FORMER Thornbury Bronco ace Mako Vunipola came off after 58 minutes of a dramatic final Test between the British and Irish Lions and New Zealand which ended in a 15-15 draw.

The teams went into the series at one Test each, and the drawn series means the Lions came the closest they have for 45 years to winning a series in New Zealand.

It is also the first drawn Lions series since the 1955 trip to South Africa which was tied 2-2. Indeed, in the epic four-Test series 2-1 victory for the Lions in 1971, which featured legends like Wales Barry John and Bristol hooker John Pullin, the final match was also drawn by one point less than Saturday’s clash – 14-14.

But the Lions were lucky at the end when referee Romain Poite gave accidently offside in the Lions favour in the last minute when New Zealand claimed a deliberate offside which would have lead to a chance to win the match with a last penalty for the All Blacks.

New Zealand captain Keiran Read was fuming with the official at the end but, with such a crucial decision which could have decided the series, Lions skipper Sam Warburton insisted that the referee should check with the TMO to look at the video replay and check it out.

Poite decided it was accidently offside and, within seconds, the final whistle went.

New Zealand, who were shut out from scoring tries in the second Test, went over twice from centre Ngani Laumape and full-back Jordie Barrett, with fly-half Beauden Barrett, who missed several kicks at goal, adding a penalty and conversion.

The Lions grabbed points from three Owen Farrell penalties and a massive kick from half-way from wing Elliot Daly.