The Lions secured the series with some late drama with Hugo Keenan diving over to secure the lead for the Lions late on that saw them win 29-26. There was a TMO intervention for a clear out on replacement Colin Tizzano but both the TMO and referee Andrea Piardi saw nothing wrong with Jac Morgan’s tackle, it was a hit across the shoulders with no contact to the head of Tizzano.
Australia came to play in this game and Joe Schmidt’s hand prints can be seen all over this performance lead by Rob Valentini and Will Skelton up front. They flew out of the blocks and lead 6-0 before the Lions responded through Dan Sheehan which went unconverted that made it 6-5.
Australia kept coming through Joespeh Aukuso Suaalii and Len Ikitau who both showed incoming coach Les Kiss that they will happily go forward at all available opportunities. Joe Schmidt will likely know the loss through injuruy of Skelton and Valentini didn’t help the cause even though Langi Gleeson played manfully when he came on as did Jeremy Williams.
Australia showed today that they can perform, they will want to back today up with another strong showing in Sydney. It will be very tough for them to go again given the manner of the defeat today but they will also know that they have the Australian public back onside and that will be a big help over the next few months with the game next Saturday as well as the Rugby Championship on the horizon.
From a Lions perspective, it is another Series win in Australia 12 years on from the last win in 2013. A drawn series in 2017 and the Covid hit series in 2021 means that the Lions brand will stay intact for New Zealand in 2029.
Andy Farrell has now won a series in New Zealand with Ireland, two Lions series in Australia one as assistant coach and today as head coach, a grand slam with Ireland in 2023 and a Championship win in 2024.
His stock as a coach has again shot through the roof not forgetting the impact of Richard Wigglesworth, Jonathan Sexton, Simon Easterby, John Fogarty, Andrew Goodman and John Denizel in the coaching team.
Yes, the Lions will always have it detractors and always be questioned as to its place in the modern professional game but the game again today highlighted why it still matters. Australia will be proud of the effort even though they came up short they led right up until the 79th minute and then Hugo Keenan crashed over to seal a famous win.
Rugby Union is also a winner today as the performance from both sides showed that this series that has been lambasted as a bastion of a bygone era, is still worth its place in the rugby calendar.
The scrum was a huge factor in the Lions win and John Fogarty can take bow for the hard work he put into to get his charges up for the fight.
The series has been secured and now you can be sure the Lions will want to win 3-0 to cement the legacy of this campaign. The team selection next week will be dictated by the body count once celebrations subside.
Will men like Garry Ringrose and Sione Tuipulotu get a look in or will Mr Farrell stick with Aki and Jones. The aim will be now to go 3-0 if they can so I feel you won’t see too many changes barring injury intervening over the last week of the tour.
It has been a slow burner for the majority of people and as I mentioned the tour has taken plenty of flak from the outside but rugby union defiantly won the battle for the back pages in Australia for 1 day at least.
The aim of the tour has been achieved and now they can fully focus on trying to whitewash Australia who will have to dust themselves down and try and focus on the final game before the Rugby Championship will loom into view…
Australia like the Lions may have to make a few changes owing to injury and or form for test 3 in Sydney. Both sides still have plenty to play for in that third game so while the series has been secured you can sure Australia will want to stop the chances of a 3-0 whitewash….
Congrats to Andy Farrell, his squad and support staff for securing Series win, Maro Itoje joins the likes of Martin Johnston, Sam Warburton and Willie John Mc Bride in captaining a winning Lions squad in a series…… Test 3 is next Saturday August 2nd at 11am in Sydney.