It wasn’t the result the Australian TV audience, or the majority of those in attendance at Allianz Stadium were hoping for. But on a day when the memory of young Warringah player Lachlan Ward was appropriately honoured, a life cut tragically short whilst playing the game he loved last weekend, it was perhaps fitting that the spoils went to a side led by one of the Rats’ finest former servants.

Far from perfect but much, much better. That would probably be the report card attributed to last night’s 12-3 victory for the British & Irish Lions over the Crusaders in Christchurch. In a tryless contest, the boot of Owen Farrell was the difference, with the English flyhalf slotting four penalties – actually five, but more of that later – to secure a vital win for the under-fire tourists.

A display of vim, vigour, belief and determination has seen the Blues pile on the agony for the British & Irish Lions with a 22-16 win at a wet and windy Eden Park. The tourists were much improved from the lacklustre effort put out against the NZ Provincial Barbarians a few days earlier, but still looked like a side trying to lock down combinations, particularly in attack.