Melbourne witnessed an epic encounter, a match that culminated in a direct blow to the heart of Australian rugby, delivered by the Irishman Hugo Keenan.
The British and Irish Lions sealed their first series victory since 2013, repeating the triumph of their last visit to Australia. They overcame a 23-5 deficit in the first half to beat the Wallabies 29-26 in front of 90,307 spectators at the MCG.
Australian fans will remember tonight with regret, probably for the next 12 years. For the red-clad supporters, it was a complete celebration, with Keenan finishing an exciting Lions offensive, which spanned 12 phases. He scored the decisive try by dodging Len Ikitau and crossing the try line with only 50 seconds remaining.
Tension rose as officials reviewed a possible illegal contact to the head of Wallabies replacement Carlo Tizzano. However, Italian referee Andrea Piardi remained calm and, along with his colleagues, determined that Jac Morgan’s action was legal.
Despite the final drama, the match lived up to the occasion and the crowd that filled Australia’s largest stadium, and surely one of the best in the world. The fans, both red and gold, arrived from the city overnight, having filled the pubs and clubs of Melbourne in the preceding days. They witnessed an exciting match, worthy of any iconic sporting event held at the ‘G’. The final result is a harsh defeat for the Wallabies. When the debate over Morgan’s action subsides, Australian fans will reflect on how their team, after reaching a 23-5 lead, failed to secure the victory. Australia could only add three more points from the 29th minute, with two missed conversions by Tom Lynagh that hurt the Wallabies. In his second start, the Wallabies’ number 10 had another difficult night, marked by a Lynagh hit that allowed the Lions to get back into the game. Australia dominated the first half, except for a dubious try by Lions hooker Dan Sheehan, showing the best rugby of the Schmidt era. But the Lions’ determination and execution were impeccable, especially at the end, overcoming the Wallabies with five tries against three and looking more dangerous in attack for much of the match. The Lions captain, Maro Itoje, was named man of the match, displaying heroic defense with 20 tackles and winning an important penalty in the second half. He was supported by Tadhg Beirne and Jack Conan, while the front row, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, gave it their all before being substituted.“You can’t hit someone above shoulder level and without a grip with the left arm, with the hand on the ground, that’s what we’ve seen and we’ve reviewed several replays from different angles. So it is what it is, we have to accept it.”
Joe Schmidt
Previously, a large crowd witnessed an exciting first half in which it seemed that Australia could gain an insurmountable advantage. The Wallabies started strongly, allowing Lynagh to take them to a 6-0 lead.
But the Lions responded, taking advantage of their first possession to play to the corner and advance through their forwards for the first try of the match. This came from hooker Sheehan. The Wallabies regained their initial dominance, advancing in phases in the opposing field. Rob Valetini and Will Skelton were fundamental, while Slipper and captain Harry Wilson also stood out.
