BRILLIANT LIONS ROAR - WALLABIES ARE EATEN ALIVE !

The third and deciding test of the Lions' series against Australia was so different from the first two as to be almost unrecognizable as part of the same series.

 

In the earlier encounters, the Lions had been unable to exert any real dominance and it was the Wallabies who proved to be the stronger side in both, though still managing to lose the first match most narrowly. Tries were at a premium and these 2 games were closely fought but not full of free-flowing rugby.

 

The third test, on the other hand, was more open and showed the Lions to be a side of much greater ability. The early exchanges saw a try for Corbisiero, almost before the game had started, and a few kicks for Halfpenny which allowed the visitors to build up an impressive 16-3 lead while the Wallabies seemed to be at a loss as to how to deal with a rampaging Lions' scrum. The Lions then stumbled and let the home side back in to the extent that the gap was reduced to 19-16; for a few minutes, things were in the balance.

 

Halfpenny, again, came to the rescue with another penalty kick, and then it was over to the backs. Suddenly, Sexton was over for a try, then North and finally Roberts, and it was 41-16 as the Lions broke free and ran riot. The Wallabies simply had no answer and, although they never gave up, this final match of the series was a revelation; the Lions' victory was not only comprehensive, it was the result of an all-round dominance that was not even thought possible after the first 2 games. Man of the Match, Series and everything else was the irrepressible Leigh Halfpenny, who seemed to be everywhere all of the time and contributed just over half of the Lions' points with his almost faultless kicking while also making Sexton's try for him.

 

Despite controversy over his selection for the match, coach Warren Gatland came up with the goods and the first Lions' series victory since 1997. He's already said that he'd consider leading the next tour, to New Zealand, in 2017; if it was up to me, I'd have him signed up already !