Two-try Umaga is sinner then winner

All Blacks captain Tana Umaga capped off a series of personal triumph with a two-try show last night.

Despite spending 10 minutes in the bin and the All Blacks failing to reproduce the form of the first two tests, Umaga was the dominant figure on the field.

"It's been a tough week," Umaga said. "They battered us as you can see with the changes we had to make. But you can't say it was the greatest rugby. We think we dropped our standards."

Umaga said his team conceded too many penalties and didn't back their defence enough but it was still too strong for the Lions.

This was clearly a different Lions team but, perhaps more importantly, it was a different All Black team - less intense and less committed. They paid a massive penalty for their tardiness with barely five minutes gone.

Stephen Jones had already kicked a penalty when Donncha O'Callaghan butchered a try with tunnel vision, but from the ruck on the All Black line skipper Tana Umaga killed the ball, giving away three points and earning himself 10 minutes in the sin bin.

If that was the signal for further Lions plundering, nothing could have been further from the truth: in a flash the All Blacks had scored 14 points with 14 players.

The first try was the result of a strong charge from Sione Lauaki in his first starting role in an All Black jersey. Quick ruck ball allowed a deft Jerry Collins pass to put Conrad Smith in space. Fullback Geordan Murphy had a choice to make - tackle Smith or drift out on to Sitiveni Sivivatu. He did neither and Smith strolled over.

Within a minute they were back attacking and Luke McAlister, who had endured a rocky start at No 10, grubbered into space behind the Lions line. Halfback Dwayne Peel had a momentary lapse of reason and Ali Williams had the simple task of falling on the loose ball to score.

Jones potted his third penalty and, incredibly, the score was 14-9 with less than 15 minutes gone.

McAlister replied with a penalty. Jones added another. Referee Jonathan Kaplan was clearly enjoying himself. By halftime he had found 12 penalties at a rate of one every three-and-a-tick minutes.

One of New Zealand's more questionable test victories came against this same opposition in 1959, when Don Clarke beat the Lions by kicking six penalties as the Lions replied with four tries. It looked like a reversal of that scenario could be on the cards as Jones lined up yet another penalty that would have brought the Lions to within two.

But he hit the post and the All Blacks swept forward on the back of two penalties.

McAlister finally took on the line and his half break and offload put Umaga under the posts for his 34th test try. It was a healthy halftime lead but, in truth, it was flattering.

As the second half began it was clear the Lions had clocked off early. They remained niggardly - Paul O'Connell even won a couple of lineouts against the throw - but they were playing like a team that was beaten before it started.

Campbell Johnstone replaced Tony Woodcock and immediately gave Gethin Jenkins a hard time.

Justin Marshall replaced Byron Kelleher and Umaga crossed again. It was too easy.

Sivivatu should have had a try but touch judge Stuart Dickinson called the play back for a late tackle. Somehow Jerry Collins also saw a yellow card. "That's ridiculous," Umaga said and, as usual, he was correct.

It was not the only ridiculous intervention Dickinson made.

Lewis Moody scored from a lineout drive in Collins' absence before Rico Gear showed his class with a brilliant kick and chase.

Then the game, and the series, slunk quietly into the history books.

Top try-scorers

Christian Cullen 46
Jeff Wilson 44
Douglas Howlett 38
Jonah Lomu 37
John Kirwan 35
Tana Umaga 35

- HERALD ON SUNDAY