WESTPAC STADIUM, Wellington -- The true significance of the draw between the British & Irish Lions and Hurricanes will only be put into perspective for the tourists at the end of the series.
This was the last chance for players to push their Test cases, and send a reminder to the coaching staff that they can be more than midweek numbers ahead of Saturday's second Test here in Wellington.
Players impressed, but by the end of the game, the Lions were nursing weary legs. Warren Gatland again decided to use the 'geography six' only when his hand was forced and as the Hurricanes got on the front foot and started to play their razzle-dazzle rugby, the Lions failed to cope with the tempo.
At times it felt like a preseason friendly but did not lack for entertainment. The second half was wonderful and as the Hurricanes hauled their way back to level-pegging with eight minutes left, the whole stadium grew with them. The passionate atmosphere was the best of the tour to date.
The Hurricanes played well in parts as did the Lions. For the hosts Jordie Barrett and Julian Savea showed flourishes of brilliance while Ngani Laumape also caused havoc. But their best players were in the pack with the back-row impressive and Vaea Fifita immense.
For the Lions, their second-rows stood up but questions remain for Gatland, such as the George North conundrum. Can you judge North's Test credentials when he spends 60 minutes out of position? Here's what the Lions would have taken away from a chilly night in Wellington.
Henderson and Lawes state their claim
This was the second-rows' game. Both Courtney Lawes and Iain Henderson were superb, but the latter's yellow card may prove costly for his Test chances.
Both contributed well in the loose, showed deft hands -- it was Henderson's offload that put North over -- while Lawes threw a miss-pass in the build up to Henderson's effort that was ruled out for no clear evidence of grounding.
But the yellow card given for Henderson's tip tackle will be a negative mark against his name, and the 'Canes punished his indiscretion with two tries while he was in the sin-bin. It will not have been lost on Gatland.
That it was Lawes taken off after 53 minutes suggests it is he who is in pole position to feature on Saturday. He could well start.
Both will look back on the tour so far with pangs of regret or frustration. Henderson's Test chances were harmed in their underwhelming opener against the NZ Provincial Barbarians and his yellow was unfortunate; Lawes' were interrupted by knocks to the head. But both have bounced back and do not rule out either playing further roles in this tour.
George North makes most of harsh hand
When North saw Leigh Halfpenny come on for the injured Robbie Henshaw, he'd have wondered exactly what he'd done to the rugby Gods. It meant he would be shifted to the centres, a position out of his comfort zone, meaning his chances of starting against the All Blacks were becoming an ever more distant dream.
But he did well, he showed plenty of hunger, scored one try and was back to his opportunist best to collect Henderson's offload, denied a second score by a foot in touch that will haunt him. Will it be enough to force his way in? He is still not at top form, but is improving. He still has that moment of magic in him like we saw in 2013, but he still faces an uphill battle.
Elsewhere across the backline, Jonathan Joseph was defensively sound while Jack Nowell showed plenty of hunger. Tommy Seymour did well to grab both his tries.
The 'geography six' remain an enigma
Like last week, the six players called up by Gatland were only used when their hand was forced. Finn Russell was a head injury replacement for Biggar, similar to last week when Allan Dell's match action was restricted to the 10 minutes Joe Marler was in the sin-bin.
It seems their role was limited to training, and making up the numbers. Barring a late change of heart, they will now return to their respective hemisphere with memories of a Lions tour, but only two will have played a part on the field.
CJ Stander and Joe Marler battle on
In the shake down of this tour, each player will inevitably be assessed on how they have played across the trip. But Joe Marler, Dan Cole, Rory Best and CJ Stander deserve praise for never stopping. At the start of the tour they would have harboured hope of playing in the Test series, their chance may still come but tonight was their last audition.
They did not take a step backwards, or show any let up in work rate. They brought physicality to the game, made key tackles and showed no fatigue. It was an impressive performance from them.