New Zealand v British and Irish Lions - Analysis and Player Ratings
Liam Williams began the move which led to a dazzling Lions try, but it was not enough
©PA
New Zealand proved they were too strong for British and Irish Lions in the opening game of the three-match Test series at Eden Park on Saturday. We take a look at few of the key points and player ratings from the encounter.
TWEET OF THE MATCH
"Lions had 4 chances and score once. NZ are 3 from 3. There's the difference #ABvBIL" - former Lions scrum-half Matt Dawson (@matt9dawson).
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
The All Blacks bulldozed the Lions' scrum - a supposed strength of the tourists - and Kieran Read produced a masterful move at the base of the fast-advancing set-piece. Read lunged for the ball only for the whole scrum to shunt on, so he readjusted, made sure he avoided touching the ball and knocking on - and then flicked a stunning pass off the ground to scrum-half Aaron Smith. Rieko Ioane immediately scored in the corner, sealing the All Blacks' victory with a quarter of the match to play.
STAR MAN
Kieran Read, New Zealand: The peerless number eight's flick from the scrum won the night. And this was his first game for eight weeks after suffering a broken thumb. If that's how good he can be when potentially under-cooked, the Lions could be in trouble in next weekend's second Test.
IS THAT ALL YOU'VE GOT?
All Blacks boss Steve Hansen insisted New Zealand knew everything the Lions could throw at them before the tourists had even arrived in the country. Well, Sean O'Brien's try disproved that theory. The field-length break, launched by Liam Williams, showed that the Lions can really play. It was not enough here, and might well not suffice across the series. But it will still give the tourists hope.
RATINGS
New Zealand:
BEN SMITH: 6
ISRAEL DAGG: 8
RYAN CROTTY: 6
SONNY BILL WILLIAMS: 8
RIEKO IOANE: 7
BEAUDEN BARRETT: 9
AARON SMITH: 8
JOE MOODY: 6
CODIE TAYLOR: 7
OWEN FRANKS: 7
BRODIE RETALLICK: 8
SAM WHITELOCK: 7
JEROME KAINO 7
SAM CANE: 8
KIERAN READ: 9
Replacements
AARON CRUDEN: 6
ANTON LIENERT-BROWN: 6
ARDIE SAVEA: 6
WYATT CROCKETT: 7
CHARLIE FAUMUINA: 7
TJ PERENARA: 6
NATHAN HARRIS: 6
SCOTT BARRETT: 6
British and Irish Lions:
LIAM WILLIAMS: 8/10
ANTHONY WATSON: 7
JONATHAN DAVIES: 8
BEN TE'O: 8
ELLIOT DALY: 6
OWEN FARRELL: 6
CONOR MURRAY: 7
MAKO VUNIPOLA: 7
JAMIE GEORGE: 6
TADHG FURLONG: 6
ALUN WYN JONES: 4
GEORGE KRUIS: 5
PETER O'MAHONY (capt): 5
SEAN O'BRIEN: 6
TAULUPE FALETAU: 6
Replacements
KEN OWENS: 5
JACK MCGRATH: 5
KYLE SINCKLER: 7
MARO ITOJE: 6
SAM WARBURTON: 5
RHYS WEBB: 6
JOHNNY SEXTON: 5
LEIGH HALFPENNY: 5
WHO'S UP NEXT?
Hurricanes v British and Irish Lions (Tuesday, June 27 in Wellington)
New Zealand v British and Irish Lions (Saturday, July 1 in Wellington)
