Richard Loe: Negative play taints Lions draw

Lions and Hurricanes players react at the full-time whistle. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Poor early handling from the Hurricanes and ongoing negative play from the Lions tainted what was otherwise an entertaining draw tonight.

At least both sides scored good tries.

I heard 'Canes coach Chris Boyd say he was disappointed, frustrated and proud of what his side achieved; I agree. I haven't seen them make as many silly mistakes this season as they made in the first 20 and, with the penalties piling up, they dug themselves into a hole. They struggled to convert their flair into points, but good on them for fighting back.

As for the Lions, well, forgive me if I'm repeating myself. They push damn near to infringing rather than competing. There was niggle as a result. The Hurricanes retaliated, but the Lions have been the common denominator throughout the tour.

I'm furious at the way they keep lying in the back of rucks, slowing the ball down. In the days when rucking was an accepted part of the game, rogue paws tended to remove themselves quickly with a couple of tickle-ups.

The tourists also kick the ball out for a penalty, have a chin-wag about where they are going to throw, and stroll to the lineout. They're in the habit of kicking the ball away at stoppages as well - that's an automatic penalty in Super Rugby.

While I'm on a roll, that French referee Romain Poite needs his backside kicked. It worries me that he is refereeing the third test. What are the rules around dangerous tackles? Iain Henderson got a yellow card for a tip tackle on Jordie Barrett, but Jonathan Joseph should've gone as well. They lifted him and pole-drove him with intent. To be fair to Henderson, he got through a lot of work which is more than you could say for his locking partner Courtney Lawes. Crikey, I hope Lawes is playing on Saturday for the All Blacks' sake.

As for the Hurricanes, Barrett played well, as did Ngani Laumape - Dan Biggar won't have had anyone run at him like that for a while.

Nehe Milner-Skudder might need to go back to Manawatu to get a good season under his belt. Julian Savea didn't do much to put his hand up either. You expect a great player like that to be of a higher standard. He needs to look for more work.