Lions inch past Auckland

The beleaguered British & Irish Lions weathered a fierce local storm to record a 17-13 victory over Auckland at Eden Park on Tuesday, a result that should give the tourists a boost ahead of Saturday's date with the All Blacks.

On Cue: Lions wing Mark Cueto cuts through the Auckland defence

The Lions, hampered by the early loss of in-form fly-half Charlie Hodgson to injury, were put under tremendous pressure in the final quarter but kept their nerve with Ronan O'Gara's boot proving effective.

The result means that Ian McGeechan's midweek side completed their New Zealand tour by maintaining an unbeaten record. It was their fifth successive triumph following wins against Taranaki, Wellington, Southland and Manawatu.

But the victory over the Auckland wouldn't win many beauty pageants - it was a match of little continuity, some silly emotions and just one try apiece.

The chances of continuity was spoilt for both sides by insecure handling and, in Auckland's case, line-outs that hardly ever worked. They lost seven line-outs on their own throw and threw in skew three times. That meant that Auckland doubled the Lions' line-out ball for the visitors had ten to throw into and won all ten.

Slow ball from tackles also spoilt opportunities for continuity, and the Lions lost the penalty count 16-10.

There were three outbursts of temper which did not look good. The first saw Ben Kay leave the field with a bulging right eye and a penalty against him where the Lions should have had an easy one.

The second happened when Brent Cockbain punched Steve Devine, and the third when two Aucklanders went rucking for the ball and appeared to find Gordon D'Arcy's head. Throughout the match D'Arcy was brave in competing for the tackle ball.

One of the features of the match was the clean efficiency of Lions' tackling. Joe Rokocoko was playing on the right wing and looked for work but was not allowed a metre of space when he got the ball. Much of the tackling came from Matt Dawson who scythed the tall All Black down.

The Lions played with the breeze in the first half at a packed Eden Park with its many smudges of red Lions supporters. The rain which had started the day held off and the field, renewed in 2003, was in fine condition.

The Lions led 14-3 at the break though Auckland had had much of the play in the middle of the half.

Auckland lost their first two line-outs and when Daniel Braid was penalised at a tackle/ruck, Charlie Hodgson kicked the penalty to give his side the lead after four minutes.

Hodgson then had a great break down the middle. He chipped and it took desperate covering by Isa Nacewa, coming across from the left wing, to save the Auckland line. Mark Cueto was the next to do well on the counter.

But Auckland got back into the game, looking to run the ball to the well-guarded Rokocoko at every opportunity. Semisi Telefoni charged down a kick, smashed Hodgson to ground and got the ball back to put Auckland on the attack. Hodgson was then helped off the field and replaced by Ronan O'Gara.

Auckland came close with an old-fashioned wall from a penalty as they were in no position to put their trust in line-outs. The move sent prop John Afoa hurtling to the line where Dawson and Martyn Williams combined to keep the ball a centimetre or so off the line.

Auckland were still attacking when the Lions won a turn-over and burst out of the tight. O'Gara sent a massive kick to his left where Denis Hickie sped after the ball. He juggled the hot potato five times but lost the ball with the goal-line unimpeded.

Brent Ward was then penalised at a tackle and O'Gara goaled to make it 6-0. Two minutes later it was Ward's turn. The Lions were penalised at a scrum and the Auckland fullback made it 6-3.

It was after that that the worst fight occurred. Will Greenwood broke towards the line. Tackled, he popped the ball back towards Martyn Williams who was held before the ball got to him, and duly lost it forward. Penalty against Bryce Williams's tackle was the call.

But Tuitupou held on to the ball, much to the consternation of Kay who attempted to wrestle it back from him. 

Tuitupou took offence to Kay's action and the lashed out at Kay who retaliated before being punched by Justin Collins. It seemed as if four offences played one, but the upshot was that penalty to the Lions was reversed.

A minute later O'Gara made it 9-3 when Tasesa Lavea was penalised for playing a man without the ball.

For the second time in the half Cueto came sweeping back on the counter, beating four would-be tacklers. The Lions got to the Auckland line where Dawson played to Martyn Williams on the short side and he went over in the right corner.

That brought half-time.

The midweek Lions have usually had the better of the second half, but not this time. In fact, their only score in the half was just four minutes before it ended. Auckland made it 14-6 when D'Arcy was penalised at a tackle and Ward goaled.

Then, suddenly, it was 14-13. Lavea broke with surprising ease down the middle of the field. The ball went left to Jerome Kaino who fed Collins who broke ahead and, stumbling, got a pass to his left to send Nacewa over for a try. Ward converted with 18 minutes to play.

When Dawson went off-side not far from the Lions line, Ward's kick, from an acute angle to the left, hit the far upright and stayed out. There were still eleven minutes left, but in truth it was the score and the time that made those eleven minutes more exciting than the play.

During that time O'Gara kept Auckland pinned back with low, raking kicks on the diagonal. Being in Auckland territory paid off for when bushy-haired replacement Kurtis Haiu went on in at the side, O'Gara made the score 17-13 with four minutes to play.

The Lions won a loose ball and Dawson hoofed the ball into the stand and that was that - but the Eden Park project is only half complete for the men in red.

Man of the match: Matt Dawson did so well in the roll of fox-terrier but had trouble getting his passing working until the second half. Simon Shaw was again strong and determined, but our man-of-the-match is wing Mark Cueto, who countered with smooth skill, defended well and kicked handsomely.

Moment of the match: That old-fashioned penalty move - four men in a wall and then the breakthrough with John Afoa hurtling at the line. Long time no see.

Villain of the match: Quite a few! Sam Tuitupou and Justin Collins of Auckland and Ben Kay of the Lions for their part in the first fight. Tall lock Brent Cockbain for his punch on scrum-half Simon Devine. Then the footwork of Tuitupou and Devine on Gordon D'Arcy's head had a nasty look about it. With two votes, it's Sam Tuitupou who gets the dubious nod.

The scorers:

For Auckland:
Try: Nacewa
Con: Ward
Pens: Ward 2

For the Lions:
Try: Williams
Pens: Hodgson, O'Gara 3

The teams:

British & Irish Lions: 15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Will Greenwood, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Denis Hickie, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Matt Dawson, 8 Michael Owen, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Jason White, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 John Hayes, 2 Gordon Bulloch (captain), 1 Graham Rowntree.
Replacements: 16 Andy Titterrell, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Brent Cockbain, 19 Martin Corry, 20 Chris Cusiter, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Shane Horgan.

Auckland: 15 Brent Ward, 14 Isa Nacewa, 13 Ben Atiga, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Tasesa Lavea, 9 Steve Devine, 8 Angus MacDonald, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Justin Collins (captain), 5 Bryce Williams, 4 Brad Mika, 3 John Afoa, 2 Semisi Telefoni, 1 Saimone Taumoepeau.
Replacements: 16 John Fonokalafi, 17 Chris Heard, 18 Kurtis Haiu, 19 Jerome Kaino, 20 Taniela Moa, 21 Isaia Toe'ava, 22 Gavin Williams.

Referee: Steve Walsh
Touch judges: Paul Honiss, Kelvin Deaker
Television match official: Paddy O’Brien
Substitute controllers: Bryce Lawrence, Matt Stanish
Substitute recorder: John Gillies
Assessor: Ian Scotney (Australia)