Rugby: Lions triumph against 14-man All Blacks

Gatland's men level series with gripping 24-21 win; Williams red card viewed as turning point

Above: Sonny Bill Williams of the All Blacks tackles the British and Irish Lions' Anthony Watson during the second Test in Wellington yesterday. Williams was red-carded for the shoulder charge against Watson, becoming the first All Black in 50 years
Conor Murray scores a try that is converted to bring the Lions level, 21-21, with 10 minutes left - before Owen Farrell's winning kick. With the series tied 1-1, the decider will be played in Auckland on July 8. PHOTOS: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

WELLINGTON • The red card given to New Zealand centre Sonny Bill Williams in the 25th minute of the second rugby Test against the British and Irish Lions changed the nature of the match, according to both coaches, after the visitors levelled the series with a 24-21 victory yesterday.

Williams was given the red card by referee Jerome Garces for a no-arm tackle on Lions winger Anthony Watson with the score locked at 3-3 at the Wellington Regional Stadium.

It made him the first All Blacks player to be sent off during a Test match since Colin Meads at Murrayfield in Edinburgh in 1967, and the third overall.

New Zealand loose forward Cyril Brownlie was the first international player to be sent off against England at Twickenham in 1925.

"The impact of the red card was pretty obvious," All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said. "Sonny didn't use his arms so put himself at risk and he collected young Anthony's head and put him at risk, so we don't want that and the referee deemed it a red card so off you go, boy.

"If the ref says it's a red card then you don't have a say in it. There's now a process and we'll accept that decision."

Lions coach Warren Gatland said the card had also been instrumental in the outcome of the game, with the All Blacks unable to attack through the midfield as much as they wanted, while it also created holes out wide.

Above: Sonny Bill Williams of the All Blacks tackles the British and Irish Lions' Anthony Watson during the second Test in Wellington yesterday. Williams was red-carded for the shoulder charge against Watson, becoming the first All Black in 50 years to be sent off in a Test match. PHOTOS: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

"It was a significant loss for the All Blacks in terms of a key man and we are aware of that," Gatland said. "There is no doubt that without Sonny Bill Williams there it created some opportunities for us."

Williams was not the only disciplinary issue, with the Lions reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes in the second half when prop Mako Vunipola was yellow-carded by Garces for driving his shoulder into Beauden Barrett's head at a ruck.

Garces consulted television match official George Ayoub and, despite the parochial crowd screaming for a red while they watched the replay on the big screen, decided it was only worth a yellow.

Hansen refused to get drawn on the differences between the two offences, simply saying that he believed both were unintentional.

"I don't think Sonny intentionally went out to hurt the player," Hansen said. "Did Vunipola intend to take Barrett's head off? I don't think so. Things happen in the heat of the moment."

Gatland said his side would not get carried away with levelling the series after scraping a win over a side who played nearly three-quarters of the match with 14 players.

Well beaten 30-15 in the opening Test last week, the Lions needed a late penalty goal from Owen Farrell, who kicked 14 points, to secure the win.

Hansen said: "It doesn't make it any easier to swallow the defeat that we were down to 14. Losing sucks if you have 15, 14 or 25 or two. We have to take it on the chin.

"Congratulations to the Lions, they worked their way back and got in front in the final 10 minutes."

REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on July 02, 2017, with the headline Rugby: Lions triumph against 14-man All Blacks. Subscribe