Lions 31 Hurricanes 31: Lawes and Henderson shine as Lions hold on in thrilling draw

They took their leave at the final whistle, the Lions players who have played their last game in the red jersey, the absentees from that list being locks, Courtney Lawes and Iain Henderson, both of whom made significant contributions ahead of the naming of the team for the second Test on Thursday.

“Primarily, these two are really strong (contenders) and have given us some real food for thought,” said head coach, Warren Gatland, who will meet with his fellow selectors on Wednesday evening before revealing the team to the players on Thursday.

Unfortunately for Henderson, though, there was a notable entry in the debit column with the Ulsterman sin-binned for upending Jordie Barrett at a ruck in the 65th minute. It was a costly error, the Hurricanes storming back during that period, salvaging, and almost winning, the match with two converted tries and a near-miss on another. The Lions had led 23-7 at the interval against the highly-regarded Super Rugby champions and looked comfortable at 31-17 until Henderson suffered his brain fade, thereby throwing away the chance to send the Lions into the make-or-break Test with a morale-boosting win.

Even if it was a sizeable blot on Henderson’s copybook, it ought not to impair due consideration of his worth. The 25 year old was perhaps fortunate that it was only a yellow card, albeit referee Romain Poite was only considering a penalty award in the first instance but was encouraged to review it by the television match official. Hurricanes coach, Chris Boyd, felt it was ‘an orange, somewhere between red and yellow.’  

Whatever the merits of the decision, it totally turned the game on its head. But what will please Gatland is the fact that there was more bite and intensity in the forward play.       

“It was a big moment in the game with his yellow card,” said Gatland. “It was a penalty to us which ends up being a penalty reversed and a yellow card and that’s the game. It was a crucial moment. It’s disappointing because you’re in so much control of it. We went from 68 per cent territory to about 25 per cent, so it was a massive swing in the game. He’s probably disappointed with himself. I don’t think there was anything malicious in terms of him lifting the player and putting him on his back. He wasn’t trying to hurt him. If he was trying to hurt him he would have really done a good job on that.  Look, he carried extremely well and that was a big positive.”

Henderson himself made no attempt to dodge the blame or the consequences of what he had done.

“That yellow was frustrating and although I got a bit of ball in hand it was over-shadowed by the silliness of the yellow card,” said Henderson. “It was a little bit of miss-timed rucking. It was definitely hard for me sitting there and watching those ten minutes, putting the guys in that tough position.”

There are five locks in contention for the two spots. Maro Itoje is certain to start with a decision to be made between Lawes and George Kruis as to who partners him in the starting XV. Henderson has come through strongly with Alun Wyn Jones a warrior but a weary-looking one. Lawes was suitably fierce and involved, injecting bite and energy before being withdrawn in the 53rd minute, an indication perhaps that he was being spared for a more significant tour of duty on Saturday.  George Kruis came on for Lawes and the Saracen’s place is under threat although his lineout expertise is always a big plus in his favour.   

“I thought Courtney Lawes carried well in the first-half,” said Gatland. “It’s a toss-up in terms of selection.”

The imperative for Gatland is to put together a side that offers far more physicality than they managed in the first test, to bring relentlessness and hammer in the tackle. He also has to gauge how much this game against the Hurricanes has taken out of Lawes and Henderson.  The players themselves have no doubts that they will be at full tilt.

“I’m ready and feeling confident that if I do get called up I’ll be able to lay it on the line,” said Lawes.

There were other possible candidates at the outset, Jack Nowell at full-back and he was suitably busy. George North was hoping to make a mark after a disappointing tour and although he scored one try, from a deft Henderson pass, and was denied one by a foot in touch that might have swung the game, he was operating from the centre after moving there to replace Robbie Henshaw whose tour looks to be over after suffering shoulder damage.

Wing Tommy Seymour was on hand to score two tries, profiting from an intercept from Greig Laidlaw in the 18th minute and running in again in the 53rd minute following a fluffed high-kick take by the Hurricanes who had started the second half at a rattle with a splendidly-crafted try from Ngani Laumape. But still they trailed.  And then the game tilted on its axis, Wes Goosen touching down, then flanker Vaea Fifita.

The force was with the Hurricanes only for them to lose control of the ball a metre short of the try-line in another attack.

The Lions somehow hung on. Honours shared but a bigger battle at this self-same stadium looms.   

10:39AM

Courtney Lawes

10:35AM

Rory Best

On Henderson's yellow: "Hendy was fantastic but we've got to be bigger than that." 

Best speaks wonderfully too about his family, who have flown to watch this game. Also a bit of a charm offensive on Romain Poite.

10:31AM

Full-time | Hurricanes 31-31 Lions

Dan Biggar drops back for the drop-goal....and it falls under the crossbar! 

Nehe Milner-Skudder does his best to keep the ball in play but he can't and the final Lions midweek game ends as a draw.

10:30AM

80 minutes

Dan Biggar nabs the ball from Laumape in midfield!

10:28AM

79:30

Henderson and Marler and Nowell carry...but the Exeter Chief is held up. It's a Hurricanes scrum on their own 22 to finish the game.

10:27AM

79 minutes

Jonathan Joseph takes a short ball from Biggar and dances past a couple. Now Halfpenny darts through a tackle...

10:26AM

78 minutes

Rory Best finds George Kruis and the Lions maul. Henderson is back on and he helps the drive over halfway..

10:25AM

Doesn't look like it

10:25AM

77 minutes

The Lions have a penalty. Can they rescue this win? It's been a pulsating game.

10:24AM

TMO again

Romain Poite wants a look at a potential neck-roll from Laumape on Halfpenny.

10:23AM

76 minutes

The Lions hold out. Just. The Hurricanes were within a metre and the ball dribbled forward at the base of a ruck. 

10:22AM

75 minutes

The Lions defence holds firm for a number of phases. Justin Tipuric has made a truck-load of tackles tonight. 

10:20AM

73 minutes

Laumape drives through the middle from the scrum and the Lions are reeling again. The Hurricanes are on the cusp of the 22.

10:18AM

72 minutes

Ah. There are shattered players all over the pitch and the Lions blink first as Leigh Halfpenny spills a high ball.

10:17AM

Try, Vaea Fifita! Hurricanes 31-31, 70 minutes

This game...

We are level, and there are five minutes to go. Fifita, who made a try-scoring debut for the All Blacks against Samoa, picked and went cleverly. 

10:15AM

70 minutes

 The Lions need fresh legs. The Hurricanes are within five metres again. We're going to the TMO!

10:14AM

68 minutes

George North ships a penalty for going off his feet. Jordie Barrett will bang the ball deep.

10:12AM

Try, Wes Goosen! Hurricanes 24-31 Lions, 67 minutes

Jordie Barrett's wide pass finds Goosen and then the young full-back hits the conversion too. The Hurricanes creep back to within a score.

10:11AM

65 minutes

The Hurricanes go into the Lions 22 with the penalty and here comes Laumape again, flying into midfield. The Hurricanes are within five metres now.

10:10AM

Yellow card, Iain Henderson

That's a shame for Henderson. His clear-out did send Jordie Barrett beyond the horizontal.

But this is quite funny.

10:09AM

TMO

We are going to the TMO, or rather the TMO got in contact with Romain Poite, for a clear-out on Jordie Barrett. 

10:05AM

64 minutes

The Lions give away a penalty at the lineout but then win one for another high shot on Nowell. 

10:03AM

62 minutes

A neat period of attack from the Lions...and has George North scored a second? Not quite.

The Wales wing catches up with Jonathan Joseph's grubber but just goes into touch. 

10:02AM

60 minutes

Jordie Barrett and Laumape link up down the Hurricanes left but Biggar is across to field a chip forward. 

The Hurricanes give away a penalty now, and there is a break as a couple of players receive treatment.

9:59AM

58 minutes

The Hurricanes go through the phases but Dan Cole is over the ball to snaffle a turnover. 

9:57AM

Seymour's second score

Well worked, this one.

9:57AM

Truth bomb

9:56AM

57 minutes

George North almost wriggles free from the restart but George Kruis knocks on as the ball comes back to the right.

9:54AM

Try, Tommy Seymour! Hurricanes 17-31 Lions 

Dan Biggar's floating pass cuts out the Hurricanes' defensive press. Nowell ships it on, as does Halfpenny and Seymour speeds in.

Biggar's kick fades right.

9:53AM

55 minutes

CJ Stander breaks from the base of the scrum and tje Lions spins the ball back to the left...

9:52AM

54 minutes

"We used the zoom. No try" says the inimitable Romain Poite.

Now, this is interesting. Courtney Lawes is off. George Kruis comes on. Might that mean the Northampton Saint is in the Test side?

9:50AM

TMO

Henderson is having a STORMER. He's back in midfield to shunt close under the posts. Poite is going upstairs...

9:49AM

53 minutes

Lawes soars to take the Hurricanes restart, and Laidlaw's box-kick is batted back by Nowell. Iain Henderson trucks it on and Lawes spins it wide to the left. Leigh Halfpenny brings the Lions into the 22....

9:48AM

Penalty, Dan Biggar! Hurricanes 17-26 Lions, 52minutes

Straightforward for Biggar.

9:47AM

Yellow card, Te Toirora-Tahuriorangi

Iain Henderson charges down Hurricanes scrum-half Te Toirora-Tahuriorangi and the Lions are within five metres!

Now Te Toirora-Tahuriorangi (thank heavens for copy and paste) is yellow-carded for a high tackle on Jack Nowell.

9:46AM

Penalty, Jordie Barrett! Hurricanes 17-23 Lions, 49 minutes

The Hurricanes deserve to be within a score. A fantastic final half hour is in store.

9:44AM

48 minutes

We've got another scrap. It's been feisty, this one. Laumape tears off the lineout into midfield and the Lions eventually concede a breakdown penalty. When it is awarded, Vaea Fifita and George North tangle.

9:42AM

47 minutes

It's opening up even further. Russell swings a wide pass form deep and Seymour chips over Milner-Skudder and collects. The Lions are pinged for an off-the-ball pull-back now.

They go to touch, and Biggar is back on.

9:40AM

46 minutes

...but he's just pulled it to the left. The Lions retain a nine-point lead.

9:39AM

44 minutes

Hurricanes win the scrum penalty...and they point to the posts. Jordie Barrett has the boot to land this from halfway.

9:38AM

43 minutes

Russell has a dart with his first touch and just spills forward in the tackle so it's a scrum to the Hurricanes.

9:37AM

42 minutes

Dan Biggar looked dazed after his attempt to tackle Laumape and he will have to go off for a head injury assessment so Finn Russell is on.

9:36AM

Try, Ngani Laumpe! Hurricanes 14-23, 41 minutes

That is slick. Julian Savea is released from a nice inside ball and Laumape is sent clear on the right. Jordie Barrett lands the touchline conversion and this second half could be special.

9:35AM

Second half

We're off again, with Jordie Barrett carrying back Greig Laidlaw's box-kick. The Lions concede two penalties and here come the Hurricanes....

9:33AM

Jonathan Sexton

9:31AM

Poite watch

The French referee has given the Lions seven penalties in the opening 40 minutes. This is a Spiderman reference, by the way.

9:22AM

Half-time |  Hurricanes 7-23 Lions 

James Haskell and Justin Tipuric tear into the Hurricanes maul and win a turnover. Tempers fray between both packs and that is half-time.

9:20AM

41 minutes

Dan Cole nabs the ball from the Hurricanes' maul! 

But he's come in at the side. The Hurricanes get another penalty and go to the corner again.

9:19AM

40 minutes

The Hurricanes  keep attacking from side to side until Julian Savea slices through the middle. The Lions get back well and we come back for a Hurricanes penalty. Otere Black goes to touch.

9:17AM

38 minutes

Leigh Halfpenny has added a great deal since coming on and is solid under another high ball but back come the Hurricanes and James Haskell makes a high tackle on hooker Ricky Riccitelli.

9:16AM

Try, George North! Hurricanes 7-23 Lions, 37 minutes

Dan Biggar goes high and Leigh Halfpenny is up to challenge. The ball falls to Iain Henderson, who releases North with a lovely short pass. Biggar adds the two.

Henderson has started this game brilliantly. Watch to see if he goes off at half-time. It could be Test time.

9:14AM

34 minutes

Romain Poite is hammering the Hurricanes on the penalty count. The Lions get another one for a breakdown offence but they miss touch. Jordie Barrett clears but the ball stays infield so the Lions can come again.

9:12AM

Match action

Here's Tommy Seymour skating away for his try. 

9:09AM

Penalty, Dan Biggar! Hurricanes 7-16 Lions, 30 minutes 

That will enrage Hurricanes fans. Prop ben May is penalised for holding Greig Laidlaw and Dan Biggar gets another penalty directly from the restart.

9:07AM

Try, Callum Gibbins! Hurricanes 7-13 Lions, 26 minutes

Glasgow-bound flanker Gibbins burrows over. That was coming.

Bit of comedy gold from Romain Poite, who sort of dummies a TMO referral. Jordie Barrett kicks the conversion.

9:05AM

25 minutes

The Hurricanes are back inside the Lions 22 and they have a penalty advantage after some overzealous competing from the tourists on the floor...

9:04AM

Hmmm

 Gatland really doesn't want to give his 'Geography Six' a game if he can help it.

9:03AM

23 minutes

With a makeshift centre combination for the Lions, the Hurricanes might get a few gaps...sure enough, Laumape careers through from Otere Black's offload. 

The Lions scramble very well, though. They force the turnover a couple of phases later and clear. 

9:01AM

Penalty, Dan Biggar! Hurricanes 0-13 Lions, 21 minutes

Fantastic strike from the Welshman. That sailed over from halfway and had a bit to spare.

9:00AM

20 minutes

Apologies, George North is moving to centre rather than Jack nowell, who has gone to the wing.

Mwanwhile, Dan Biggar is going for goal.

8:59AM

19 minutes

The Lions nab a ruck turnover and George North has a go from deep. Now there's a chip from Dan Biggar that Jonathan Joseph takes!

The centre is taken in the air, so the Lions are playing with advantage...and we're coming back for the penalty.

8:57AM

18 minutes

Robbie Henshaw has had a really tough tour. He's had to go off, with Leigh Halfpenny coming on. I reckon that might mean Jack Nowell moves into the centre...

8:56AM

He was in a lot of space...

8:55AM

Try, Tommy Seymour! Hurricanes 0-10 Lions, 17 minutes

The Hurricanes move the ball right and Greig Laidlaw snaffles an interception from Otere Black! The scrum-half does not have the pace to go 80 metres but he does not panic and Seymour follows up to take an offload and score. Dan Biggar adds the conversion.

8:54AM

16 minutes

Julian Savea storms down the left but it felled by Jack Nowell. The Hurricanes still have it though, and are into the Lions 22.

8:53AM

15 minutes

The Hurricanes run the ball from deep and win a breakdown penalty. They'll be able to clear.

8:52AM

Well this is amazing

Instead of a haka, Hurricanes captain Dane Coles has offered this to Sam Warburton during the game.

8:51AM

13 minutes

Justin Tipuric bursts off the back of a maul but the Hurricanes defend strongly and win a maul turnover.

8:49AM

12 minutes

Dan Biggar goes quickly from the penalty. Jonathan Joseph has a dart and the Hurricanes are offside from the next ruck. The Lions hit the corner again.

8:48AM

Big start from the locks

8:47AM

11 minutes

That's a big surge from Iain Henderson from the restart and Courtney Lawes carries it on.

Jack Nowell then returns a Jordie Barrett clearance following Laidlaw's box-kick. He is tackled high, so the Lions have another penalty.

8:46AM

Nice touch

8:45AM

Penalty, Dan Biggar | Hurricanes 0-3 Lions, 10 minutes

An easy start for Biggar.

8:45AM

8 minutes

The Lions burrow through a few close phases - "I've got headband" say the Hurricanes defenders, looking at CJ Stander. 

Eventually the hosts are caught offside, so Dan Biggar will look to open the scoring.

8:43AM

7 minutes

The Lions go to touch and Rory Best finds Courtney Lawes on the Hurricanes 22. The Lions maul and it's messy but they win it back...

8:42AM

6 minutes

We're re-setting a Lions scrum at the moment. Plenty of barking on the referee mic...and the Hurricanes blast over!

But Poite gives a penalty to the Lions...and there's a scrap!  James Haskell and Brad Shields in the thick of it.

8:40AM

5 minutes

This is fun. Milner-Skudder takes the ball blind and chips over the top but Nowell is across and bumps the Hurricane off. The Lions clear but the Hurricanes counter through Ngani Laumape.

8:38AM

3 minutes

The Lions win a free-kick and go quickly - it's been a fast start - but Laidlaw fumbles at the base of the ruck.

8:37AM

2 minutes

There's a first run for Vince Aso too, but Jordie Barrett knocks on from first receiver on the next phase. It's a Lions scrum close to halfway.

8:36AM

1 minute

Jordie Barrett clears long down-field and Jack Nowell gets a couple of touches early on as the Lions go through the phases. Greig Laidlaw then goes to the air and Nehe Milner-Skudder runs it back.

8:35AM

Kick-off

The referee this evening is Romain Poite, who takes charge of the third and final Test back in Auckland. He gets us started and Dan Biggar goes high to Brad Shields.

8:34AM

Hurricanes out

Bearded back-rower Brad Shields is leading the Hurricanes tonight. He's an excellent player.

8:32AM

Five minutes to go

Here come the Lions, led by skipper Rory Best.

8:30AM

Huddle up

The players are back in the changing room now, but this was the Lions side just before that. They evidently want a big performance.

8:27AM

Special delivery

That's a helicopter on the pitch, dropping off the match ball. No haka, though, we hear.

8:25AM

10 minutes to go 

Can this man fire tonight? He's had to live off scraps this tour so far, in stark contract to the 2013 trip. 

8:22AM

In the 15 shirt

Is full-back where Jack Nowell's future lies? It'll be intriguing to see him there tonight in what should be a fast-paced, open game.

8:19AM

Reminder

Here are the team sheets. No changes beyond Jared Payne's withdrawal.

8:19AM

20 minutes to go

Can the Lions tame the reigning Super rugby champions? It certainly won't be easy, but a victory would provide a welcome boost heading into the must-win second Test.

8:15AM

Focus

CJ Stander looks fairly pumped up.

8:12AM

Warren Gatland

Gatland also suggests that players likely to be involved in the second Test could be withdrawn around the 40-minute mark.

8:07AM

"There's no second chance"

Can Courtney Lawes force his way into the Lions side for the second Test?

He's certainly up for the challenge.

8:05AM

"Lazy journalism"

Sean Fitzpatrick lets rip at the New Zealand Herald on Sky Sports.

8:00AM

40 minutes to go

What a picture.

7:53AM

Team changes?

Should the Lions make any changes for the second Test, in Wellington this coming weekend?

Well, we've obviously had our say on the matter.

7:51AM

Analysis

The All Blacks' tactical approach in the series-opener was fascinating. They were narrow, direct and slick.

We've taken a look at their rapid ruck-speed and sublime contact skills.

7:41AM

Clowning around

This just about encapsulates the reaction to the clown cartoon on these shores.