All Blacks

SBW to face judiciary this afternoon

The star All Blacks midfielder became the first New Zealand player in 50 years to receive a red card, sent off by referee Jerome Garces in his side's 24-21 second-Test loss to the Lions in Wellington.

Williams was sent for an early shower in the 25th minute after a crunching shoulder charge that struck Lions winger Anthony Watson flush in the face.

After a period of discussion with his assistant referees and TMO George Ayoub, Garces said he was left with no choice but to brandish red.

Vunipola out to stop All Blacks

Wellington-born Vunipola grew up idolising All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu, while his father Fe'ao, a former Tonga captain, once described his son as the 'next Olo Brown', a nod to the 56-test All Blacks prop.

"When I was growing up I watched the All Blacks and I loved them, mostly because of Jonah Lomu," Vunipola told reporters on Friday ahead of the second test at Wellington Regional Stadium.

"I always wanted to be like him."

Naholo and Lienert-Brown in for All Blacks as injuries force Hansen's hand

Hansen's hand has been forced by injuries sustained by full-back Ben Smith and centre Ryan Crotty in their 30-15 win in the first Test in Auckland last Saturday.

Smith failed a head-injury assessment while Crotty suffered a hamstring strain.

As a result Israel Dagg moves from wing to full-back with Naholo, a try scorer in Highlanders' 23-22 victory over the Lions, taking his spot out wide. Lienert-Brown comes in for Crotty at outside centre.

Kaino - No intent to injure Murray

Lions coach Warren Gatland expressed his anger at the treatment received by his scrum-half during the All Blacks' 30-15 victory at the weekend.

Kaino was one player highlighted for focusing on Murray after a lunging tackle on the Ireland international's standing leg as he kicked from the back of the scrum.

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen was quick to defend his players on Monday and Kaino has reiterated there was no specific plan to take out Murray.

"No, it's never our intent to go out and injure someone," Kaino said ahead of Saturday's second Test.

Gatland says All Blacks targeting Lions halfback

Gatland said he's concerned his halfback Connor Murray was unfairly targeted during the Auckland test.

Ahead of the first test, Gatland asked the referees to look at what he claimed was the All Blacks using "blocking" tactics to protect kicking receivers.

He said he'll now be going back to the officials again in the next few days about some of the attention given to his form Irish halfback Connor Murray on Saturday night.

All Blacks beat Lions to take one-nil series lead

They now have a one-nil lead in the three-Test series.

The first half at Eden Park was a tight affair, but the British and Irish Lions were not able to capitalise on their opportunities in the second period.

The All Blacks survived an early scare after a Jonathan Davies line-break and a good run by Conor Murray, but Israel Dagg was able to hold Elliot Daly off the line with a superb tackle

First blood went to the All Blacks when the Lions were pinged at the ruck. Beauden Barrett kicked the penalty to put the first points on the board.

Fit-again Read and Ioane to start against Lions

Read has not played since April due a broken thumb, but the All Blacks skipper has recovered in time to feature against Warren Gatland's men in Auckland.

Ardie Savea drops to the bench to accommodate Read at number eight, while Ioane gets his first start on the left wing as Julian Savea misses out completely.

Centre Ryan Crotty also returns from injury to take his place in Steve Hansen's team, so Anton Lienert-Brown is among the replacements for the opening Test of three.

O'Mahony to captain Lions, Farrell starts ahead of Sexton

Tour captain Sam Warburton skippered the Lions in the first two Tests against Australia in 2013 before injury ruled him out of the decisive third match. 

And the Wales flanker, who has carried a knee injury into the tour, must make do with a place among the substitutes against New Zealand at Auckland's Eden Park.

In his absence, Ireland's O'Mahony has secured the prestigious honour of leading the tourists versus the reigning world champions.

Rennie has confidence in All Blacks

The Lions overcame successive midweek losses to the Blues and Highlanders to control the game, force the Chiefs into errors and shut down their attack before they ran out 34-6 winners in Hamilton.

"They dominated up front. We battled to get our lineout going. Our scrum. And they punished us for it," Rennie said.

"(But) the All Blacks will play the way they play, they will back themselves and their skill set to challenge the Lions.

All Blacks not focusing on referee

Lions coach Warren Gatland said New Zealand teams were deliberately blocking and holding players back to give the first five more time to clear the ball and he's mentioned it to the referees.

However Kaino says sticking to their game plan is the key to All Black success over a Lions outfit, who hit their straps against a strong New Zealand Maori side on Saturday.

Kaino says the All Blacks will simply have to adapt to how referee Jaco Peyper is going to officiate in the up-coming test.

"We have a game that we want to play and we will play that as well as we can.