Round 2 of the British & Irish Lions versus the Wallabies produced a dramatic match dominated by the forwards but ultimately won by one moment of freedom for the Australian backs.
The Lions were significantly better than in the first match and all that either side could manage in the first half was a few penalties; the Lions led 12-9 at that point and looked to be on course for a historic victory. Unfortunately for the Lions, the second half saw the Wallabies begin to take control and they forced the tourists back into their own half for much of the time. Despite this, it was the Lions who gained the first score of the half with another penalty kicked by Halfpenny, but the Wallabies kept pressing and eventually the pressure told as Adam Ashley-Cooper finally breached the Lions defences for the only try of the match. Lealiifano duly converted to give the home side the narrowest of leads with only 2 or 3 minutes remaining.
Last week, it was a missed kick by Beale which deprived the Wallabies of victory and this week the boot was on the other foot. With the hooter already sounded, the Lions gained a final penalty on the halfway line; up stepped Halfpenny but the distance proved a few yards too much even for his mighty ability. The Wallabies celebrated victory by 16-15 and everything now rests on the third and final match next week.
This was an improved performance by the Lions in some areas but they hardly managed to involve their backs in the action at all; North, O'Driscoll, Davies and Bowe simply had no service and never got going. At the same time, the forwards mainly out-scrimmaged their opponents though the line-out was a bit wobbly. Putting these things right shouldn't be impossible, as long as injuries to the likes of captain Warburton don't interfere; 2 very tight matches probably mean that the third will be tight also, but there's no reason why the Lions shouldn't be victorious in Sydney. Fingers crossed.
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