All Blacks finish strong to deny Lions famous win

By Liam Napier at Ellis Park 

Dave Rennie’s All Blacks remain unbeaten – but only just. 

The All Blacks completed a clean sweep of the four South African franchise teams and made it five from five on tour but they had to work overtime to maintain their momentum before closing out a 41-35 win. 

Three days on from their epic upset triumph over the Springboks, the All Blacks returned to Ellis Park for a contrasting assignment for the midweek team against the Lions. 

The Lions finished seventh in last year’s United Rugby Championship but you wouldn’t know it as they played like men possessed in this match. 

For three-quarters of the contest it appeared this was one too many games on a torrid tour for the All Blacks as a lack of training time and combinations heavily affected the midweek team. 

The All Blacks had to summon another second-half comeback, surging from 18 points down and then clinging on at times before Emoni Narawa’s second 80th-minute strike sealed the seven-tries-to-five victory. 

In the context of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, Patrick Tuipulotu’s departure midway through the second half for Jamie Hannah strongly suggests his place is booked in the All Blacks second test squad, likely on the bench behind Fabian Holland and Tupou Vaa’i. 

Richie Mo’unga’s comeback, in his first appearance for the All Blacks for three years, since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, faded into the background as the Lions produced an inspired performance to push the tourists to the brink. 

Mo’unga made one late second-half break and pulled off a courageous cover tackle on Lions loose forward Siba Mahashe in the first spell that almost prevented a try, but was otherwise quiet in a largely scrappy All Blacks performance. 

While they had no shortage of chances, the All Blacks often resembled a makeshift team that had barely trained together. 

From a not-straight lineout throw to errors, inaccurate penalties and a lack of flow, they let the Lions off the hook and again endured scrum issues before two huge late shunts – one a tighthead – helped turn the tide. 

Highlanders prop Saula Ma’u on debut made a massive impact off the bench. 

The Lions, to their credit, came to play. Perhaps because they had more time together than the previous franchise teams the Lions were more cohesive, certainly more so than the Sharks and Bulls. 

Of all the South African teams the All Blacks faced on this tour, the Lions were also the most entertaining and enterprising. 

The Lions were regularly rewarded for their ambition, too, much to the delight of the small but impassioned, vocal crowd. 

When the Lions had the All Blacks on the rack early in the second half after a scrum pushover try, the locals – those in particular stationed directly behind the open media box – truly found their voice. 

Emoni Narawa makes a break against the Lions. Photo / Photosport 

The Lions led 14-0 early and 35-17 in the second half. The All Blacks trailed until Ethan Blackadder, one of the best performers for the visitors, claimed his second try in the 62nd minute. 

Blackadder was highly involved on both sides of the ball, throwing himself into contact, snaffling turnovers and making metres with ball in hand. 

Rieko Ioane’s two tries instigated the comeback. Ioane’s first featured a big left foot step in the midfield as he sprinted 40m to score. And he then pinched an intercept after switching to the wing. 

Narawa, from the left wing, was among the All Blacks best. He threatened with every touch to further enhance his case for the test team. 

Narawa beat three defenders after scooping the ball from the ruck to lay on the All Blacks’ first try for Noah Hotham, who otherwise endured a forgettable night. 

Timoci Tavatavanawai had several beast mode carries and Fehi Fineanganofo was busy on the edge in the first half before leaving with an injury early in the second. 

While this victory carries little relevance for the test series, Rennie will be pleased with the second-half response and to maintain winning momentum for the full touring squad. 

All Blacks: Noah Hotham, Emoni Narawa 2, Ethan Blackadder 2, Rieko Ioane 2 tries, Beauden Barrett con, Richie Mo’unga con 2 

Lions: Nico Steyn, Siba Mahashe, Kelly Mpeku, Erich Cronje, Francke Horn tries, Chris Smith con 5 

Halftime: 21-17