British and Irish Lions share series with New Zealand after final Test draw

Summary

FT: Lions 15-15 New Zealand
First drawn Lions series since 1955 in South Africa
NZ: Laumape, J Barrett tries, B Barrett conversion & penalty
Lions: Farrell 4 penalties, Daly penalty
NZ flanker Kaino sin-binned on 50 min for high tackle
NZ remain unbeaten at Eden Park since 1994

Live Reporting

Lions fans paint Auckland redpublished at 07:42 British Summer Time 8 July 2017
New Zealand v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)
Image source, Getty Images
The Sea of Red has swept into Auckland once again.
About 25,000 Lions fans have descended on the city in a number and style that has caused some soul-searching and concern among the locals.
"We were probably outnumbered in Wellington and we certainly were in the last 10 minutes," New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew told the Daily Telegraph., external
"Eden Park will hopefully be a little bit more balanced. But it is an event open to the public, isn’t it?
“There will be 45,000 people in the ground and 20,000 of them will be in red, maybe more.”
New Zealand Herald reporter Heath Moore has been road-tripping with the Lions fans and has been won over by their "joyous faces, quirky chants" and unstinting support.
"Why are we so afraid to sing from the rooftops and show our emotion for our All Blacks? It's time to embrace what Northern Hemisphere culture brings to the game - energy, atmosphere and enjoyment," he writes., external
Fair to say, it's been livelier than West car park, Twickers.
Welcomepublished at 07:38 British Summer Time 8 July 2017
New Zealand v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)
Image source, Getty Images
Nothing like a bit of Jim Telfer to get you battle-ready over the breakfast bacon butties.
Welcome. How are the nerves? Pre-match-Neil-Jenkins-in-a-cubicle-level? Yep, me too.
We are less than an hour from kick-off at Eden Park and levels of impartiality in this live text may fall short of the BBC's usual impeccable standards.
The class of 2017 aim for glorypublished at 07:34 British Summer Time 8 July 2017
New Zealand v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)
Image source, Getty Images
Different players, different coaches and different opposition.
Different times.
But still the same message.
Only once in 11 previous tours of New Zealand, have the British and Irish Lions emerged victorious from the Test series.
The class of 2017 are 80 minutes away from joining the greats of the analogue age.
'The moment's arrived for the greatest game of your life'published at 07:31 British Summer Time 8 July 2017
New Zealand v British and Irish Lions (08:35 BST)
Media caption,
Living with Lions: Jim Telfer's famous 'Everest' speech in 1997
21 June 1997, a Cape Town hotel.
"Very few ever get a chance, in rugby terms, to get to the top of Everest - you have the chance today.
"Being picked is the easy bit. To win for the Lions in a Test match is the ultimate.
"You are privileged. You are the chosen few. No one’s going to do it for you.
"You have to find your own solace — your own drive, your ambition, your own inner strength, because the moment’s arrived for the greatest game of your life.”