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New Zealand made a winning start to their three-match series against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday, winning 30-15 in Auckland.
The result stretched the All Blacks‘ remarkable record at Eden Park and put the hosts on a strong footing heading into the second Test in Wellington next weekend.
For the Lions, it was their heaviest defeat in more than a decade and the omens do not look good for Warren Gatland’s chances of turning the series around.
His side did, however, provide a moment of brilliance on Saturday, when Sean O’Brien finished off a stunning move for the Lions’ first try – a touchdown that claims its own piece of history.
Here are the best Opta facts from the opening Test.
– The All Blacks have won 12 of the last 13 meetings between the sides, with the Lions’ only win in that run coming in the second Test in 1993.
– New Zealand have won 38 games in a row at Eden Park, last losing in 1994; only on five occasions in that run have the All Blacks failed to win by at least 10 points.
– The 15-point defeat was the Lions’ heaviest since the 2005 tour when they lost all three Test matches by 18+ points.
– O’Brien’s try for the Lions was their first in the opening Test of a tour to New Zealand since 1971, when Ian McLauchlan crossed the whitewash.
– New Zealand’s Rieko Ioane scored twice in this game, and now has three tries in his three games for the All Blacks.
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