Summary

  • Final score: Lions 16-22 Blues

  • Lions now won 1, lost 1 on 2017 tour

  • Next up - the mighty Crusaders on Saturday

  • Stander try, Halfpenny con & 3 pens for Lions

  • R Ioane, SB Williams, West tries, Perofeta con, West pen & con for Blues

  1. 'Anything can happen'published at 08:25 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)

    Tana UmagaImage source, Getty Images

    Blues coach Tana Umaga speaking to Sky Sports: "We knew this game was coming up so left a few out for the match against Queensland in Samoa. It is a special match. It is a difficult thing to beat the Lions, but we have to take our opportunities. In these one-off games anything can happen."

  2. Postpublished at 08:23 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Chris Jones
    BBC 5 live rugby union reporter at Eden Park

    George NorthImage source, BBC Sport

    "Wales winger George North - who will play for the first time on tour against the Crusaders at the weekend - poses with Lions fans.The rain has stopped here in Auckland, but still a greasy-looking playing surface."

  3. Rhys Webb with a saucepanpublished at 08:23 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)

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    A nice little cameo from Rhys Webb 27 seconds into this video from the British and Irish Lions Youtube channel.

    The Wales and Osprey scrum-half poses with a group of fans while clutching a small saucepan.

    Why?

    It is a reference to Sosban Fach,a Welsh folk song about said kitchenware and synonymous with Llanelli.

  4. One to watch: Sonny Bill Williamspublished at 08:19 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)

    Sonny Bill WilliamsImage source, Getty Images

    A Desperate Dan of a centre, whose deft offloading game belies his huge frame and barnstorming running.

    He missed the Blues win over the Queensland Reds with a niggling knee injury - the latest in a string of enforced absences after he returned to the 15-man code after playing sevens for his country at Rio 2016.

    He will be hoping to make a claim on a Test starting spot especially with midfield rival Ryan Crotty likely to miss at least some of the series with a rib cartilage injury.

    It was Williams who gave away his World Cup winners medal to a young fan who was rugby tackled by a steward as he tried to get onto the pitch after the 2015 final at Twickenham by the way.

  5. 'Combinations have been part of the selection'published at 08:18 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)

    Warren GatlandImage source, Rex Features

    British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland speaking to Sky Sports: "Combinations have been part of the selection. We are giving everyone a start in he first three games and it is important to help the team gel.

    "The Blues have been bottom of the NZ conference table, but they have some world-class individuals and may be more physical than the Crusaders on Saturday. We need to build on Saturday which was not the best performance."

  6. One to watch: Rieko Ioanepublished at 08:13 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)

    Rieko IoaneImage source, Getty Images

    This may not be the last time that the Lions face Rieko Ioane on this trip.

    The 20-year-old winger is six foot three with blistering pace and a sidestep that can put the skids under the surest defender.

    A former Sevens circuit star, he has scored 10 tries for the Blues this season. He made his All Blacks debut as a replacement against Italy in November, appearing again off the bench against France a fortnight later.

    Steve Hansen has been impressed. “He can be anything he wants to be,” the All Blacks coach said.

    “What we have to get Rieko to do is get a work ethic to match that talent and we will have ourselves a superstar."

  7. Team newspublished at 08:11 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:85 BST)

    Sonny Bill WilliamsImage source, Getty Images

    Blues head coach Tana Umaga has selected an entirely All Black front row with Ofa Tu'ungafasi alongside captain James Parsons and Charlie Faumuina.

    Twice-capped All Black Augustine Pulu is at scrum-half, with fellow New Zealand internationals Rieko Ioane, Sonny Bill Williams, and George Moala in the backline.

    Second row Patrick Tuipolutu was dropped off the bench after turning up late to training with Jimmy Tupou taking his place.

    Blues: Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, George Moala, Sonny Bill Williams Rieko Ioane, Stephen Perofeta, Augustine Pulu; Ofa Tu'ungafasi, James Parsons (capt), Charlie Faumuina, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Scott Scrafton, Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson, Steven Luatua. Replacements: Hame Faiva, Alex Hodgman, Sione Mafileo, Jimmy Tupou, Kara Pryor, Sam Nock, Ihaia West, TJ Faiane.

  8. Not a Daly occurencepublished at 08:10 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)

    Elliot DalyImage source, Getty Images

    Wasps and England flier Elliot Daly makes his first Lions appearance today after being an unused replacement in the tour opener.

    The 24-year-old becomes only the second player after Riki Flutey to play for and against the Lions. He was part of the Barbarians side that played the 2015 Lions in Hong Kong.

    Elliot DalyImage source, Getty Images
  9. One to watch: CJ Standerpublished at 08:06 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)

    CJ StanderImage source, PA

    Back in 2009, a 19-year-old CJ Stander attended a Lions match in Pretoria supporting the opposition.

    A lot has happened since then.

    He played in the Junior World Championships for South Africa, broke into the Blue Bulls first team, was told he was too small to be an international back row, moved to Munster, stayed three years, made his debut for Ireland, scored a try in the famous win over the All Blacks, was a nominee for Six Nations player of the year and finally won a Lions call-up.

    He starts at eight today, but after Taulupe Faletau's strong start to the tour, might he be eyeing the blindside slot as an alternative route into the Test team.

  10. Team newspublished at 08:02 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)

    Ken OwensImage source, Getty Images

    Wales hooker Ken Owens will captain the British and Irish Lions in the second match of their New Zealand tour, against a Blues side that features eight All Blacks in the starting XV.

    Fellow Welshmen Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar are at half-back for the Lions, with the England pair of Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes in the second row.

    Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne form an all-Irish midfield.

    Lions: Leigh Halfpenny; Jack Nowell, Jared Payne, Robbie Henshaw, Elliot Daly; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Jack McGrath, Ken Owens (captain), Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, James Haskell, Justin Tipuric, CJ Stander. Replacements: Rory Best, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Grieg Laidlaw, Johnny Sexton, Liam Williams

  11. One to watch: Maro Itojepublished at 07:58 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)

    Maro ItojeImage source, Getty Images

    Once upon a time, the only culture you would find in the second-row engine room would be an outbreak of athletes foot.

    Not with Maro Itoje.

    The 22-year-old England lock is studying for a degree in politics at London's SOAS university, writes poetry on the way to matches, spends his evenings watching documentaries and muses on the nature of nationalism in interviews., external

    He is also an outstanding rugby player. He won the World Junior Championship with England in 2014, played in four of the senior side's games en route to the Grand Slam two years later and is quite possibly a Lions captain-in-waiting.

    This time around, as the youngest player on tour, he has been tasked with looking after the cuddly Lion mascot Bill.

    With just 12 Test appearances to his name, is it too early to throw the Londoner into the Test mix?

  12. The heavens have openedpublished at 07:57 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)

    Chris Jones
    BBC 5 live rugby union reporter at Eden Park

    GatsImage source, Getty Images

    A lovely mild Auckland evening has in the last few moments given away to a heavy shower, so the Lions will again have to contend with greasy conditions; something that will be a regular occurrence on this tour.

  13. Umaga controversy fuelled 2005 brilliance - Carterpublished at 07:54 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)

    Dan CarterImage source, Getty Images

    All Black legend Dan Carter says that furore over Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu tag-team spear tackle fuelled his superb performance in 2005's second Test in which he scored 33 points in a 48-18 victory for the hosts.

    "Suddenly Tana was being heavily criticised and it felt like a personal attack on our captain. it struck us deep down. We felt like it was our responsibility to protect him and the best way to do that was to play well in the second Test. It became a game for our fearless captain," he told the Daily Mail., external

    He also revealed that he and Ma'a Nonu used to have a competition on their return to the dressing room using the number of congratulatory text message as a barometer to how well they had played.

    "Suddenly my phone was going absolutely crazy," he remembers of the aftermath of that career-defining performance.

  14. Get Involvedpublished at 07:49 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)

    Lions fanImage source, Getty Images

    The Lions must have been poor in the tour opener when even the New Zealand media is hoping for improvement tonight.

    Sunday News sports editor Paul Cully is predicting a Lions win by seven points.

    Anyone care to take on that spread?

    Pre-match calls to #bbcrugby on Twitter or 81111 on text. Because it is no good being wise after the event.

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  15. 'If people can't put it behind them I suppose they never will'published at 07:46 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)

    Tana UmagaImage source, Getty Images

    Tana Umaga wrote about the incident in his book two years after, complaining of the "sustained personal attack" that he withstood from the Lions in the media., external

    He was less keen to talk about it when asked in the build-up to today's game.

    "That was 12 years ago, if people can't put it behind them I suppose they never will," said Umaga, before Sonny Bill Williams stepped in to block a second question on the incident.

    Tana UmagaImage source, Getty Images
  16. 2005 and all thatpublished at 07:43 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)

    Tana UmagaImage source, Getty

    Blues coach Tana Umaga won 74 Test caps for the All Blacks, scoring 36 tries and leading the side in action and the haka.

    In a Lions context through he will be remembered for one incident, barely caught on camera.

    Forty-one seconds into 2005's first Test, he and hooker Kevin Mealamu picked up Lions skipper Brian O'Driscoll at the back of a ruck, turned him upside down and slammed him into the turf, dislocating the Irishman's shoulder.

    O'Driscoll, who feared for his life as he was propelled head first towards the turf, missed the rest of tour. Amid a half-hearted apology, Umaga accused O'Driscoll of being a crybaby for being miffed by the incident., external

  17. A night under the lightspublished at 07:39 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)

    Chris Jones

    The green carpet has been rolled out for the Lions at Eden Park.

    A perfect night, a perfect pitch. BBC reporter Chris Jones is in place feeding in his latest update to BBC Radio 4. He will be providing in-game text updates right here as well.

    Eden Park, by the way, is also the stage for the first Test on 24 June. The last time the All Blacks lost a match at the ground?

    July 1994.

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  18. Lions arrive on the scenepublished at 07:37 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)

    Headphones in place, stares set to 1,000 yards.

    The tourists have arrived at Eden Park.

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  19. The opppositionpublished at 07:36 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions

    Augustine PuluImage source, Getty

    The Blues are, according to the form guide, the weakest of New Zealand's Super Rugby franchises.

    The bad news for the Lions is that says more about the relative strength of Kiwi rugby than a lack of quality in the Auckland side's ranks.

    They have won seven of their 14 matches in this season.

    Their losses to the more celebrated New Zealand franchises have been by narrow margins as well, going down by nine points away to the undefeated Crusaders and losing by four to the Hurricanes.

  20. Auckland callingpublished at 07:33 British Summer Time 7 June 2017

    Blues v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)

    Warren GatlandImage source, Getty Images

    The Kiwi press savaged the Lions in the wake of their 13-7 win over a Provincial Barbarians sides consisting of semi-pros and fringe Super Rugby players.

    While the Baa-baas skipper Sam Anderson-Heather heads back to a busy week with his property management company, Sam Warburton and his squad have a serious step up to make.

    The Blues are the first Super Rugby side they face on this tour.

    Time to shake off the complimentary peanut dust and peel off the in-flight socks. Jetlag won't wash as an excuse if they lose at Eden Park today.