A loss? So what? One massive All Black scrum is what it took to dismantle the Lions on the field, but it'll take an awful lot more resistance than that to stop the hordes of British supporters enjoying themselves in New Zealand.
We're used to having the British come down
here and throw their weight around - after all, it's how New Zealand was founded. These days, it's pretty hard to find a pub without a Brit or Irishman propping up the bar: the red army has taken over.
In the bars around Eden Park post match, the 30-15 defeat only an hour before had quickly escaped the minds of the many Lions supporters. One Englishman told me: "That was bound to happen. The All Blacks are the world champs, so fair play to them."
A crowd of Welshmen hotly debated the merits of Warren Gatland. They were ruefully seemed resigned to the New Zealander being the 'only one who wanted the job'.
No Scots in the Test 23, but there were scores sporting kilts. They seemed almost to have enjoyed the loss. As one said: "This wouldn't have happened if they'd had more of us in there."
