McGeechan’s midweek marvels

IAN McGEECHAN’S midweek Lions dug deep to end their tour unbeaten with a passionate and committed performance at Eden Park against a talented but over-ambitious Auckland outfit.

McGeechan's side had lifted the tour out of a hole last Tuesday in Palmerston North, when a 100-plus point rout of Manawatu rescued morale after the first Test defeat. But Auckland required a very different approach.

Boasting seven internationals in their starting line-up, including rocket man Joe Rokocoko on the wing, Auckland were regarded as the toughest of the midweek provincial sides, and they lived up to the billing.