I’d just like to point out that the current All Blacks team is not weak, average or even merely ‘ok’. Like all their teams, they are outstanding. Every player. Their method of play. Their link-ups. Its all and always, the best there is. Just thought I’d get that out there before someone pipes up with ‘oh yeah, you beat a ‘weakened’ or ‘second rate’ All Blacks team’. Because the Lions didn’t. They beat a quite brilliant All Blacks team.

More importantly, am I allowed to ‘personalise’ the British Lions? In a ‘them and us’ kind of way? Yes, I think I can. And I will and if you have issue with it then you’re probably South African or Australian and therefore simply don’t count. I’m British therefore I am Lion.

Sonny Bill Williams got hisself sent off early in the game. Because he’s a nob. And like all nobs he does silly things. In this case performing an act of common assault on one of OUR players. Known in rugby as an ‘armless tackle’ or in wrestling, where its much more common, as a ‘forearm smash’, Sonny Bill saw red in every sense. He knows you can’t perform such an act; he’s played the game once or twice before.

Yet still the All Blacks played fast and furious but fortunately failed to score a try. Not so fortunate, for us, was that we gifted them 10 penalties, seven of which were converted. By Beauden Barrett, who was far less effective without Sonny Bill on his inside, but that’s what happens.

The Lions managed to score not one but two glorious tries to tie the game at 21 each. And then with just 3 minutes left we earned a penalty. ‘Just’ 40 yards out. In the pouring rain in Wellington. Up steps Owen Farrell. Could he produce a Jonny Wilkinson moment? Was the pressure too much??

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Owen steps up, cool-as-ya-like, after that funny staring thing they all seem to do, and slots the ball between the uprights. 3 points, couple minutes to play, should be enough. As it proved to be. Even for the All Blacks. Victory for the Lions. Yippee.

Because now, on Saturday, we have ‘THE DECIDER!!!!’ whereas if we hadn’t won, we’d just be looking for some kind of consolation. This makes it exciting. Although Aukland is the hardest place for any visiting team to ever play. Which is why none of them has won there since 1994.

Come on Engl- Brit- Come on Lions

Happy Wimbledon-Starts-Monday

A xxxx