Marty Banks slotted a 74th minute penalty to give the Otago Highlanders a dramatic 23-22 victory over the British and Irish Lions, handing the tourists their second defeat of the tour in a Dunedin thriller on Tuesday.
The game was played at a frenetic pace as the Highlanders looked to nullify the Lions rush defence with a very clever kicking game and used their power out wide.
Jonathan Joseph, Tommy Seymour and captain Sam Warburton all ran in tries for the often-threatening Lions, but the tourists were undone late on at the coal face.
All Blacks fly-half Lima Sopoaga booted the Highlanders ahead with the early penalty before winger Waisake Naholo's electric feet carved open a gap past Courtney Lawes for their try.
Reserve five-eighth Marty Banks landed a wide penalty with six minutes remaining and the hosts then held the tourists out to secure victory in the Highlanders' first match against an worldwide team.
The Lions side are on a high after they downed the previously unbeaten Canterbury Crusaders 9-3 on Saturday.
The Lions finally found their attacking mojo, scoring three tries to two - more than doubling their try tally so far - but lost from a winning position through a late penalty.
With only 11 days before the first Test against the All Blacks and the Maoris next on the Lions' way on Saturday, Warren Gatland will be looking for certainties quickly if they want to have any chance of repeating their feat of 2013.
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Rodman was traveling with Volo and Columbia University geneticist Joe Terwilliger, who has accompanied Rodman on previous trips. He was sentenced in March 2016 after a televised tearful public confession about trying to steal a propaganda banner .
It was the Highlanders who took the lead in Dunedin, after imposing themselves from the off.
The teams were level at 10-10 at the break.
"It was going to be a game where [the error count was higher] because the ball was thrown around a little bit more but we gave away too much possession at the breakdown".
Scoring three tries on tour for the first time, the Lions attacking threat was not enough to beat their hosts, who won the game with a penalty in the final five minutes. Hooker Liam Coltman picked up a driving line-out try that was converted by Banks to make it a two point game and then Biggar went off for an HIA to give Owen Farrell a kick for goal with his first action coming onto the pitch.
Joseph hit back with his classy score as he ran a risky line and backed himself to finish it.
The Highlanders decided against performing a haka before the match and were instead led out by a piper before captain Luke Whitelock handed Warburton a giant claymore sword.
"We'll review the game in a lot of details and I'm sure there are a few key details which if we could, I'm sure we'd go back and change them".
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