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Australia (8) 22
Cons: Donaldson 2 Pen: Lynagh
British and Irish Lions (12):
The Wallabies shocked the British and Irish Lions with a riotous victory in the third and final Test at Stadium Australia, which was followed by a 40-minute suspension of play due to torrential rain and lightning strikes in Sydney.
The Lions won the game by three tries to one against the hosts, and the underdogs, in a dramatic finale. At the conclusion of a fiery opening period, they scored an 8-0 try and penalty from Tom Lynagh and Dylan Pietsch.
In a cruelly physical contest that was played in abominable conditions, Maro Itoje, Tommy Freeman, and Tom Lynagh from Australia all failed to have their head injuries evaluated.
Dan Sheehan appeared to catch him in the head at a breakdown, prompting Lynagh’s exit. James Ryan was knocked unconscious in a distressing incident where his head collided with Will Skelton, the giant lock, after the restart.
A number of fights broke out around Ryan as he received treatment, before play was suspended in response to a lightning-related incident. The final thirty-three minutes had passed.
Both teams returned to the field for a warm-up after 30 minutes of unrest. Ten minutes later, the Wallabies again took the field when the Lions gave wing Max Jorgensen a chance to score in the corner.
Australia won 15-0 after substituting Ben Donaldson for him. The Wallabies quickly responded to the try and conversion of Jac Morgan, who had an eight-point lead.
Tate McDermott scored the Wallabies’ third try while Ronan Kelleher was in the sin-bin. A thunderous home win was secured thanks to Donaldson’s conversion. In the Lions’ final act, Will Stuart scored. Too little, too late.
From Melbourne’s free-scoring wonder to a serious scrap in Sydney, the conditions were brutally difficult and created a stark contrast. Every collision was brutal, every inch of the road. Without the Wallabies’ demonic strength, the rain might have been a great leveller.
It was typified by Will Skelton. The Lions have not gotten back to him despite the series’ him being on the field. How many things could have been deemed fit for the first Test in Brisbane. He was close.
The prop was incredible, especially since Taniela Tupou was playing for the first time in this series. Nobody told the Wallabies if that late drama in Melbourne had broken their spirits, but they lost the series last week. In the first half of the deluge, the hosts lost a close fight, and they ultimately won.
After five minutes, Hugo Keenan carried a Tom Wright grubber over his own line. Australia’s Scrum. Australia, phases. Australia, give it a try.
Freeman was spotted in no-man’s land, but Joseph Suaalii’s effort to hold the Lions defense before offloading to Pietsch was outstanding. The winger’s acrobatic finish was also impressive in the circumstances.
Pietsch, who had already played zero minutes in the series, was a force-hitting force like a man. The Wallabies were driven in the same way.
It was attrition the entire way when it wasn’t a kicking contest. There was a lot of aggravation. There were a few melees that broke out. There was a certain degree of evil. Dead rubber a chance .
Now that Tupou was back in the front row, the Lions couldn’t get anything going. Their highly praised scrum was being pulverized. How Joe Schmidt, the head coach of the Wallaby, must regret some of his selection choices in this series.
The Lions’ failures of Itoje’s and Freeman’s failed HIA, with center Huw Jones now converting to the wing, made matters worse. Lynagh, an Australian fly-half, also failed an HIA, so there will be recriminations. In Itjoje’s absence, Lynagh appeared to have taken Dan Sheehan’s place as the Lions captain.
Ryan was pictured taking a Skelton knee to the head while trying to tackle him and falling unconscious in the first half of the new year. A total accident, but Ryan’s treatment on the pitch for a while before being taken off on a stretcher was a spectacle.
What made the “entertainment” crowd of the stadium’s “experience” play Sweet Caroline while Ryan was being cared for boggles the mind?
Soon after Ryan’s removal, there was more drama. In the area, there is lightening. Players are being taken off the field. Supporters instructed to leave the seats that are closest to the field when they are exposed. The game had only lasted 43 minutes. In the air of Sydney, there was a sense of foreboding.
As the Lions turned the screw, Nick Frost snuck two lineouts. When Owen Farrell, Blair Kinghorn, and Bundee Aki launched an attack, the Lions were forced to move themselves in a terrible muddle. Aki fumbled, overran Kinghorn’s pass, and Jorgensen gathered and ran away with the score. With the boot, Donaldson made it 15-0 to Lynagh.
When Morgan went over in close-range explosions, he gave the visitors some hope. With plenty of time left, Russell cut the gap to eight.
However, capitulating wasn’t the Wallabies’ idea. They were in trouble inside their own 22 after Morgan’s high tackle. Ronan Kelleher then stepped up and was sacked. McDermott curled over while he was away, with Donaldson scoring 22-7.
Line-ups
Replacements: Kellaway, Bell, Nonggorr, Williams, Gleeson, McDermott, Donaldson, and Paenga-Amosa.
Keenan, Freeman, Jones, Aki, Kinghorn, Russell, Gibson-Park, Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje (capt), Ryan, Beirne, Curry, Conan, and the Irish Lions.
Officials of matches
Ben O’Keeffe (NZ) and Andrea Piardi (Ita) serve as assistant referees.
Marius Jonker (SA) TMO
related subjects
- Irish Lions and British &
- Rugby Union
