Lions Walloped In Wellington

New Zealand fly-half Daniel Carter ran the show in Saturday’s second Test, scoring a record 33 points as the Lions’ faint tour hopes were vanquished in a 48-18 Wellington defeat.

2005 Lions Tour: Second Test: Saturday, July 2
New Zealand 48 Lions 18, Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Scorers: New Zealand: Tries: Tana Umaga, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Daniel Carter 2, Richie McCaw; Cons: Carter 4; Pens: Carter 5
Lions: Tries: Gareth Thomas, Simon Easterby; Con: Jonny Wilkinson; Pens: Wilkinson 2

* New Zealand have won the Test series, ahead of Saturday’s third Test in Auckland (first Test: NZ 21 Lions 3, Christchurch)

Carter was in man-of-the-match form – scoring two tries, five penalties and four conversions – and dictating play in the loose.

It could have been so different had Sir Clive Woodward’s Lions built on stand-in skipper Gareth Thomas’ inspirational second-minute try.

The Welsh wing wizard, filling in for the injured Brian O’Driscoll at outside centre, picked a beautiful line around a ruck after a minute and 33 seconds to scorch over under the posts.

Jonny Wilkinson, reinstalled at fly-half, converted and it was game on for the much-changed Lions.

Crucially England’s 2003 World Cup hero clipped a subsequent penalty against an upright and gradually, Graham Henry’s All Blacks began to garner a stranglehold on both possession and territory.

Carter replied with a brace of penalties on 9 and 16 minutes before Carter waltzed through some poor Lions’ tackling, most notably from recalled centre Gavin Henson, to power clear and send captain Tana Umaga in for a searing try two minutes later.

New Zealand were never headed from then on. Carter, who converted, swapped penalties with Wilkinson and although the Lions added another three-pointer from their number 10 on 31 minutes, Henry’s charges then pulled clear into a 21-13 half-time lead.

Young winger Sitiveni Sivivatu chalked up his sixth try in three outings for the All Blacks, and second of the Lions Test series, as good hands from Aaron Mauger put the Fijian-born flyer over on 35 minutes.

Four minutes after the break, it got worse for Woodward’s side. Carter continued to dominate – kicking his fourth penalty before the All Blacks’ number 10 notched his first try.

Set up by Rodney So’oialo, who seemed guilty of holding Lions winger Shane Williams off-the-ball, Carter kicked on and raced past the Lions cover to dive onto his own chip and score in the right corner.

Carter converted for 31-13 and prolonged the visitors’ agony with a fifth penalty slot on the hour mark.

Ireland flanker Simon Easterby, who stood out as one of the tourists’ best performers, along with England hooker Steve Thompson, bagged a 66th-minute try in the left corner – beating out the All Blacks’ cover tackles in front of the corner flag.

Easterby’s score went unconverted by substitute Stephen Jones and even though the game was done and dusted, the rampant All Blacks still finished the stronger.

Carter stepped inside Josh Lewsey to glide over for his second try on 70 minutes and outstanding openside Richie McCaw made sure of a record Test win for the home side, barging over on a close range drive with three minutes remaining.

Another sorry day for the injury-hit 2005 Lions, who were again comprehensively outfought and outplayed, who are now left with nothing but their pride to play for in the final week of the tour.

Leinster pair Shane Horgan and Shane Byrne both came on as replacements in the closing stages, bringing the number of Irish players involved to five.

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina; Rico Gear, Tana Umaga (Captain), Aaron Mauger, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Daniel Carter, Byron Kelleher; Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Greg Somerville, Chris Jack, Ali Williams, Jerry Collins, Richie McCaw, Rodney So’oialo.

Replacements: Derren Witcombe, Campbell Johnstone, Jono Gibbes, Sione Lauaki, Justin Marshall, Ma’a Nonu, Leon MacDonald.

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS:

(15) Josh Lewsey (London Wasps/England)
(14) Jason Robinson (Sale Sharks/England)
(13) Gareth Thomas (Toulouse/Wales) (Captain)
(12) Gavin Henson (The Ospreys/Wales)
(11) Shane Williams (The Ospreys/Wales)
(10) Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle/England)
(9) Dwayne Peel (Llanelli Scarlets/Wales)
(1) Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
(2) Steve Thompson (Northampton Saints/England)
(3) Julian White (Leicester Tigers/England)
(4) Paul O’Connell (Munster/Ireland)
(5) Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster/Ireland)
(6) Simon Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets/Ireland)
(7) Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers/England)
(8) Ryan Jones (The Ospreys/Wales)

Replacements:

(16) Shane Byrne (Leinster/Ireland)
(17) Graham Rowntree (Leicester Tigers/England)
(18) Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers/England)
(19) Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
(20) Matt Dawson (London Wasps/England)
(21) Stephen Jones (Clermont Auvergne/Wales)
(22) Shane Horgan (Leinster/Ireland)

HT: New Zealand 21 Lions 13; Attendance: 34,000
Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)