Nobody won, but nobody lost either
Our family spent nearly three hours yesterday morning watching the final test match between the All Blacks and the British and Irish Lions, one of the most exciting games of international rugby it can ever remember. That it ended as a draw via a late and controversial referring decision by Romain Poite is inconsequential in the scheme of things because – in years to come – 15-15 is how it will be recorded in the history books and anyway nobody will remember (or give a fig) how it got there.
Unless you’re a fervent All Blacks supporter, of course, but then we all know you never beat New Zealand on the rugby field, you only (very) occasionally score more points than they do.
For what it’s worth, however, in my view the referee did get the decision wrong. The Lions player was technically offside and Poite should have awarded a penalty to New Zealand … and then, of course, Bauden Barrett then should have slotted it, but – the way he’s been kicking this series – who can tell whether he would have if given the opportunity?
On the day, the hosts were indisputably the better side and could be justified in their frustration at not prevailing. They left at least three – possibly four – tries out on the park and maybe for the Lions it was a case of one week, and one match, too many after an endlessly gruelling domestic and European season. Human beings are flesh and blood, not robots. The tourists lacked nothing for commitment and effort and nobody could deny that they have made a big (and unexpected) success of this trip. Fitting or not, you could see that nobody in the ground (spectator, coach or player) was satisfied with a draw.
Let’s just hope that the Lions will still be in existence – and touring – in 2029. That’s the next occasion they’re scheduled to return to New Zealand.
