Sport lost in Lions money machine

In the modern game of international rugby, the anachronistic Lions tour has had its day

Sonny Bill Williams of the All Blacks is tackled by Owen Farrell and Ben Te’o of the Lions during the first test match between the All Blacks and the British & Irish Lions at Eden Park yesterday in Auckland, New Zealand. Picture: Getty

In the end, the power was just too much. And the skill. And the athleticism. And the belief. And the creativity. And the power again . . .

New Zealand can take the game of rugby to a different level. The British & Irish Lions discovered that yesterday. The final score was 30 points to 15. The Lions battled and they fought. But the onslaught was just too much, too relentless, too ruthless.