Ioane credits 'grit and guts' as All Blacks grind past Lions in scrappy Johannesburg win

Rieko Ioane scored twice in the second half to help the All Blacks survive a difficult midweek test against the Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, with Dave Rennie’s side relying on a comeback to secure the victory and extend their winning run.

The All Blacks started poorly and needed a significant lift from their bench — Xavier Numia, Bradley Slater, Saula Ma’u, and Jamie Hannah all made important contributions — before Ioane helped turn the game. His first try came from a Beauden Barrett tip-on pass that sent him through a large gap in the Lions’ defence. He added a second in the 55th minute, picking off an intercept to put the result beyond doubt.

“Oh man, it was [tough]. Look, it wasn’t the way we wanted to start,” Ioane said post-match. “We said we want to start fast. But look, honestly, I’m just super proud of the effort, the grit and guts that the boys showed to come from so far down and keep our win streak alive.”

The 88-Test back was left out of the All Blacks’ squad for the first Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, but he insisted his focus remains on contributing wherever needed. “Wherever my role is for the team, that’s what I’m doing, and I’ll do it to the best of my ability,” he said.

Ioane brought useful prior knowledge of the Lions into the contest, having faced them earlier this year with Leinster. This was his third meeting with the South African franchise in 2025, and he acknowledged they posed a stiff challenge despite being less affected by international call-ups than other opponents.

“This is my third time playing this Lions team, and I sort of knew coming into this game that they were probably the least affected in terms of international selection,” Ioane explained. “So they’re a tight-knit group, and every single game I played them this year, it’s been tight. Probably not as tight as that, but look, they’re such a quality side.”

The win keeps the All Blacks’ momentum intact ahead of the Test series, though the performance will give Rennie cause for reflection given the slow start and the reliance on second-half impact players to see the game out.