Well done NZ.

Class from Read and Hansen.

This is a very special side. I can't think of another international side who could have competed against this BIL side with a man down for so long. And almost win it.

SBW aside they can be proud of their effort. They came to play, but that was curtailed by the sending off. In real time I thought it was a yellow. On reflection red was the correct call.

Garces was the worst kind of referee, inconsistent. At times he looked as if he was trying to balance the ledger, at others like he was making it up as he went along.

Thank goodness.

Despite almost clutching defeat from the jaws of victory I'm delighted that my Doomsday scenario didn't come to pass and the Lions proved me very wrong.

AWJ and Warburton had their best games on tour. O'Brien and Itoje were very good, and the rest of the pack went about their business with quiet steel. Our tackling was immense.

Vunipola has been criticised, but I think he was given the job of the Fall Guy. His transgressions kept Garces' gaze on him and our back 5 had free reign to ignore the offside line.

Wellington police need to be informed that Itoje has appropriated McCaw's Cloak of Invisibility.

Gatland certainly told his team to 'beg for forgiveness, not ask for permission' and they got away with as much as I could.

His try aside I thought Murray was average and Webb must be wondering what he has to do to get a run.

And I'm not convinced that the Sexton Farrell combo worked.

Despite plentiful, clean ball from scrum and line out the BILs created very little. Davies was the pick of the backs again I thought, and Farrell's pass to Williams to set up Faletau's try was top drawer.

A draw would have been a fair result but I'm very happy that we're going back to Eden Park with it all to play for.

But hopefully Gatland realises that he got out of jail with this result.

Hopefully he won't be fooled that he picked the right team.

I can understand why he would start the same team next week but if we have any chance of beating a 15-man NZ at Fortress Eden then Lawes needs to partner Itoje, with Henderson on the bench.

And I'd put Farrell back at 10 and Te'o at 12.

So on to Act Three, 'The Fall of Eden'

The Silver Fern

MiketheSnow