New Zealand 30-15 British and Irish Lions: Match stats, report and reaction

New Zealand 30-15 British and Irish Lions: Match Stats

New Zealand tries:  Taylor (18), Ioane (55, 70)
Conversions: Barrett (20, 56, 71)
Penalties: Barrett (14, 34, 61) 

Lions tries:  O'Brien (36), Webb (80)
Conversions: Farrell (80)
Penalties: Farrell (30) 

Match report

Sean O'Brien scored one of the greatest tries in British and Irish Lions history - but world champions New Zealand still won a pulsating first Test in emphatic fashion.

Ireland flanker O'Brien pounced four minutes before half-time, finishing off a spectacular 80-metre move that was started by full-back Liam Williams' dazzling running.

New Zealand, though, held firm in the face of some outstanding rugby by the Lions as they triumphed 30-15 and made it 39 successive games unbeaten at Eden Park.

Hooker Codie Taylor scored a first-half try, before wing Rieko Ioane added two second-half touchdowns - full Test debutant Ioane's first try came after a suspicion of a knock-on before All Blacks skipper Kieran Read brilliantly off-loaded possession - while fly-half Beauden Barrett kicked 15 points.

Owen Farrell added a penalty for the Lions, and replacement scrum-half Rhys Webb claimed a try deep into injury time that Farrell converted, but they will now head to Wellington knowing that victory is required next Saturday to keep the three-match series alive.

At times, New Zealand's speed, awareness and attacking running lines were off the scale, yet the Lions lived with them for much of a memorable encounter.

Williams and his Wales colleague Jonathan Davies were at the attacking heart of thrilling Lions adventure, yet the forwards were given a sometimes torrid time in the scrums, and the All Blacks finished far stronger.

The Lions almost made a dream start, cutting open the New Zealand defence inside two minutes when Davies made a superb break and found scrum-half Conor Murray in support.

Murray was hauled down just short of the line, but possession was then moved wide and wing Elliot Daly looked to have squeezed over in the corner, only to be denied by his opposite number Israel Dagg's quality defensive work.

The All Blacks appeared rocked, and Murray continued to test them with a number of high kicks, but New Zealand gradually began to find their feet as Barrett drove them into action through a brilliant one-handed pick-up under pressure.

The Lions' defence held firm, though, and wing Anthony Watson needed all his wits about him as he caught a high ball and then cleared as New Zealand threatened a try, before Barrett made it 3-0 through a 14th-minute penalty.

And matters soon deteriorated for the Lions, as just five minutes later, New Zealand sacrificed a kickable close-range penalty and sent possession wide at a rate of knots before Taylor picked up spectacularly and scored out wide before Barrett kicked an effortless touchline conversion.

At 10 points adrift and struggling to cope with the sheer pace and precision of New Zealand's handling game, alarm bells were ringing for the tourists following an opening quarter that began so brightly but ended with them firmly on the back foot.

New Zealand suffered a degree of back division disruption - full-back Ben Smith went off for a head injury assessment, while centre Ryan Crotty departed with a leg injury and Anton Lienert-Brown took over - as Farrell and Barrett exchanged penalties.

The Lions needed to stir, but no-one could have predicted their response, which came through a breathtaking score started from deep inside his own half by Williams, whose mesmeric running saw him beat a number of players and leave New Zealand in reverse gear.

Davies was then involved twice in the move, linking initially with Daly, and then giving the scoring delivery to O'Brien and sending the thousands of Lions fans wild.

Farrell could not convert, yet the Lions could have hardly made a more devasatating statement of intent, trooping off 13-8 adrift at half-time, but having shown the All Blacks the full repertoire of their attacking capability.

The Lions almost struck with another wonder score early in the second-half - Wllliams, Davies and Daly were again heavily involved - but New Zealand had just enough in defence to deny them, then Watson set off on a weaving run as the game continued at a relentless pace.

Saracens lock Maro Itoje made his entrance midway through the third quarter, replacing an often out-of-sorts Alun Wyn Jones, with prop Jack McGrath and tour captain Sam Warburton also going on before Ioane's try effectively sealed the contest.

And when Barrett completed his penalty hat-trick and Ioane claimed his second try, there was no way back for the Lions as the wait for a Test victory over the All Blacks - they last achieved one 24 years ago - goes on.

Match reaction

Lions captain Peter O'Mahony on the 30-15 defeat: "We had an excellent first half and created plenty of chances.

"We're happy with some of the opportunities we created but our discipline probably wasn't where it should have been at.

"We've got a huge Test coming up next week and we've got to recover now and regroup.

"We've been put under pressure by a seriously good side at times but we've got to be more clinical. We're making some good breaks and we've just got to finish them off.

"We left at least two tries out there so I don't think 15 points is a good reflection."

Centre Jonathan Davies agreed with his team-mate, saying: "Poor discipline and errors probably cost us and to be fair to the All Blacks they were very clinical as always.

"But we can take a lot out of our game. We created a lot, it's just finishing off these opportunities. We can't leave tries out there.

"The positives are we're creating chances, we just need to finish them off."

Lions boss Warren Gatland suggested his side were caught off guard by New Zealand's tactics: "They didn't come out and play champagne rugby.

"They were very direct coming really hard off nine and credit to them. They dominated us in that area. We were looking to get the upper hand up front and in fairness to them they got it today.

"We've got no excuses about the result because they deserved to win.

"But there are things we can work on particularly hard this week and definitely improve on taking the chances and being more accurate at the breakdown."

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen paid credit to the Lions for their role in an absorbing contest: "I thought we won the battle up front in the tight five which was colossal from both sides," he said.

"The Lions played really, really well. The first try they scored should go down as one of the best tries scored in Test rugby. They'll be proud of that and will look to do more of it."

All Blacks captain Kieran Read: "It was a hell of a Test match. We certainly got tested in that first half especially and just after half-time when our defence probably won us the game.

"It was two skillful teams working really hard for each other. It was a tough Test match and we had to work hard for that."

Lions Player Ratings

LIAM WILLIAMS: Several rapier breaks stunned the All Blacks, but he misread one high ball to gift Rieko Ioane a try. 7 (out of 10)

ANTHONY WATSON: A constant threat when he could get on the ball, a serious danger to the hosts. 7

JONATHAN DAVIES: A major force in this blitzkrieg attacking game the Lions produced. 8

BEN TE'O: Did all he could to shut down Sonny Bill Williams in a bullish performance. 8

ELLIOT DALY: Should have scored early on and the Lions always rued that missed opportunity. 6

OWEN FARRELL: Solid enough effort but unable to drive the tourists anywhere close to victory. 6

CONOR MURRAY: Kicked well enough but lacked some of his usual zip. 6

MAKO VUNIPOLA: A muted performance by his lofty standards as the All Blacks wrestled control up front. 6

JAMIE GEORGE: Wholehearted showing but still struggled at the lineout. 5

TADHG FURLONG: Caught out at the scrum and in the tight in several instances, unusual for him. 6

ALUN WYN JONES: A horrid night for the Wales talisman and one to forget, just never hit the pace of the game. 4

GEORGE KRUIS: Outplayed at the lineout by Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick. 5

PETER O'MAHONY (capt): Put himself about in a typically-physical showing but unable to galvanise his pack. 5

SEAN O'BRIEN: Some strong carries early on and finished the try well. 6

TAULUPE FALETAU: Unable to provide the poise he has shown all tour without the platform from the tight five. 5

Replacements

Ken Owens (for George, 67): A couple of errors in a frustrating cameo. 5

Jack McGrath (for Vunipola, 51): Was bullied off the pivotal scrum as the Lions folded in the tight. 5

Kyle Sinckler (for Furlong, 58): Looked busy on the ball and smart in handling too. 6

Maro Itoje (for Jones, 47): Threw himself into his cameo but was unable to alter the outcome. 5

Sam Warburton (for O'Mahony, 53): Just could not do anything to slow down the All Blacks' quick ruck ball. 5

Rhys Webb (for Murray, 67): Stole a sniper's try at the death. 6

Johnny Sexton (for Te'o, 57): Struggled to hit the pace of the encounter, a difficult showing. 5

Leigh Halfpenny (for Williams, 71): Had precious little time to impact the night. 5

New Zealand Player Ratings

BEN SMITH: One of New Zealand's most exciting talents lasted just 27 minutes before a head injury saw him depart the action. 6 (out of 10)

ISRAEL DAGG: Denied Elliot Daly an early try through some superb defensive work, and relished the contest throughout. 7

RYAN CROTTY: Did not make half-time, as a leg injury forced him off before he could make any real impact. 6

SONNY BILL WILLIAMS: Offered a considerable presence in New Zealand's midfield, making a tireless contribution. 7

RIEKO IOANE: Scored two tries on his first Test match start, having also touched down earlier in the Lions tour for the Blues. 7

BEAUDEN BARRETT: Spectacular display by the All Blacks playmaker, who dazzled in attack and kicked majestically. 9

AARON SMITH: A typically high-class contribution from probably the world's best scrum-half. 8

JOE MOODY: A solid contribution, especially in the scrums, where New Zealand gained dominance. 6

CODIE TAYLOR: Scored a try as the result of a brilliant pick-up off the ground, and ran himself to a standstill. 7

OWEN FRANKS: Showed all the experience of his 92 All Blacks caps, and the Lions could not get any change out of him in the scrum. 7

BRODIE RETALLICK: A memorable all-round display from the workaholic lock, who also possesses the handling skills of a threequarter. 8

SAM WHITELOCK: Strong and committed in the engine room of New Zealand's scrum. Fine performance. 7

JEROME KAINO: Departed early in the second period as New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen made a first tactical substitution. Hard-working as ever. 7

SAM CANE: Gave as good as he got, and was a consistent presence at the breakdown. 7

KIERAN READ: Brilliant performance by the All Blacks captain on his first appearance since breaking his thumb eight weeks ago. Magnificent. 9

Replacements

Aaron Cruden: Took over from Ben Smith early in the action. 6

Anton Lienert-Brown: Went on for Crotty to resume his midfield partnership with Sonny Bill Wiliams. 6

Ardie Savea: Joined the action early in the second-half. 6

Wyatt Crockett: Went on to reinforce New Zealand's scrum dominance after 54 minutes. 7

Charlie Faumuina: Joined Crockett in giving the Lions scrum more to worry about. 7

TJ Perenara: Took over from Aaron Smith during the final quarter. 6

Nathan Harris: Replaced the impressive Taylor 14 minutes from time. 6

Scott Barrett: Gained a late run instead of Read. 6