The Lions have inflicted a first defeat on New Zealand on home soil in 47 games – and kept the series alive into next Saturday’s third and final Test in Auckland.
Tries from Irish scrum-half Conor Murray and Welsh number-eight Tauluple Faletau helped the Lions come back from 18-9 down in Wellington, with Owen Farrell slotting a penalty three minutes from time to seal a 24-21 victory to square the series at one-all.
Farrell had also converted three first-half penalties as the teams went into the interval 9-all.
Beauden Barrett kicked seven penalties for the All-Blacks, who played for 55-minutes with 14 men after star centre Sonny Bill Williams was sent off for a shoulder-barge on Anthony Watson in the 25th minute.
If the Lions win at Eden Park next Saturday, they’ll seal a first series victory over New Zealand since 1971.
Captain Sam Warburton says today counts for little if they don’t get the win next week
Ireland and Lions flanker Sean O’Brien says they never panicked when behind
Meanwhile, Sir Ian McGeechan’s daughter’s tweeted to say her dad’s been taken to hospital with “a bug” in New Zealand – but is fine.
The former Lions coach had gone by ambulance from the stadium in Wellington – where he’d been working on Sky TV’s coverage of today’s game.
