New Zealand 21 - British and Irish Lions 24

[T_i_B]

Well done to the Lions!

Also, whilst Sonny Bill Williams may well be a freakishly talented athlete, he's also a complete plonker who has let the All Blacks down badly here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40457048

The Lions pulled off one of their great wins to steal a thriller against New Zealand and set up a series decider in Auckland in a week's time.

When Sonny Bill Williams was red-carded for a shoulder charge on Anthony Watson - the first All Blacks sending off in 50 years - the Lions sensed a wonderful opportunity for a historic upset in Wellington.

At the break it was 9-9, three penalties apiece for Beauden Barrett and Owen Farrell cancelling each other out in the torrential rain and wind. As the Lions' own discipline deserted them, Barrett kicked his side into a nine-point lead, Mako Vunipola sin-binned for a late charge on the fly-half, only for Taulupe Faletau to crash over in the right corner.

After Barrett's seventh penalty gave the home side a little daylight, Conor Murray's sniping try and Farrell's conversion from out wide then levelled it up again at 21-21. And with four minutes to go Charlie Faumuina was penalised for taking the charging Kyle Sinckler out in the air, and Farrell stroked over the critical three points to seal a famous win.

[OnDoutside]

1. Mako was a lucky boy himself, to only get a yellow. 14 men

for half a match, and the ABs could have won it. At least it keeps the series alive until next week. I'd expect changes to the Lions team.

[T_i_B]

2. Series ended in a draw!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40529961

[OnDoutside]

3. Yes, a moral victory for the Lions.

[T_i_B]

4. I suspect both sides would have preferred an actual victory

Still surprised that the All Blacks didn't run away with the series, as happened on the Lions last tour of New Zealand.

[OnDoutside]

5. Of course, but given that the Lions is essentially a scratch side, and had so little time to prepare

then drawing the series in NZ is a remarkable achievement.

That's aside from my own misgivings about the long term career prospects of players who go on the tour, and then do not give their bodies enough time to recover before the next season starts.