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Williams makes unwanted history - Opta stats from the Lions' victory over All Blacks
The British and Irish Lions forced a decider in their Test series with New Zealand, coming back from 18-9 down to claim a dramatic 24-21 win in Wellington.
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Their victory was aided by the first-half dismissal of All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams, who made unwanted history as he saw red for slamming his shoulder into Anthony Watson’s face.
Here we look at the best Opta facts from a thrilling second Test.
– The Lions won the second Test on a tour since South Africa in 1997.
– This was the All Blacks’ first defeat on home soil since losing to South Africa in Hamilton in 2009.
– The All Blacks failed to score a try against the Lions for the first time since 1977, ending a run of 13 games.
– This was just the Lions’ second win against New Zealand in their last 14 efforts.
– The All Blacks had scored a try in 38 consecutive games going into this match, their second longest such streak.
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– The Lions are unbeaten in their last five Tests when level at half-time (W4, D1), the last such game coming in a win over Australia in 1989.
– Sonny Bill Williams became the first player to be sent off in a Lions Test match for any side. He is just the third All Blacks player to be sent off in a Test match.
– This was the eighth time NZ have scored seven or more penalties in a match and the first time they have done so without also scoring a try.
