ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Tuesday Jul 11, 2017

So that's how it feels to kiss your sister - Kiwi Tony gutted with how it ended

The All Blacks vs Lions 2017 series is over and we’re no closer to knowing the winner, because there wasn’t one. Ardent ABs fan Tony is back to give us his thoughts on the anti-climax that was the third Test in Auckland. Like any good tale, there’s a [relatively] happy ending.

A draw. They say it’s like kissing your sister. The thought of kissing my sister is enough to make me vomit (no offence Em). Can you imagine how awkward Christmas would be after that? How would you look each other in the eye after your best Cersei and Jaime Lannister impersonation? I’d rather lose a game of footy thanks.

The same was true over the weekend. I would have rather lost. At least it would have given both sets of fans some level of closure. It was like the last episode of Lost, plenty of twists and turns, drama and mystery and an incredible anti-climatic ending leaving everyone confused.

I was at Auckland waterfront sports bar, The Fox. It was heaving. It was more chocka than a TAB on dole day. The atmosphere was electric, the Lions fans were full of banter and the usually reserved All Blacks fans were rubbing their hands together in anticipation of what was guaranteed to be a memorable game.

CATCHUP: NZ vs LIONS MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

A lot is made of how important Rugby is to New Zealand and this was the biggest game since the 2011 World Cup final.

Kick off, sweaty palms, beers spilt, hands in the air in celebration and later, faces in hands in anguish.

At the end of it all, the most crucial person on the field was the referee.

Romain Poite had a hard job, but he wasn’t up to it. He was like a possum in the headlights towards the end of the game. He lost his cool and let his emotion and instincts take over.

His cognitive abilities to engage in rational thought and execute reasonable judgement took a one-way trip to his happy place and both sets of fans got the raw end of the stick in my book. A sad way for the two best teams in the world to finish a series.

I took a lot of crap from the measured and restraint public forum that is the Facebook comments section after my last article. I am an unapologetic All Black fan. This guides my view of every AB game. So with that in mind, here it is.

According to the Northern media, it was a great match. It was an important game with plenty of drama and intrigue. But was it a great game? Hell no!

A great game flows freely and above all else, a good game is a quick game. This is the All Blacks strength, to play fast and to go where no other team can follow them. The first half had moments like this while other opportunities were squandered.

Fair play to the Lions. They knew what they needed to do. Slow things down. The amount of chat to the referee, slow scrums and lineouts and group discussions about God knows what, really stunted the AB’s game plan.

Hats off to Warren Gatland and his pragmatic approach. It made it a tough watch which ultimately led to a Lions draw. I call it a Lions draw because not losing to the All Blacks is certainly some sort of victory. Like after a visit to the casino when you’re happy you came out even (after putting the kid’s school tuition on red).

The All Blacks did themselves no favours and despite a dominant first half kept the Lions in it through ill-discipline. One of the other key strengths of all All Blacks is being able to execute basic skills. Catch and pass, CATCH AND PASS. At times, they looked like they had the bumbling Sean Spicer as their skills coach.

Once again, credit to the Lions. They shut down the AB’s time and space. Despite this, they needed to do a better job hanging on to pill, especially during the big moments.

I’m a huge Beauden Barrett fan. The guy is a freak! Unfortunately, he never really hit his straps in this series. Watching his performance felt like insisting your friends watch a movie because it’s a classic. Then after they reluctantly agree, you suddenly realise it wasn’t as good as you remember.

It also must be said, missing 8 points in this game and 9 points the week before, was the difference between 3 nil and a drawn series. For the first time, we really missed the reliable boot of DC.

Finally, what else has cost us the game….?

The f#cken Referee. The final moments of the game were a mess and the Penalty, in a kickable position, even for Beaudy, was downgraded even after the TMO agreed with Poite’s original decision.

It was a moment of madness that brought the game to a terrible end. It was like meeting the girl of your dreams on Tinder, getting along like a house on fire, having a snog and then finding out she’s your Dad’s secret biological daughter. You kissed your sister!! Oh, now I get the saying.

The outcome wasn’t only due to that terrible call, but due to a number of reasons (credit where it’s due). The Lions didn’t deserve to lose either.

After the game Lions and AB fans didn’t know what to do with themselves. It was a weird vibe. It didn’t last long though as everyone decided to do what fans do best, drink.

It was a great tour at the end of the day. Why? The Lions fans – such great people. Each one I met was friendly, jovial and up for a good time. I can’t express how great it is to have that lot in the country once every 12 years to bring us out of our stuck at the bottom of the world shells.

We may all have our own bias’s and views, but in the right spirit, it’s just a bit of banter.

– Tony O’Sullivan @Tones88

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles

  • 298 WEEKS AGO

    The 2017 Lions tour documentary looks epic...

  • 305 WEEKS AGO

    The Impact of British and Irish Lions Tours...

  • 307 WEEKS AGO

    Jordie Barrett's casual booming dropgoal...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Springbok winger with the most athletic non-try of the season

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    Jack Crowley drops the ball on dime for brilliant Munster try in URC Final

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    WATCH: World class offload from James O’Connor Leads To Long Range Reds Try

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Leinster up and running with two incredible tries inside the first five minutes

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Chiefs Score The “Best Team Try” In Super Rugby History

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Heroic tackle from Spanish 7s player goes viral

  • 1 DAY AGO

    No sanction handed down by SANZAAR for tackle that left Reds player with a fractured neck

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Watch: Cheslin Kolbe Dominates Sebastian Cancelliere with back-to-back big tackles

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Ben Curry's World Cup hopes dashed as he becomes the latest victim of the crocodile roll

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Australian rugby player banned for 5 years after assaulting referee

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Barbarians Vs World XV highlights

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Silly Skill From Toulouse Fullback Highlights French Confidence

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Ardie Savea Moment Of Magic In Super Rugby Aotearoa

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    'Armchair athletes' berate Arundell's seriously impressive bench press

  • 16 WEEKS AGO

    Worcester Warriors - The End

View All

Funnies

  • 17 HOURS AGO

    Mack Hansen gets Andy Farrell’s face tattooed on leg

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    "Hey Manie oh ah I wanna know if I can block that kick" – Munster's hilarious new song

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    Munster Rugby loving life in Cape Town Following URC Final Victory

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: La Rochelle Players Gate Crash O’Gara Interview

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: Stade Rochelais Coaches With All-Time Coaches Box Celebration

View All

Amateur

  • 20 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 21 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 17 HOURS AGO

    Mack Hansen gets Andy Farrell’s face tattooed on leg

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    French international receives prison sentence for attack on wife

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    John Afoa breaks record on return to Super Rugby

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Harry Potter to ‘disapparate’ to Australia

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Steve Hansen makes statement following Folau selection

View All