Lions 12 Crusaders 3: Owen Farrell kicks gutsy Lions to victory in Christchurch

Oh we of little faith. How did we ever doubt them? How did we ever think that they would remain a ragged bunch of misfits as had been the case only seven days ago in Whangarei?

There was snap and drive and cleverness in all that they did as they inflicted the first defeat of the season on the mighty Crusaders with eight All Blacks in their ranks. There was so much to admire, so much to savour in an absorbing, unremitting contest.

This was a watershed moment. Much as the Test series is the yardstick by which any tour is measured, the likelihood of the tourists being able to generate sufficient momentum, to build reserves of self-belief, would diminish if they were a poor performance. 

This was their time. They all knew it and they all played with the rage of the potential damned, lending itself to a high-octane display, just the sort of breathless, invigorating stuff we expect from the Lions. Welcome to the tour.  

There were to be no more excuses, no more mitigation. Even though Warren Gatland has stated that he does not know his best XV, this line-up carried with it the air of a shadow Test side. 

Ben Te’o did enough in the first half alone, with his step and his power and awareness to suggest that he should be the Test no. 12 Conor Murray and Owen Farrell were hard-nosed and involved, directing and challenging. There were eye-catching cameos, too, from Taulupe Faletau and Sean O’Brien.

Players were making statements, ensuring that not just coaches would take notice but the entire country of New Zealand. There had been a creeping sense of anti-climax in the air, as if the Lions were not all they were cracked up to be. No longer.  

The Lions knew that they would have to deliver their best. They may be a scratch side up against New Zealand’s finest in the Crusaders with their unblemished 14-0 record this season but with a fortnight to go to the first Test, every minute, every tackle, every ruck, scrum and lineout mattered.

The Lions began at a fair old lick. The difference in tone and tempo from their limp effort seven days ago was marked. They were almost over the tryline within 30 seconds only for Jonathan Davies’ pass to George North to be intercepted.

There was to be no let-up in the Lions’ bold attitude. They were sharp and inventive in attack, fierce and resilient in defence. They due reward for their pressure, too, with Owen Farrell banging over two penalty goals in the opening 15 minutes.

It was a thoroughly deserved advantage. The scrum had the Crusaders in real trouble, conceding four penalties and free kicks in the first quarter. The possible champions-elect of Super Rugby were well and truly rattled.

It was frantic rugby, quite in keeping with the occasion at what is considered the Kiwi equivalent of Thomond Park. A throaty crowd roared its approval at the action, stirred too by a mass dust-up that followed a scrum. For once the Crusaders got the nudge and pile-drove their opponents backwards. Fists flew on the floor but French referee, Mathieu Raynal, well-used to such skirmishes in his homeland,  handled it well.

George Kruis’ influence on the lineout began to bear fruit and there were some powerful carries from Mako Vunipola and Alun Wyn Jones. Hooker Jamie George had a solid evening as did Tadhg Furlong alongside. Given that there were six All Blacks in the Crusaders pack it was a very decent shift from the red-shirted forwards.

It was a cracking contest, end-to-end, play-to-play, occasional errors only adding to the frantic feel. Both sides had their chances. Ben Te’o danced his way through at one point, Sean O’Brien made a powerful run. Crusaders had their moments, plenty of them, notably when tyro fly-half, Richie Mounga, latched on to a fumbled ball and sped upfield linking with Jack Goodhue. The Lions had to scramble and they managed it, as they did all through the first half.

Their line speed had the Crusaders under the cosh, forcing  them to make mistakes that no other side had managed to induce this season. The home side went down the tunnel 9-3 adrift, their lowest return at the interval in 51 games.

The Lions even managed to overcome the disruption caused by losing two players from the back line. Stuart Hogg copped a blow to the head from his own player, Conor Murray, and was replaced by Anthony Watson while Jonathan Davies was hauled off for a Head Injury Assessment, Johnny Sexton coming on in his place.

The Lions began the second half as they had left the first – with attitude. Once again that relentless commitment caused errors. They had given away a penalty within four minutes and even though head-on to the posts from 35 metres, Farrell sent it wide. It was a rare blob on the night.

The Lions needed comfort on the scoreboard for the Crusaders have shown time and again this season that they can never be written off in a match. They have come from behind so often. And centre, Jack Goodhue, on the fringes of the All Blacks, proved just what a threat they can be with a wonderful break from deep, his kick-through grubber as he was felled a perfect ball for his wing to chase but George Bridge could not gather. Close, very close.

Back came the Lions, though. Anything the Crusaders could do. Liam Williams broke down the left wing, chipped ahead and only an eagle-eyed TMO spotted that he had knocked on in trying to re-gather, Anthony Watson having come steaming through in support. It was lung-scorching stuff. Shortly afterwards, it was the turn of Watson himself to set the pulses racing, eating up the yards, passing to Sexton who found CJ Stander in support but the Irishman could not hold the pass. It was a gilt-edged chance spurned.

Who would crack first? Back came the Lions, Farrell, Sexton, Te’o and Williams combining down the left flank in the 69th minute.  On and on pushed the Lions. Faletau went close, so too Alun Wyn Jones. The Crusaders infringed and Farrell kicked the goal to put the Lions clear at 12-3 with ten minutes remaining.

Cries of ‘Lions! Lions!’ began to ring round the stadium. They all sensed that victory was in sight. And it was.

10:46AM

Warren Gatland

10:43AM

Owen Farrell

Asked whether the game was played at Test match intensity, he wasn't so sure...

"Hmmm, yeah. At times."

10:25AM

Full-time | Crusaders 3-12 Lions

Faletau picks from the scrum, Murray fires a pass to Farrell and Farrell smashes the ball into touch. Game over. A fantastic, tenacious win. 

10:23AM

79  minutes

There's match in a nut-shell. The Lions  defence forces another Crusaders error and Warren Gatland beats the desk in delight...

...I know he doesn't look *that* delighted there.

10:21AM

77 minutes

The Lions will be desperate not to let the Crusaders finish with a flourish. The hosts try a cute strike-play from a lineout on the Lions 22, but a chip from Mitchell Hunt goes into touch.

10:19AM

Dad and lad

10:17AM

73 minutes

Taulupe Faletau and Johnny Sexton combine for a maul turnover. Excellent effort from both men. 

Against a Crusaders attack that has shredded Super Rugby to pieces, the Lions defence has been exceptional.

10:15AM

72 minutes

The Crusaders are trying to spread by and stretch the Lions, but George North gets across to force Jed Brown into touch.

10:13AM

Penalty, Owen Farrell| Crusaders 3-12 Lions, 70 minutes

Those are the first points of the second half, which seems completely bizarre. It's been compelling.

10:12AM

69 minutes

Alun Wyn Jones and Stander shunt to within what looks like centimetres before the Lions move it wide. George North and Watson get their hands on the ball but the attack breaks down with an obstruction. We are coming back for a penalty, though.

10:10AM

67 minutes

Silky interplay from Farrell and Sexton busts the Crusaders defence and the Lions are within metres...

10:07AM

65 minutes

The Lions hold firm and force another knock-on. Murray's box-kick is then recovered by Farrell before Murray sends another one into touch via a bounce. They'll be able to attack the Crusaders lineout from inside the hosts' 22.

10:06AM

63 minutes

George Bridge spills Conor Murray's kick but the Lions' scrum is messy and the Crusaders launch another sweeping counter. It's amazing they are still in this game.

10:03AM

61 minutes

This is gripping, and hugely encouraging for the Lions. Their aggressive defence is totally suffocating the Crusaders in phase-play.

Warren Gatland is starting to empty his bench now. Maro Itoje and Jack McGrath are on, for George Kruis and Mako Vunipola.

10:01AM

59 minutes

Not again! The last past evades the Lions. Watson slices through and links with Sexton. Stander charges through on a support line but drops the pass! The Crusaders can bring it away. 

9:59AM

57 minutes

CJ Stander is on for Sean O'Brien and the Munsterman carries hard to create space on the left. Farrell and Watson help set Williams clear and Williams.

When Williams chips, Watson collects and looks to have scored. We go to the TMO, and it appears there has been a knock-on from Williams. A familiar story tonight. The Lions need to improve on this lead.

9:55AM

56 minutes

Anthony Watson has another chance to spark something from back-field, but he tries to force a pass to Liam Williams and the ball goes forward. It's a Crusaders scrum, and the Lions  pressurise the hosts.

9:52AM

53 minutes

It seems there was a knock-on from Bridge as the ball went into touch, so it's a Lions scrum...and there's another Lions penalty!

Boos rings out at AMI Stadium, Farrell goes to touch.

9:50AM

52 minutes

There's Jack Goodhue. The 21 year-old centre looks an exceptional player, and he gives the Lions a glimpse of his ability there by ghosting through the line. He tries to link up with George Bridge, but his grubber just trickles into touch.

9:49AM

Vuni-baller

 The Saracens loosehead has enjoyed a busy shift.

9:47AM

Last pass

Precisely this. The build-up stuff has been largely accurate.

9:46AM

50 minutes

Crusaders secure the lineout and clear, but Anthony Watson sprints back at them. Sexton releases Liam Williams down the left but the Welshman knocks it on.

9:45AM

48 minutes

More excellence from Farrell. After a few phases, he drops back in the pocket close to the halfway line and dribbles a touch-finder within five metres of the Crusaders line.

9:44AM

Nuts and bolts

Phil Vickery on exactly what the Lions need to do.

9:43AM

46 minutes

These missed chances are stacking up for the Lions. The Crusaders seem to be on the ropes. Te'o bursts clear this time from O'Mahony's pass, but he cannot find Liam Williams.

9:42AM

Missed penalty

...or is it? Well, it hasn't been given. Farrell's strike sails over the post, which doesn't count. That could be costly.

9:40AM

43 minutes

The Lions lineout goes awry but the tourists have another chance to counter from Mo'unga's clearance.

After some hard-carrying from Ben Te'o and Mako Vunipola, Crusaders infringe at the breakdown.

9:39AM

41 minutes

Peter O'Mahony has been a nuisance all evening and the Munsterman kicks the ball out of a Crusaders ruck. Farrell hacks down-field and the Crusaders can only side-foot it out. Lions linout deep in the Crusaders 22.

9:37AM

Second half

Alun Wyn Jones takes Richie Mo'unga's restart and we are off again.

9:36AM

Sam Warburton

Also praises the kicking game of Conor Murray and Owen Farrell.

9:33AM

News from the bench

Jonathan Davies will not be returning. We have another half of Owen Farrell at 12.

9:30AM

Would you look at that

All hail Andy Farrell.

9:26AM

Half-time | Crusaders 3-9 Lions

Argh. So near and yet so far for the Lions. They keep the ball for multiple phases, with Farrell dictating play extremely well. 

However, there just isn't *quite* the crispness in the Lions' passing to prise the Crusaders open. Eventually, a runner gets isolated.

The Crusaders turnover and, after George Bridge threatens to counter from his own five-metre line, Mo'unga kicks the ball into the stands.

9:22AM

38 minutes

Anthony Watson momentarily looks in a bit of bother from a Mo'unga clearance which bounces away from him, but the Bath man escapes wonderfully.

When the Lions recycle, some slick hands from Sexton and Farrell sets Te'o clear. The Crusaders are pinged from the breakdown and Farrell goes to the corner.

9:19AM

36 minutes

Perhaps a big moment. The Crusaders maul tries to peel around and Mako Vunipola strips the ball. From the scrum, Raynal hands the Lions yet another penalty.

9:18AM

Haka reaction

Slightly more chilled out than last week.

9:17AM

35 minutes

The television match official cannot see whether the Crusaders got the ball down, so we are coming back for a penalty. That's interesting. The Crusaders are going to the corner.

9:16AM

Tough lessons

All of this pressure arrived from Jones trying to scoop an offload off the ground. Richie Mo'unga intercepted it and only a remarkable scramble from Sean O'Brien stopped the Crusaders going in. Those are precisely the decisions that cost tries against opposition from New Zealand.

9:14AM

34 minutes

Jones is caught offside as he retreats and is very lucky not to be yellow-carded. The Crusaders got to the corner this time and are suddenly in the shadow of the Loins posts...we are going to the TMO.

9:13AM

32 minutes

The Lions have been rock-solid at restarts. Now they break away after a Crusaders knock-on through Murray but the Crusaders capitalise on an errant pass from Alun Wyn Jones and speed clear.

9:10AM

Penalty, Owen Farrell | Crusaders 3-9 Lions, 31 minutes

That's an easy one for Farrell.

9:10AM

30 minutes

Jamie George finds George Kruis at the lineout and a maul rumbles close. Liam Williams runs off Conor Murray from the back of the maul and the Crusaders concede another penalty.

9:09AM

28 minutes

Ben Te'o gets a run and the Crusaders are offside in midfield. Farrell puts the ball in the corner...

9:08AM

High-profile waterboy

Kieran Read, New Zealand captain, is running on the bottles for the Crusaders tonight.

9:07AM

HIA

Jonathan Davies is coming off for a head injury assessment and Jonathan Sexton is on, so we'll have our first glimpse of Farrell at 12 on this tour.

9:06AM

25 minutes

Farrell goes to the lijne and Jonathan Davies storms into a hard line but the Wales centre spills. A big let off for the Crusaders.

9:04AM

Penalty, Richie Mo'unga | Crusaders 3-6 Lions, 24 minutes

He does so, but the Lions have recovered the restart through Liam Williams and are within five metres...

9:02AM

23 minutes

For the first time, the Crusaders slick into their attacking structure and Matt Todd makes some metres down the right touchline. He links with scrum-half Bryn Hall on the inside.

Watson makes the tackle but the Lions are penalised and Mo'unga will try to get the Crusaders on the board.

9:01AM

Scale of the task

This statistic tells you everything.

9:00AM

21 minutes

Anthony Watson is on, and it looks like he is going to full-back.

Meanwhile, on the front line, the Crusaders scrum monsters the Lions and wins a penalty. There are a few handbags afterwards and the Crusaders go to touch.

8:59AM

Ouch

That's so unlucky for Stuart Hogg. The Scotland full-back chases a kick but collides with an elbow of his own teammate, Conor Murray. He'll have to come off.

8:57AM

20 minutes 

A muscular lineout maul ekes out a few metres and Farrell's looping pass gives Stuart Hogg a run...the Lions cough it up as the ball comes back right, though. Crusaders clear.

8:55AM

18 minutes

Conor Murray clears, the Lions defence forces a knock on and there is another scrum penalty. Referee Raynal ticks off the Crusaders. Meanwhile, the Lions go to the corner.

8:52AM

Penalty, Owen Farrell | Crusaders 0-6 Lions, 16 minutes

 Game face on, ball through the posts.

8:50AM

14 minutes

More promising signs from the Lions. Murray's box-kick is recovered and then another high ball is spilled by Mo'unga. At the following scrum, the Lions force a penalty. Farrell will go for the posts. 

8:49AM

Penalty, Owen Farrell | Crusaders 0-3 Lions, 13 minutes

Solid strike from Farrell, and Stuart Hogg rises to take the ensuing Crusaders restart.

8:48AM

Match action

Here's Sean O'Brien carrying.

8:47AM

12 minutes

Well this is very promising. Peter O'Mahony steals the lineout and Ben Te'o storms into midfield, where he is tackled high. Owen Farrell will have a chance to add three points.

8:46AM

10 minutes

The Crusaders win a free-kick from the scrum and Richie Mo'unga sends a trademark cross-kick to George Bridge. The wing is bundled into touch, then a fine kick from Conor Murray sends play into the Crusaders half.

8:44AM

8 minutes

That's excellent from Owen Farrell. The Lions win a free-kick at the lineout and the Saracen takes quickly, passing to Murray who chips ahead.

The Crusaders clean up and clear, though, and an error from the Lions gives them a scrum close to the tourists' 22.

8:42AM

6 minutes

There's a discipline lapse from the Lions. George Kruis gets offside in midfield and the Crusaders go to touch. The throw is too long, though, and Conor Murray fires the ball into touch on the Lions 10-metre line.

8:41AM

4 minutes

The Crusaders storm into midfield off the top of the lineout. Mako Vunipola holds firm, though. He holds up Luke Romano and it'll be a scrum to the Lions.

8:39AM

2 minutes

The Lions attack looks slick, with Peter O'Mahony and Tadhg Furlong carrying hard. However, they make few inroads and Jordan Taufua gets over the ball to force a penalty.

8:37AM

So close

What a start from the Lions. Owen Farrell takes the ball to the line and sends Jonathan Davies clear! The Scarlets centre tries to find George North but the pass is intercepted. Crusaders clear and the Lions come again.

8:36AM

Here we go

The referee today is Mathieu Raynal. He blows his whistle and Owen Farrell gets the game going. Luke Romano spills and Alun Wyn Jones collects...

8:34AM

Haka time

Like the Blues, the Crusaders are laying down the challenge.

8:33AM

Out come the Crusaders

Sam Whitelock captains them.

8:32AM

Set-piece tweaks

The Lions fit in just a couple more shunts before we get going, under the watchful eye of Graham Rowntree.

8:31AM

Here they come

Alun Wyn Jones leads the Lions onto the surface.

8:30AM

New Zealand's Thomond Park

...as if this challenge needed building up any further.

8:29AM

Here come the calvary

Lots of time for this. Actual crusaders taking their seats for the game.

8:27AM

Fist bumps

Luke Romano, who has been excellent for the Crusaders so far this season, is getting his mates geed up in the Crusaders changing room.

8:27AM

Prop idol

There are high hopes for Leinster tighthead Tadhg Furlong as he makes his first start of the tour. Here he is in the warm-up.

8:24AM

10 minutes until kick-off

 Feel the same?

8:23AM

All Blacks update

Steve Hansen has selected his 33-man squad for the Test series against the Lions.

Here it is, along with Sir Graham Henry's verdict on each player...see if you can spot the Crusaders. There are quite a few of them.

8:21AM

Scott Robertson

"Christchurch didn't get a Test match with the small stadium we have, so this is our chance to test ourselves against the best.

"I thought [the Lions] would play a bit more footie. We've prepared for them to keep the ball, scrum us. That's alright because we have a good pack."

8:19AM

Limbering up

Final few stretches for the Lions lads...

The atmosphere sounds electric.

8:14AM

Leading from the front

Facing an all-All Blacks front five, the Lions forwards will know exactly where they stand after today.

8:13AM

Insight from coach Greenwood

Our very own Will Greenwood coached three of the Crusaders' players with the Barbarians last autumn.

His inside information on Richie Mo'unga, Seta Tamanivalu and Jordan Taufua is rather amusing.

8:06AM

Half an hour to go

The Lions fans are filing in, ginger wigs and pints in tow.

8:04AM

Warren Gatland

8:01AM

Straight and true

Another video from Will Greenwood, another Saracen tuning up.

7:58AM

Warm-ups underway

The players are out in Christchurch.

7:57AM

Sights and sounds of 1971

Back to the Lions, and we've been catching up with David Duckham, a protagonist of what remains the sole Test series victory for the Lions in New Zealand 36 years ago.

There are a great number of tales in this piece, including memories of an utterly brutal affair against Canterbury that left Sandy Carmichael looking like this.

7:53AM

Full-time in Australia

The Wallabies have beaten Fiji 37-14. A frenetic but entertaining game. 

7:50AM

Analysis

So, what makes the Crusaders such vaunted opponents for the Lions this evening? 

It's a mixture of things, from a solid attacking framework to set-piece strength via sharp game intelligence. Their coach, Scott 'Razor' Robinson, is a character as well.

We've taken a look at what to expect from the Super Rugby front-runners.

7:42AM

Over in Melbourne...

This is the first Test weekend of World Rugby's June window, and there are matches going on all over the place. Australia are currently leading Fiji 32-7  in Melbourne thanks to two tries from Israel Folau. The second was a stunner.

7:41AM

Graham Rowntree gold

Get a load of this press conference from the Lions' scrum coach yesterday.

"Ooooooooh".

There is a lot of respect for the Crusaders scrum beneath the gags, though.

7:35AM

Hide and seek

Stuart Hogg is another of tonight's Lions starters, and he also happens to be at Telegraph columnist.

This is his latest offering, on how Maro Itoje's job of looking after Lions mascot BIL can be pretty tough.

7:30AM

"We don't have time to sulk. It's too hectic"

Our man Mick Cleary has been speaking to Sean O'Brien, who is at openside tonight due to Sam Warbuton's injury. The Ireland number seven is eager to make the Test side, as he did in 2013.

7:27AM

Arrival

Here they come, the Lions. Another much-changed match-day 23 will be fiercely motivated to inject some impetus into this tour.

7:11AM

Round three

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the British and Irish Lions' third match on their 2017 tour of New Zealand, against the Crusaders at AMI Park in Christchurch.

Is this the day that the Lions get their tour on track with a win to follow Wednesday's loss to the Blues? If it is, we are in for a special game. The Crusaders are frankly on fire. 

This was the scene yesterday and the weather has remained pretty similar, so we have a still night that should be ideal for a fast-paced game.

As far as team news, the Crusaders keep faith with the vast majority of the regulars that has excelled this season, although they will be without injured All Blacks Ryan Crotty, Scott Barrett and Kieran Read.

Still, their tight five are all part of Steve Hansen's 33-man squad for the Test series and there are a host of exciting youngsters across the backline.

Crusaders 15. Israel Dagg, 14. Seta Tamanivalu, 13. Jack Goodhue, 12. David Havili, 11. George Bridge, 10. Richie Mo'unga, 9. Bryan Hall; 1. Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Luke Romano, 5. Sam Whitelock (captain), 6. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 7. Matt Todd, 8. Jordan Taufua.
Replacements: 16. Ben Funnell, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Michael Alaalatoa, 19. Quinten Strange, 20. Jed Brown, 21. Mitchell Drummond, 22. Mitchell Hunt, 23. Tim Bateman.

Alun Wyn Jones captains the Lions after it emerged that tour skipper Sam Warburton has suffered a fresh injury setback in the form of what Warren Gatland called a "slight ankle strain".

A host of Lions make their first starts of the tour, including half-backs Conor Murray and Owen Farrell. Elsewhere, Wales duo Jonathan Davies and George North, Test starters in 2013, also get a run.

Lions  15. Stuart Hogg,  14. George North, 13. Jonathan Davies, 12. Ben Te’o, 11. Liam Williams, 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Conor Murray; 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Jamie George, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 5. George Kruis, 6. Peter O’Mahony, 7. Sean O’Brien, 8. Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: 16. Ken Owens, 17. Jack McGrath, 18. Dan Cole, 19. Maro Itoje, 20. CJ Stander, 21. Rhys Webb, 22. Jonathan Sexton, 23. Anthony Watson.