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friendly | Rugby Union
Jul 8, 2017 at 8.35am UK
 
New Zealand
15-15
LionsBritish and Irish Lions
Luampe (15'), Barrett (36')
FT

British and Irish Lions, New Zealand series ends in dramatic draw

The British and Irish Lions draw 15-15 with New Zealand in their third and final Test to see their three-match series end all square at 1-1.

Owen Farrell kicked over late on to earn the British and Irish Lions a 15-15 draw with New Zealand in Saturday's third and final Test meeting at Eden Park.

After a thrilling three-match series there is nothing to separate the sides, having won one Test apiece and drawn this gripping decider in Auckland.

The All Blacks led 12-6 at the interval and were on course for victory heading into the closing stages, before Farrell found the target from range with three minutes left on the clock.

New Zealand scored the only two tries of the game, crossing over for their opener 15 minutes in when Ngani Laumape hoovered up after Jordie Barrett swatted down a cross-field pass.

Beauden Barrett successfully landed the extras to put the back-to-back world champions seven points in front, but Farrell's kicking - a key feature of the game - saw the Lions claw back six points with a little over half an hour played.

Jordie Barrett played a big part in the opener and it was he who found the whitewash to open up the Kiwis' lead once more, cantering into the corner late in the first half.

Moments after the second-half restart the tourists won a penalty for Elliot Daly to boot over, before Farrell did likewise on the hour for his third of the night in Auckland.

Then came a finale befitting the hugely entertaining series, as Beauden Barrett found the sticks with 12 minutes remaining after an error from Kyle Sinckler, putting New Zealand on course for the decisive win.

Referee Romain Poite would award another pen late on for Farrell to write his name in folklore, however, with the hosts being penalised for hanging on inside their own half.

The Lions pushed for a winner in the remaining minutes but it just was not to be, ensuring a subdued atmosphere around Eden Park as both sets of players were left reflecting on a rare drawn series - just the second time that has happened in the Lions' history.

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Lions head coach Warren Gatland smiles after their victory during the International Test match between the Australian Wallabies and British & Irish Lions at ANZ Stadium on July 6, 2013
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