I thought it was a great game.
Kaino was massive in the first half, his physicality is jaw dropping. Read came into his own in the second half. The pick up from the ruck was golden, his legal hit on Farrell was massive, it crumpled Farrell like a cardboard box, and Farrell is no shrinking violet.
ALB looked worth his place when he came on after Crotty was injured.
Reiko Ioane looked like he grew in confidence as the game went on. He can be very proud of his efforts.
Codie Taylor put a marker down in the sand.
Our locks are the best in the world. When Retallick and Whitelock come to town, look out, those boys are awesome. Wow did they front up yesterday.
I want to see Lawes and Itoje given the start because they are both fast and physical as well. I've rated Lawes for years and Itoje is a kid who has taken to top level rugby like a duck to water. Give him the chance Gatland.
The AB's play at a punishing tempo and AWJ isn't up to it sadly. He's a wonderful player but the pace the AB's set is just too strong for him. Kruis really struggled as well.
The Irish flankers were good but when Kaino and Read are on song it's hard for any team in the world to do much about it.
I'm still not sure about Sam Cane, but, he is trying fill an enormous pair of boots left behind by Captain Fantastic. Ardie Savea was fizzing when he got on, he was tackled a lot but he just keeps bouncing up like an ever ready battery. That kid asks a lot of questions and thats a great starting place.
Israel Dagg. I'm not a fan, however, I take my hat off to him, he played very well and was well worth the faith placed in him by Hansen.
I would still like to see Naholo given an attacking role against the Lions.
Daly. He has got to be dropped like a stone. He had a shocker.
How did he not get passed little Israel Dagg and start the game off with a roar. The Lions and their fans would have been charged if he had done his job and gone lower. You just can't miss those gilt edged opportunities against the AB's, you just can't.
George North would have scored that try from that range but Daly didn't do it and in so doing provided an enormous disservice to his own team.
They missed first blood on the scoreboard with a 5 pointer and the kicking calibre in the Lions means that any 5 pointer is a likely 7.
Correspondingly, at the other end of the park Daly was responsible for not being able to take out the AB hooker in a foot race for the line.
Poor defensive positioning, poor awareness.
Schoolboy error.
Thats a 14 point turnaround and the game right there.
Then the chance to stop Reiko Ioane from sealing the victory in a footrace, Daly looked pedestrian in comparison.
Daly is NOT a winger, at least not at this level. He's a fullback, and a good one. If he can't play full back then drop him out of the squad and get a pacey finisher in.
George North has to be given a chance ahead of Daly.
Those kind of errors cannot be rewarded.
I like Daly and he has been in sparkling form for England during the 6 Nations but he was God awful yesterday.
A big surprise for me, and a real disappointment was Toby Faletau.
He just disappeared.
I know working at the breakdown to secure possession or keep possession isn't his best feature but you can't do the flashy running off the back of the scrum and ruck with the ball if you don't get the ball first. He disappeared into rucks and became a sleeping policeman.
I'd be calling up someone like Ben Morgan to add grunt to the clear out. Faletau for me was non existent and a shadow under the lights.
Either that or get a front five that can compete more effectively at the breakdown than the AB's front 5. If they can do the haerd work that might give Faletau the chance to run off the back... opening up opportunities for Davies and Te'o.
Joe Marler needs to be given a run. He can be a silly boy occasionally but the Lions need more grunt up front, they need more aggression. To beat the AB's you MUST get in their face.
Wellington is the only chance now to win the series.
Gatland has to throw the kitchen sink at it.
Get the kitchen Sinkler on earlier. he really gives it some and asks questions.
Use Mako off the bench.
Strangley, Farrell was a passenger, his influence was subdued, he has to go to the bench, get Sexton on and give him a run. No guts no glory.
Stander comes onto the bench ahead of Warburton. Attack the line like a wounded bull or bugger off home.
Anthony Watson, that kid is a rising star, I'm a fan, he is great to watch. Confident, pacey, strong game. Nailed on for the second test.
Liam Williams. That moment of magic where he used his pace and step to glide through AB counter attacking defenders was sublime. It reminded me of the great Bruce Robertson, Phillippe Sella, Jeremy Guscott... it was first class top of the drawer pure magical running. Talent and flair to the fore and gas to burn. What a magnificent try.
If ever there was a reason for keeping the Lions as a concept, surely this must be it. Jonathan Davies did a lot of clever work and showed Daly how to turn a defending winger inside out. Sean O'Brien showed great gas to get up in support to finish.
Wellington.
The Lions can win the second test.
But to get that result...
Bring out all the big guns and fire it into the AB's face.
Gatland, you have to... because you know that the AB's are historically rusty at this time of year. We saw a strong effort from individuals in the AB's yesterday, but historically they are still gelling as a team this early in the international season.
Pounce quick and hard.
It's your only chance in the boneyard before you head head back to the Garden of Eden.
Stop this box kicking nonsense, gifting the ball to the AB's.
Let your boys play with the ball in hand. From Te'o and Davies out to Watson and Williams they looked great. Trust to them, get them some more possession and let them run.
Fortune favours the bold.
The Lions botched some serious attacking moves particularly early in the game, that cost them dearly.
