Lions win

Lions second five eight Owen Farrell slotted a 76th minute penalty to give the Lions victory and level the series at 1-1 ahead of next week's final clash in Auckland.

It is the first win for the Lions over the All Blacks since 1993 and the first defeat for the world champions on home soil in 48 tests going back to 2009.

The All Blacks were a man down for 55 minutes after Sonny Bill Williams became only the third All Black, and the first since 1967, to be sent off in a test match when he was shown the red card for a shoulder charge on Lions winger Anthony Watson.

Coming into the third match of their tour, Warren Gatland's Lions were not fit for purpose, midweek defeat by the Blues giving the British press corps serious jitters. Lions exposed and lacking 'x-factor', they declared, almost in unison.

But a gutsy 12-3 win over the redoubtable Crusaders on a cold, greasy night in Christchurch (billed by some as the fourth 'test') has transformed the mood. It was ever thus.