Match
Report
Australia vs British Lions
13:29
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1.
|
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Tom Smith
|
9.
|
 |
Robert Howley |
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2.
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Keith Wood |
10.
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Johnny Wilkinson |
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3.
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Phil Vickery |
11.
|
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Jason Robinson |
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4.
|
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Martin Johnson |
12.
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Rob Henderson |
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5.
|
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Danny Grewcock |
13.
|
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Brian O'Driscoll |
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6.
|
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Martin Corry |
14.
|
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Dafydd James |
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7.
|
 |
Richard Hill |
15.
|
 |
Matt Perry |
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8.
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Scott Quinnell | |||
| The tension and the build up in Brisbane was electric. The Lions have never lost a Test series in Australia and the pressure on this squad was amazing. The Lions ravaged by injuries took on an Australia side that is prepared mentally and physically, fit and ready to go. But all the hype, all the talking was over. It was time for the two teams to meet and the Lions won and won in style: 13-29. The scoreline does not tell the story of how outstanding a performance this was by the Lions.
And the Lions did not let us down. It was a huge, impressive and inspirational performance by the tourists. Australia had never beaten the Lions in Brisbane and on this form they never will.
The game started at a predictably break-neck speed with both sides trying to assert authority and pressure on the opposition. Both sides relying on the boot a little rather than running into territory and space, but neither side was giving an inch and there was little space to run into.
But it was not long before another chapter was added to the exceptional story of Jason Robinson's conversion to rugby union when he picked up an excellent pass from the fast and confident hands of Matt Perry and rounded Latham to score in the corner after just three minutes. It was an exceptional start for the Lions and an exceptional start for Robinson. We saw the true talent of the man and he clearly loved the score and enjoyed the celebration. It was perhaps made all the more sweet for Lions fans seeing the much-lauded Larkham lying prostrate on the ground as Robinson sped over to score. Jonny Wilkinson missed the conversersion which was a bit of a worry for the Lions, but it still gave them a 5-0 lead after three minutes.
This score did not just give the Lions a points lead over the Wallabies, it gave the tourists a huge psychological advantage over the Wallabies. The Lions pressurising the Wallabies with most of the possession and advantage in the first quarter.
Wilkinson not performing with the boot and missing his first three attempts at goal was worrying for the Lions with many pundits claiming that kicking and Wilkinson would be the differnce between these teams. However, the tenacious and strong tackling of the Lions kept the Aussies at bay and even though the Aussies found themselves with more possession in the second quarter, they could take little advantage of it.
Henderson showed his skill and pace with an excellent run to set up a great scoring opportunity but missed a pass that would have made an easy try for the man outside him, but this was then intercepted and saw the Wallabies take the ball right to the Lions 22 before it was retrieved by the Lions. The Australian backline simply did not have the shape that you would associate with the World Champions. They were not getting the ball and when they did they were not showing the penetration that they should have when they were running with the ball in hand.
None of the Australian stars were given a chance to shine and never looked as dangerous as their awesome reputations would suggest. But this was a testament to the quality of the Lions defence and team spirit. They really played together and for each other.
The tide turned towards Australia after the first quarter with more possession and territory but only three points to show for it from a Walker penalty. Wilkinson may not have been on form with the boot - and another miss which saw the ball bounce off the top of the upright is indicative of the kicking game he had. And while missing points like this is a luxury no team can afford, thankfully the Lions did not rely on the boot today.
The half closed as it started with an excellent try for the Lions. O'Driscoll taking the ball and making a great run, offloading to Robinson who passed to James who went over in the corner for a huge try at this crucial point for the Lions. Wilkinson found his boot this time to take the Lions to a 3-12 victory after 35 minutes. This is how the half with the Lions very much in command.
And if the first half was good, well, it just got better in the second half. O'Driscoll took a ball pretty much from the restart in the middle of the field and powered over from the halfway line. A quite exceptional individual try. If Australia were not already rattled, this shook them to their foundations. An easy conversion for Wilkinson made it 3-19 after just two minutes of the second half. Exceptional stuff and the Lions in exceptional form and undoing the World Champions in every respect of the game.
Salt was rubbed into Australia's wounds with a penalty for Jonny Wilkinson four minutes later to make the score 3-22. The Lions were quite simply on fire. Attack, defence, set pieces all working wonderfully to create a huge all-round game for the tourists.
This togetherness was further proved with a try for Quinnell after 51 minutes where Henderson made a blistering run that cut the Aussies apart before being brought down to create a ruck from which Quinnell picked up the ball and powered over between the posts. An easy conversion for Jonny Wilkinson made it 3-29 to the Lions. Quinnell was then taken off for Charvis at the same time as Corry was sin-binned - although frankly it is anyone's guess what for.
It was not long before the Wallabies took advantage of their 15-14 man advantage as Andrew Walker ripped the Lions defence apart for an exceptional solo try. But the Wallabies still struggled with the boot and at 8-29 after 71 minutes it was still very much the Lions game.
The luck was certainly not with the Wallabies today, with two disallowed tries, conversions bouncing off the uprights and some daft basic errors. It was the Lions day. And even a second try for the Australians while Corry was still in the bin was not enough. The score took the Lions to 13-29 but the mountain was too great to climb, especially with the Lions laying banana skins for them at every opportunity.
While the Wallabies came back in the last quarter of the game, it was too little too late. This was the Lions day. And a great day it was. It came together, it worked, it was impressive and lovely stuff. Henry will be proud of his squad, the game was played fairly and with skill. The World Champions were completely undone and the next Test is just a week away. Bring it on
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