Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
‘It’s like kissing your sister’. Apparently this means that both are left feeling a little odd as a result of something that nobody wants.
That is probably the strangest summary of how two opponents feel after a draw yet it was the description used by New Zealand head coach, Steve Hansen, after the All Blacks were held to a series draw by the British and Irish Lions.
His feeling of deflation was understandable given the climax to the series that had unfolded moments before. With three minutes remaining and a three-point deficit the Lions were awarded a penalty near the halfway line.
Should they kick for touch and then drive for the line or kick at goal? Despite the distance he trusted in the right boot of Owen Farrell. His faith was well placed.
Match level. Series level. Yet barely 60 seconds later from the kick-off the All Blacks were awarded a penalty when Ken Owens caught the ball in an offside position .
Given the inconsistency of Beauden Barrett when kicking off the floor in both of the last tests this was not a given, although the penalty was not from a difficult position.
As if the occasion needed greater tension, referee Romain Poite asked for some technical assistance. On review his award of a penalty was downgraded to a scrum for accidental offside, a decision that left the media and pundits in New Zealand seething.
There was still time for the Lions to steal the ball back and breakaway down field only to be hauled down before the All Blacks regained possession and were bundled into touch metres from the try-line.
Despite the frantic finale fans around the world were already debating THAT decision.
In the Kiwi court of public opinion Poite is guilty of orchestrating a French farce.
To be fair to Poite he had the presence of mind to recognise that, at that particular stage of the game, his decision would probably define the result of the series and possibly how the whole Lions tour would be judged.
Decisions also go both ways.
The Lions could point to the decision to award a scrum with 13 minutes to go that saw the All Blacks take the lead while Lions’ coach, Warren Gatland, suggested there was an infringement prior to the offside. Perhaps these would have been highlighted more if the Kiwis had secured the victory that the nation demanded and expected. Or if the Lions had won. In fact, anything but a draw!
What was pleasing was that the All Blacks’ captain, Keiran Read, dismissed any suggestion that the decision was a pivotal moment, preferring to talk about their own missed opportunities and defensive lapses.
He perhaps gave an insight to his true feelings when he stated that this decision was not why ‘we lost the series’.
Meanwhile, Sam Warburton, the Lions captain, was credited with great communication with referee Poite in persuading him to initially call for a review and then suggest that it was purely accidental.
Unfortunately Poite is now at the centre of attention – a position that no referee should be in, or would want to be. There have been some calls that he should have played advantage, although given the Lions were in possession, I do not see how that was possible. This Kiwi generation can now discuss this decision alongside that made by Wayne Barnes in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final.
After six weeks of rugby culminating in three tests in which the Lions only led a game for three minutes it finished honours even. The Lions achieved parity with the best rugby side in the world in contests that were fast and brutal with both teams seeking to win the physical confrontation.
For anyone doubting the legacy of the Lions this series has been a massive boost. As English clubs are negotiating a reduction in the number of weeks they are required to release their players, fans around the world are clamouring for another match – one to settle the series!
Warren Gatland – All Black head coach-in-waiting – having been derided earlier in the tour as a clown, mocked the media by appearing in a self-deprecating red nose.
Gatland was criticised on announcing the Lions selection for backing too many of his Welsh players despite a poor showing in the Six Nations. Yet the ‘mane men’ included Jonathan Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Taulupe Faletau and Sam Warburton.
The Lions tour was epitomised at the trophy presentation when both captains, Sam Warburton and Kieran Read were awarded the trophy. There then ensued a friendly tug-of-war as each attempted to wrestle the trophy from the other.
Poite intervened again. “Time out?” he enquired. He got that call right!
