The British and Irish Lions have scraped past the Provincial Barbarians 13-7 in the opening match of their tour of New Zealand in Whangarei.
Richard Judd and Ross Moriarty. Provincial Barbarians v British and Irish Lions. Rugby Union. Whangarei, New Zealand. Saturday 3 June 2017. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
A sold out crowd of 20,000 watched as the amateur and semi-professional players in the Barbarians scored the first try of the game and took a 7-3 lead into half-time.
However the Lions scored a converted try and kicked a penalty in the second half to avoid an embarrassing defeat.
Watch video highlights from the game here:
Winger Anthony Watson's 52nd minute try gave the Lions the slim advantage they needed as they struggled to the first up win.
Anthony Watson scores the Lions' first try. Photo: PhotoSport
Lions first-five Johnny Sexton slotted a first half penalty, halfback Greig Laidlaw then stepped up when he went down injured to add a second, and replacement first-five Owen Farrell converted Watson's try.
Barbarians captain Sam Anderson-Heather, who suffered injuries to his knee, ribs and hand, scored the only try for the side selected from New Zealand's provincial competition before he was replaced at half-time.
Sam Anderson-Heather scores a try for the Barbarians as his team mates celebrate. Photo: PhotoSport
Photo: Twitter / British and Irish Lions
First-five Bryn Gatland, the son of Lions coach Warren, converted Anderson-Heather's try and showed he would be more than capable of playing at a higher level should the Blues Super Rugby side need him on Wednesday night against the tourists.
-Reuters/RNZ
