Strong battle from Otago but a loss to Lions 30-19
Otago put up a strong battle but lose to the Lions 30-19; Italy beats Argentina; under-21 team to take on Sth Africa
19 June 2005 A late surge has clinched the Lions another victory on the DHL tour.
The tourists have beaten Otago 30-19 in Dunedin after leading 20-19 with 15 minutes on the clock.
A late Shane Williams try sealed the win for the Lions.
Will Greenwood and Ryan Jones also crossed for the tourists, while Danny Lee scored Otago's try.
Lions first five Charlie Hodgson slotted three penalties and three conversions, while opposite Nick Evans kicked four penalties and a conversion for the home team.
The loss means Otago have fallen short of adding to their strong legacy of beating the Lions.
However they put up a strong battle.
Captain Craig Newby was confident his team could win but they simply couldn't hold out for eighty minutes.
Newby says they did not have much energy left in the last twenty minutes and made basic errors.
He says he believed they could win until the last five minutes but it was not to be.
Meanwhile Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward says the match was a great challenge and justifies why he needs so many players on tour.
Sir Clive says you can't underestimate a team based on the Highlanders personnel and that is why he needs fresh players to have any chance of beating them.
He says his backs simply are not gelling.
He says they are bombing plenty of chances with forward passes and over running the ball.
However, Otago coach Wayne Graham believes Sir Clive has something up his sleeve.
Graham says people should not take too much out of what they have seen up until now because the Lions will have plenty more in the cupboard.
Sir Clive won't be selecting test players for Tuesday's game against Southland in Invercargill.
Italy has beaten Argentina 30-29 in the second rugby test in Cordoba to square the series.
In a cruel twist of fate Italy's tries have all been scored by Argentine-born players.
The New Zealand under-21 rugby team will take on South Africa in the semifinals of their World Cup in Argentina early next week.
The kiwi side has lost to Australia 46-43 in their final pool play game, but they picked up two bonus points which propelled them into the playoffs.
New Zealand under-21 rugby coach Bryce Woodward says the South Africans are already posing problems.
Woodward says they are staying in the same hotel, which could be a bit difficult over the next few days.
He says they are already being a bit arrogant towards them, so they will be trying to keep their distance.
The other semifinal pits France and Australia against each other.
