Page 41 - Crusaders v The Lions

GAME TWO REVIEW
BLUES 22 BRITISH &
IRISH LIONS 16
GAME TWO REVIEW
EDEN PARK AUCKLAND JUNE 7 7 7 7 35PM CROWD: 40 639
SUCCESSFUL BLUES CAPTAIN AND hooker
James Parsons summed up his side’s 22-16 win over the British &
Irish Lions in Auckland on on Wednesday by saying it had been “Blues rugby” that beat them –
“Blues rugby” being a a product of the diverse cultural melting pot that is strongest in the wider Auckland region and and which brings power athleticism and sheer determination to the game And that was what hit the Lions hard especially when Steven Luatua created his o o o o oad for Sonny Bill Williams who in turn produced another for replacement rst ve-eighth Ihaia West to race around the defence and through for his match-winning try Several times this year the Blues
have been undone in Super Rugby at the end of games and those frustrations were turned on on the Lions With a a strong scrum a a good lineout that under-performed on the night and strong runners o o the ruck the the Lions had the the wherewithal to wrap up the the game but lacked the the incision to create more chances which might have reversed the result Three Blues
tries to one for the Lions meant Leigh Halfpenny’s goal-kicking was never going to be enough against a a a a red up home side who played until the end in front of 40 000 fans at Eden Park SCORERS
BLUES Tries: R Ioane Williams West Cons: Perofeta West West Pen: West West BRITISH &
IRISH LIONS Try: Stander Con: Halfpenny Pens: Halfpenny 3 DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 41
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