and a number of try-scoring opportunities that weren’t converted. It was in many ways a day of ‘what ifs’ for the Lions, the biggest one being Daly failing by inches to get the Lions off to a flying start with a try in the corner, just seconds into the match.

The Lions now move south for a midweek match against the Hurricanes and the second make-or-break Test match against New Zealand at the Westpac Stadium.

The coaches' take:

Steve Hansen (New Zealand): “I thought the team executed the plan very well. We felt we could hurt them if we could take away their line speed. They [the Lions] had to make a lot of tackles and that fatigues you and makes you make mistakes. The job isn’t done. It’s a three-match series. So many times in sport the winning team gets knocked over the next week. They’re a good team and if we don’t prepare well, we’ll come second in Wellington.”

Warren Gatland (Lions): “No excuse in terms of the result. The All Blacks were very direct, better than us at the breakdown and we missed opportunities - all things we can fix.

"We created chances and shifted the ball pretty well. They didn't come out and play champagne rugby, they were very direct off nine. We were looking to get the upper hand up front, but in fairness to them they got it today."

The team line-ups and scorers

New Zealand (30): B Smith; I Dagg, R Crotty, SB Williams, R Ioane; B Barrett, A Smith; J Moody, C Taylor, O Franks, B Retallick, S Whitelock, J Kaino, S Cane, K Read (capt).

Replacements: N Harris, W Crockett, C Faumuina, S Barrett, A Savea, TJ Perenara, A Cruden, A Lienert-Brown.

New Zealand:

Tries: Taylor, Ioane 2 Cons: Barrett 3 Pens: Barrett 3

British and Irish Lions (15): L Williams (Wales); A Watson (England), J Davies (Wales), B Te'o (England), E Daly (England); O Farrell (England), C Murray (Ireland); M Vunipola (England), J George (England), T Furlong (Ireland); AW Jones (Wales),

G Kruis (England); P O'Mahony (capt, Ireland), S O'Brien (Ireland), T Faletau (Wales).

Replacements: K Owens (Wales), J McGrath (Ireland), K Sinckler (England), M Itoje (England), S Warburton (Wales), R Webb (Wales), J Sexton (Ireland), L Halfpenny (Wales).

Lions Tries: O'Brien, Webb Con: Farrell Pen: Farrell

Remaining fixtures...

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

Tuesday 27 June – Hurricanes (Wellington)

Saturday 1 July – New Zealand (Wellington)

Saturday 8 July – New Zealand (Auckland)