Additions to the squad

Injured England players Jonny Wilkinson, Phil Vickery and Mike Tindall were pencilled in to be added to the squad, subject to them regaining fitness. Only Wilkinson subsequently did so and was called up on 8 May.

Additional players were called up when players suffered injury (and in one case a ban) during the tour proper:

• Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons and England) – added 8 May
• Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks and England) – added 17 May for Iain Balshaw^[5]
• Simon Shaw (Wasps and England) – added 2 June for Malcolm O'Kelly^[6]
• Simon Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets and Ireland) – added 4 June for Lawrence Dallaglio^[7]
• Ryan Jones (Ospreys and Wales) – added 10 June for Simon Taylor^[8]
• Brent Cockbain (Ospreys and Wales) – added 26 June for Danny Grewcock, who was banned for two months after biting Keven Mealamu during the first test.^[9]
• Jason White (Sale Sharks and Scotland) – added 27 June for Richard Hill^[10]

Argentina

The Lions played Argentina in a warm-up test match at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 23 May. The Pumas were without 25 players who may have made their first-choice team due to club commitments and the Lions rested many of their top players to field a second-string line-up. Tour captain Brian O'Driscoll was rested, so Wales vice-captain Michael Owen took his place.

The Lions looked disjointed, turning the ball over 15 times in open play. Their pack was outplayed; the Pumas shoved them off their own scrum three times. The Lions also conceded five penalties for holding on to the ball while grounded, usually because their support failed to arrive in time. In the meantime, the Pumas played a match that was almost universally called "inspired" by rugby media worldwide. The Pumas led 19–16 at half-time, and could easily have been ahead by more. The main plus for the Lions was the performance of Jonny Wilkinson, making his first appearance against international opposition since the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final; Wilkinson set up the Lions' first try, converted it and kicked six penalties. His last penalty saved the Lions from defeat, salvaging a 25–25 draw in the eighth minute of stoppage time. The match was granted full test status by the IRB in 2006.^[27]

23 May 2005 20:00 BST

British & Irish Lions	25–25	Argentina
Try: Smith Con: Wilkinson Pen: Wilkinson (6)	Report	Try: Núñez Piossek Con: Todeschini Pen: Todeschini (6)

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 61,569 Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)

FB 15 Geordan Murphy RW 14 Denis Hickie OC 13 Ollie Smith IC 12 Gordon D'Arcy LW 11 Shane Williams FH 10 Jonny Wilkinson SH 9 Gareth Cooper N8 8 Michael Owen (c) OF 7 Lewis Moody BF 6 Martin Corry RL 5 Danny Grewcock LL 4 Donncha O'Callaghan TP 3 John Hayes HK 2 Shane Byrne LP 1 Graham Rowntree Replacements: HK 16 Steve Thompson PR 17 Julian White LK 18 Ben Kay N8 19 Lawrence Dallaglio SH 20 Chris Cusiter FH 21 Ronan O'Gara WG 22 Shane Horgan Coach: Sir Clive Woodward

FB 15 Bernardo Stortoni RW 14 José María Núñez Piossek OC 13 Lisandro Arbizu IC 12 Felipe Contepomi (c) LW 11 Francisco Leonelli FH 10 Federico Todeschini SH 9 Nicolás Fernández Miranda N8 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón OF 7 Martín Schusterman BF 6 Federico Genoud RL 5 Mariano Sambucetti LL 4 Pablo Bouza TP 3 Mauricio Reggiardo HK 2 Mario Ledesma LP 1 Federico Méndez Replacements: HK 16 Eusebio Guiñazú PR 17 Lucio de Chazal LK 18 Manuel Carizza FL 19 Santiago Sanz FH 20 Marcelo Bosch WG 21 Lucas Borges WG 22 Lucio López Fleming Coach: Marcelo Loffreda

Bay of Plenty Steamers

The first tour match was against the Bay of Plenty Steamers on 4 June in Rotorua. The Lions started the match strongly, with Josh Lewsey scoring a try after two minutes and then a second four minutes later. The Lions were up 17–0 after 11 minutes, but the Steamers recovered for a 17–17 half-time score. The Lions controlled the second half and won 34–20. A significant injury was the fractured ankle suffered by experienced back-rower Lawrence Dallaglio, who had to withdraw from the tour.

4 June 2005 19:10 NZST

Bay of Plenty Steamers	20–34	British & Irish Lions
Try: Williams Bourke Con: Williams (2) Pen: Williams (2)	Report	Try: Lewsey (2) Shanklin D'Arcy Peel Cueto Con: O'Gara (2)

Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Attendance: 33,000[28] Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand

Taranaki

Taranaki hosted the Lions at New Plymouth on 8 June. The first half was closely fought in more ways than one, as the Lions' Danny Grewcock and Taranaki's Paul Tito came to blows. The Amber-and-Blacks had a 7–6 lead at half-time, but soon after the break Martin Corry scored a try for the Lions. Shortly afterwards, Taranaki's Andrew Hore was sin-binned for holding the ball, and the Lions took control. Consensus man of the match Charlie Hodgson kicked two penalties during Hore's absence, and the Lions kept their momentum even after Hore returned. Shane Horgan added a try and Geordan Murphy two as the Lions won 36–14.

8 June 2005

Taranaki	14–36	British & Irish Lions
Try: Masoe Watt Con: Young (2)	Report	Try: Corry Horgan Murphy (2) Con: Hodgson (2) Pen: Hodgson (4)

Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth

New Zealand Maori

The match against the New Zealand Maori at Hamilton on 11 June promised to be the most competitive test lead-up, being billed by rugby media as virtually a fourth test. In the first half, the Maori had the better of possession and tackling, but the Lions had the better of the set-pieces, and the half ended 6–6.

Just before the break, Lions prop Andrew Sheridan was sin-binned for punching Maori fly-half Luke McAlister. When the sin-bin period ended, Sheridan was replaced by Gethin Jenkins. A McAlister penalty shortly afterwards, a Leon MacDonald try (converted by McAlister) and then a second McAlister penalty gave the Maori a 19–6 lead. The last 15 minutes were the Lions' best period, rewarded by a Brian O'Driscoll try, which was converted by Stephen Jones. The Lions threatened strongly, but the Maori, inspired by their replacement fly-half Carlos Spencer and stalwart captain Jono Gibbes held on for a 19–13 win – their first ever over the Lions.

11 June 2005

New Zealand Maori	19–13	British & Irish Lions
Try: MacDonald Con: McAlister Pen: Hill (2) McAlister (2)	Report	Try: O'Driscoll Con: S. Jones Pen: S. Jones (2)

Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

Wellington Lions

After the loss to the Maori, the Lions went to Wellington to take on the city's NPC side, the Wellington Lions, on 15 June. The British & Irish Lions team was selected primarily from players in contention for the test team, including Jonny Wilkinson in his first tour match.

The British & Irish Lions had most of the possession and scoring chances, but committed numerous unforced errors when points looked likely. Tries came from Gethin Jenkins and Gareth Thomas, both converted by Wilkinson, who also scored three penalties. The British & Irish Lions' 23–6 win, while seemingly showing their tour was back on track, left almost as many questions as answers. In post-match comments, O'Driscoll said, "The ball was like a bar of soap out there and both sides made a lot of unforced errors." Wellington Lions coach John Plumtree remarked, "The All Blacks would have put 50 or 60 points on us."

15 June 2005

Wellington Lions	6–23	British & Irish Lions
Pen: Gopperth (2)	Report	Try: Jenkins Thomas Con: Wilkinson (2) Pen: Wilkinson (3)

Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington

Otago

In their first appearance in the South Island, the Lions played Otago on 18 June at Carisbrook in Dunedin. The stadium is known to visiting teams as the "House of Pain", particularly for the Lions, who had lost games to the Otago side on four previous tours.

Otago began strongly and the Lions were penalised four times in the first 11 minutes, Otago converting two. The Lions' stronger scrum play brought them back into the game, and the first half was closely fought, ending 13–13. The Lions clearly had the momentum, as Will Greenwood scored a try, converted by Charlie Hodgson, just before the break.

Otago took a 16–13 lead shortly after half-time, but strong Lions scrum play led to a try from man of the match Ryan Jones, who put himself in contention for a test position. The try and Hodgson's conversion gave the Lions a solid, though far from insurmountable, lead. Otago rallied to 20–19 with a penalty, but the Lions pulled away soon afterwards. A Hodgson penalty and a try from Shane Williams converted by Hodgson took the final margin to 30–19.

18 June 2005

Otago	19–30	British & Irish Lions
Try: Lee Con: Evans Pen: Evans (4)	Report	Try: Greenwood R. Jones S. Williams Con: Hodgson (3) Pen: Hodgson (3)

Carisbrook, Dunedin

Southland Stags

The Southland match at Invercargill on 21 June was the last before the first test. Lions coach Clive Woodward announced that no players in the night's line-up would play in the test.

In the first 15 minutes, the Lions looked formidable as they took an early 10–0 lead over the Stags, keyed by a Gavin Henson try. However, they became disjointed and by half-time had turned over the ball 14 times and were considered lucky to be ahead 10–3 at the break.

The first few minutes of the second half were even worse for the Lions, as Hale T-Pole scored a converted try. Woodward immediately substituted four players to settle down his team. T-Pole made an interception to save a Mark Cueto try, but the Lions kept the pressure on, and Henson scored his second try. The Lions then changed tactics, choosing to kick for territory more often, and were never truly threatened again, winning by 26–16.

21 June 2005

Southland Stags	16–26	British & Irish Lions
Try: T-Pole Con: Apanui Pen: Apanui (3)	Report	Try: Henson (2) Con: O'Gara (2) Pen: O'Gara (4)

Rugby Park, Invercargill

First test

Less than two minutes into the first test, the Lions lost their captain Brian O'Driscoll to injury after a joint tackle by New Zealand captain Tana Umaga and hooker Keven Mealamu. At a ruck, they attempted to clear O'Driscoll by each lifting one of his legs before driving him into the ground. O'Driscoll twisted his body as he came down to avoid landing on his head, but that meant most of the force went through his shoulder, which was dislocated, ending his tour.^[29] Opinions differed on the incident; the Lions staff and many British and Irish commentators believed that it was an illegal spear tackle, and Lions coach Woodward reported the pair to the IRB's citing commissioner, William Venter. Venter decided, based on the video footage available, not to refer the matter to a disciplinary tribunal. New Zealand commentators largely took the view that the two All Blacks were just clearing out the ruck and had no intention to injure O'Driscoll. Referee Joël Jutge admitted in 2017 that he should have shown at least one red card to Umaga and Mealamu for the tackle.^[29]

Eight minutes into the game, Dan Carter opened the scoring for the All Blacks with a penalty. Three minutes later, the Lions suffered a further blow when Paul O'Connell was sin-binned for a professional foul, and Carter kicked the penalty. Already a player short, the Lions then lost Richard Hill to injury. Ali Williams scored the first New Zealand try shortly after O'Connell returned, and the half ended with the Lions down 11–0.

Carter kicked a penalty in the second half, followed by a converted try from Sitiveni Sivivatu to end the All Blacks' scoring, and Jonny Wilkinson kicked a penalty in the 56th minute to provide the Lions with their only points of the night. The 21–3 win was considered by almost every commentator to be even more one-sided than the score indicated. The Lions' sloppy set-piece play included ten losses of their own line-outs.

It was announced after the match that, in addition to O'Driscoll, two more injured Lions were out for the rest of the tour – Hill from the incident during the match, and Tom Shanklin for inflammation from an existing knee injury. Danny Grewcock was also suspended for two months after he was cited for biting All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu.

25 June 2005 19:00 NZST

New Zealand	21–3	British & Irish Lions
Try: Sivivatu Williams Con: Carter Pen: Carter (3)	Report	Pen: Wilkinson

Lancaster Park, Christchurch Attendance: 37,200[30] Referee: Joël Jutge (France)

FB 15 Leon MacDonald RW 14 Doug Howlett OC 13 Tana Umaga (c) IC 12 Aaron Mauger LW 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu FH 10 Dan Carter SH 9 Justin Marshall N8 8 Rodney So'oialo OF 7 Richie McCaw BF 6 Jerry Collins RL 5 Ali Williams LL 4 Chris Jack TP 3 Carl Hayman HK 2 Keven Mealamu LP 1 Tony Woodcock Replacements: HK 16 Derren Witcombe PR 17 Greg Somerville FL 18 Jono Gibbes FL 19 Sione Lauaki SH 20 Byron Kelleher FB 21 Mils Muliaina WG 22 Rico Gear Coach: Graham Henry

FB 15 Jason Robinson RW 14 Josh Lewsey OC 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c) IC 12 Jonny Wilkinson LW 11 Gareth Thomas FH 10 Stephen Jones SH 9 Dwayne Peel N8 8 Martin Corry OF 7 Neil Back BF 6 Richard Hill RL 5 Ben Kay LL 4 Paul O'Connell TP 3 Julian White HK 2 Shane Byrne LP 1 Gethin Jenkins Replacements: HK 16 Steve Thompson PR 17 Graham Rowntree LK 18 Danny Grewcock N8 19 Ryan Jones SH 20 Matt Dawson CE 21 Will Greenwood WG 22 Shane Horgan Coach: Sir Clive Woodward

Manawatu Turbos

The Lions scored their first convincing tour victory in this game at Palmerston North against NPC second division side Manawatu Turbos, winning 109–6. They led 38–6 at half time and scored 71 unanswered points in the second. Welshman Shane Williams scored five tries to help the Lions post their all-time record score in New Zealand, surpassing their 64–5 victory over Marlborough/Nelson 46 years earlier. In addition to Williams' five, the Lions' tries were scored by Ronan O'Gara (2), Mark Cueto (2), Geordan Murphy, Charlie Hodgson, Jason Robinson, Martin Corry, Neil Back, Gareth Cooper, Gordon D'Arcy and Ollie Smith, with Manawatu restricted to two Jonathan Hargreaves penalties. Lock Donncha O'Callaghan and flanker Martyn Williams were substituted at half-time but had impressed enough to secure test selection for the following Saturday. Murphy also impressed at full-back, but it was Shane Williams, with elusive running and awareness, who most thrilled Lions supporters.

28 June 2005

Manawatu Turbos	6–109	British & Irish Lions
Pen: Hargreaves (2)	Report	Try: S. Williams (5) Corry Murphy Robinson Hodgson Smith Back D'Arcy O'Gara (2) Cueto (2) Cooper Con: Hodgson (7) O'Gara (5)

Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North

Second test

From the high point against Manawatu, the Lions fell to a low in the second test at Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington on 2 July, losing 48–18 and conceding the highest number of points against a New Zealand team in a test. Woodward selected a radically different test squad from the one that had been embarrassed in Christchurch a week earlier, replacing eleven players. Key to the Lions' hopes of staying in the series was Woodward's decision to add several of the Welsh team that won the Grand Slam in the 2005 Six Nations.

The Lions started strongly, with captain Gareth Thomas scoring a try under the posts and Jonny Wilkinson converting two minutes in. A minute later, Wilkinson hit the post with a penalty attempt, but gathering the rebound the Lions were in a good attacking position when Paul O'Connell was penalised for diving over a ruck. The All Blacks settled down and then scored through two Dan Carter penalties before he set up their first try, racing 50 metres off a turnover before offloading to captain Tana Umaga to score near the posts. Although the rest of the half remained close, the All Blacks went into the break with a 21–13 lead. The second half turned into a showcase for New Zealand in general and Carter in particular. He scored two tries, converted three, kicked two penalties, and constantly kept the Lions on the back foot with his distribution. Flanker Richie McCaw powered his way over for a try after Carter missed a hat trick by a matter of inches. Rugby media were in virtually unanimous agreement that the Lions were greatly improved and that the All Blacks were dominant. Carter's tally of 33 points broke the all-time record for points by an All Black against the Lions.

2 July 2005 19:00 NZST

New Zealand	48–18	British & Irish Lions
Try: Carter (2) McCaw Sivivatu Umaga Con: Carter (4) Pen: Carter (5)	Report	Try: Easterby Thomas Con: Wilkinson Pen: Wilkinson (2)

Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 39,800[31] Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)

FB 15 Mils Muliaina RW 14 Rico Gear OC 13 Tana Umaga (c) IC 12 Aaron Mauger LW 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu FH 10 Dan Carter SH 9 Byron Kelleher N8 8 Rodney So'oialo OF 7 Richie McCaw BF 6 Jerry Collins RL 5 Ali Williams LL 4 Chris Jack TP 3 Greg Somerville HK 2 Keven Mealamu LP 1 Tony Woodcock Replacements: HK 16 Derren Witcombe PR 17 Campbell Johnstone FL 18 Jono Gibbes FL 19 Sione Lauaki SH 20 Justin Marshall CE 21 Ma'a Nonu FB 22 Leon MacDonald Coach: Graham Henry

FB 15 Josh Lewsey RW 14 Jason Robinson OC 13 Gareth Thomas (c) IC 12 Gavin Henson LW 11 Shane Williams FH 10 Jonny Wilkinson SH 9 Dwayne Peel N8 8 Ryan Jones OF 7 Lewis Moody BF 6 Simon Easterby RL 5 Donncha O'Callaghan LL 4 Paul O'Connell TP 3 Julian White HK 2 Steve Thompson LP 1 Gethin Jenkins Replacements: HK 16 Shane Byrne PR 17 Graham Rowntree FL 18 Martin Corry FL 19 Martyn Williams SH 20 Matt Dawson FH 21 Stephen Jones WG 22 Shane Horgan Coach: Sir Clive Woodward

Auckland

Having lost the test series on the previous Saturday, the midweek Lions came to Eden Park with something to prove. The match was marked by the Lions' inability to find touch and Auckland's willingness to attack. Auckland gave up some guaranteed points from early penalties to take the Lions on in set piece play. Auckland tighthead prop John Afoa was denied a try after a tap and run saw him held up in goal. A series of handling errors throughout the first half let Auckland down and saw the Lions to a 14–3 lead at the half. The second half saw the Lions give away points to a stoic Auckland pack and the scoreline was narrowed to 14–13 Lions lead. A late Ronan O'Gara penalty saw the Lions extend to a four-point winning margin of 17–13. This victory completed a clean sweep of matches for the midweek Lions against host unions throughout New Zealand.

5 July 2005

Auckland	13–17	British & Irish Lions
Try: Nacewa Con: Ward Pen: Ward (2)	Report	Try: M. Williams Pen: Hodgson O'Gara (3)

Eden Park, Auckland

Third test

Following two early penalties by Stephen Jones, the Lions led 6–0 and things looked promising for them. All Black captain Tana Umaga was sin-binned for killing the ball, but even without their captain, the All Blacks managed to score two tries, by Conrad Smith and Ali Williams, both converted by Luke McAlister. The Lions were awarded two more penalties, which Stephen Jones kicked, but just before the break, Umaga scored a try to give the All Blacks a half-time lead of 24–12.

Seven minutes into the second half Umaga scored another try. Soon after, scrum-half Byron Kelleher was replaced by Justin Marshall, who then played his final half-hour of All Black rugby. Another All Black try was thwarted when Jerry Collins was sin-binned for a late tackle. The All Blacks then spent several minutes defending as the Lions pushed towards the line from within ten meters, and after a long struggle Lewis Moody managed to score, making it 31–19. Both sides made errors that cost them tries. Sitiveni Sivivatu had two very close calls but it was Rico Gear who followed his own deep kick to toe the ball over the line and score a fine individual try. McAlister converted, giving him a 100 percent kicking rate, to make the full-time score 38–19.

9 July 2005 19:00 NZST

New Zealand	38–19	British & Irish Lions
Try: Gear Smith Umaga (2) Williams Con: McAlister (5) Pen: McAlister	Report	Try: Moody Con: S. Jones Pen: S. Jones (4)

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 48,533[32] Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

FB 15 Mils Muliaina RW 14 Rico Gear OC 13 Conrad Smith IC 12 Tana Umaga (c) LW 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu FH 10 Luke McAlister SH 9 Byron Kelleher N8 8 Sione Lauaki OF 7 Rodney So'oialo BF 6 Jerry Collins RL 5 Ali Williams LL 4 Chris Jack TP 3 Greg Somerville HK 2 Keven Mealamu LP 1 Tony Woodcock Replacements: HK 16 Derren Witcombe PR 17 Campbell Johnstone LK 18 James Ryan FL 19 Marty Holah SH 20 Justin Marshall FH 21 Nick Evans WG 22 Doug Howlett Coach: Graham Henry

FB 15 Geordan Murphy RW 14 Mark Cueto OC 13 Will Greenwood IC 12 Gareth Thomas (c) LW 11 Josh Lewsey FH 10 Stephen Jones SH 9 Dwayne Peel N8 8 Ryan Jones OF 7 Lewis Moody BF 6 Simon Easterby RL 5 Paul O'Connell LL 4 Donncha O'Callaghan TP 3 Julian White HK 2 Shane Byrne LP 1 Gethin Jenkins Replacements: HK 16 Gordon Bulloch PR 17 Graham Rowntree FL 18 Martin Corry FL 19 Martyn Williams SH 20 Matt Dawson FH 21 Ronan O'Gara WG 22 Shane Horgan Coach: Sir Clive Woodward