Limp Lions all talk

So now we know why the Lions have spent all week talking - it seems to be the strongest part of their game.

What we learned last night is that these Lions don't like it up 'em. And once the Bay realised that, sadly after they had leaked 17 points in the first 12 minutes, they lived up to their own less-considerable hype. Their tired legs and burning lungs eventually hoisted the white flag in the last 10 minutes to give the Lions something to sing about.

Defeat isn't celebrated in this part of the world but it was such a gutsy performance by the home side, so full of passion, so inspiring to all those who will follow them into the Lions' den in the coming weeks, not one of these Steamers heroes will ever need to take a wallet to the pub again.

Not that they will feel like they need a beer to enjoy the moment. What better sight than to see the King of Smug, Sir Clive Woodward, steaming away like a local thermal attraction.

And no wonder. The Knight of the Realm has assured the Western world the 2005 Lions are the best prepared in history. It was a massive claim to make before a ball was kicked. It became a hugely dubious one when it emerged in all their meticulous planning they had clearly forgotten to spend any time putting a defensive structure in place.

What hope for these Lions when they can be so easily rattled by good old-fashioned passion?

The Bay didn't need to be clever, they just needed to execute the basics with precision. That was too much for the limited Lions.

While the Bay ran into space, the Lions ran at bodies. While the Bay were composed, the Lions panicked.

Presumably now all those ill-informed northern-dwelling scribes who have bleated relentlessly about the demise of tight-forward play in this country will give that tired old line a rest.

If they do really reckon pyjama rugby is played out here they might want to get a video of last night's game and observe how the Lions much-vaunted front row buckled like a Japanese car until the hulking Steve Thompson came off the bench.

Maybe they have slung the mud at New Zealand's forwards to divert attention from the big tent antics of their backs. Even Brian O'Driscoll looked like taking and giving a pass was a bit beyond him. The back three ran with real energy, but then again, so do headless chickens.

But for the first 12 minutes it appeared Woodward had been telling the truth that the 2005 Lions have indeed come together rather nicely this last week.

It appeared as if those who doubted him had been suckered into thinking the warm-up game in Cardiff against Argentina actually meant something.

It really didn't. It looked like we were watching the real Lions. A team that was superbly organised at the lineout, controlled at the breakdown and full of good ideas and straight running further out.

Josh Lewsey helped himself to two tries and then Mark Cueto collected a perfect cross kick from Ronan O'Gara to stroll over.

How the Lions must have wished the game had ended there and then. A few minutes later Lawrence Dallaglio was on the back of a golf cart to have a nasty looking ankle injury examined further.

Then Colin Bourke got himself on the end of some neat handling and industrious recycling to close the gap. Murray Williams, who enjoyed a tidy night, then scampered over to draw things level at halftime.

In the end the Bay just didn't have enough juice in the tank to claim a famous victory. Perhaps they lacked belief, which is why Dwayne Peel and Gordon D'Arcy were able to score late tries to make the game safe.

Bay of Plenty 20

(C. Bourke, M. Williams tries; M. Williams 2 cons, 2 pens).

Lions 34

(J. Lewsey (2), M. Cueto, T. Shanklin, D. Peel, G, D'Arcy tries; R. O'Gara 2 cons)

- HERALD ON SUNDAY