The final game before the first test provided the Lions with tough opposition in the former Super Rugby champions, Chiefs. However, with a number of key players on international duty with the All Blacks, it was a game the far more experienced Lions should have won.
The first half provided some excitement when Jack Nowell dived over the line for the Lions’ first try and excellent defence meant the Chiefs didn’t look like scoring. A superb first half was marred slightly by Joe Marler’s yellow card for a cynical shoulder charge but the Lions held on conceding just three points in this period.
The second half opened up with the Lions adding three more tries. A penalty try was followed up by Jared Payne and Nowell crossing to give the Lions a convincing 6-34 victory.
The Lions finally got going in attack and if the team can do that on Satuarday, they may just give the All Blacks a challenge. With that, let’s look at how the players rated.
Joe Marler - 5
Was branded with a silly yellow card and made little impact.
Rory Best - 7
His best performance on tour so far. Strong lineout performance and carried well.
Dan Cole - 8
Great at the scrum, great over the ball and great carrying. A superb performance.
Iain Henderson - 6
Solid as usual. Carried well but will struggle to break into the test team.
Courtney Lawes - 7
This performance has given him a late claim to a test spot in the coming weeks.
James Haskell - 7
Reminiscent of his performance against Australia last summer. Unstoppable over the ball.
Justin Tipuric - 6
Didn’t stand out as much as you would expect but got the job done when he needed to.
CJ Stander - 6
His best carrying game so far and perhaps challenging for the eight spot in the tests.
Greig Laidlaw - 6
Slower than Webb or Murray on his ball release but his game control was good.
Dan Biggar - 6
Not as good as his previous performance but still little to fault.
Elliot Daly - 6
He will probably take the 23 shirt in Saturday’s match and his performance today shows his reliability.
Robbie Henshaw - 7
He gave Gatland plenty to think about with this performance.
Jared Payne - 7
A solid game topped off with a try against his former side.
Jack Nowell - 9
He has struggled up until this point but today was the best performance anyone has had all tour.
Liam Williams - 8
Gatland said he sees him as a winger but he excelled at fullback today.
Subs
Only Alan Dell, Alun Wyn Jones and Tommy Seymour came on from the bench. Seymour stood out during a good break but killed the chance with a poor pass.