Second Test Review - Australia 16-15 British & Irish Lions

Jeez, what was I saying about fair in my preview for the Second Test?  You probably don’t remember because you have a life and more interesting things to think about, or you didn’t read it in the first place, but as a refresher I declared that fair was boring – mistakes, unjustifiable decisions and sheer bad luck were the key elements of an engaging Test Series.

But I withdraw all those statements.  Fair is brilliant.  Fair means like for like, and although the events in Melbourne didn’t have anywhere near the same amount of all-out-entertainment that the first Test had, it did have the same amount of drama and a heartbroken kicker with a failed last-gasp effort to win.  It wasn’t pretty but it was deliriously tense.  At this rate, I will have bankrupted myself by the end of next week due to the necessary purchase of new underwear that seems to be required after witnessing any Test match.

Quite aside from my personal issues when it comes to watching this Test series, we should marvel at how bone-crushingly tight these contests are – and not just the matches themselves.  The mid-week preparation seems to be swinging back and forth constantly in terms of who the favourites are – first O’Connell is announced as out by the Lions, then Horwill is cited, then he’s cleared, then Bowe returns, then Beale and O’Connor are out munching Maccers at 3am in the morning...it’s madness, utter madness.

And madness would probably be the best way to describe the opening stages of the Second Test.  A frantic series of clearances led to an overly-sexy lineout move which forced Tom Youngs into touch, a bone-shuddering tackle by Brian O’Driscoll on Adam Ashley-Cooper and forced turnover penalty won by Sam Warburton, giving the metronomic Leigh Halfpenny a kick at the posts with just 3 minutes on the clock.  The Welshman struck his kick well from just under 50 minutes, but it didn’t have the legs and cannoned into the bar, allowing the Wallabies to clear their lines.

Both sides then traded blows, with Israel Folau firing a warning shot by stepping George North and then a huge rolling maul from the Lions pack forcing another penalty for Halfpenny.  This time the fullback didn’t miss and the tourists held a well-earned 3 point lead.  It lasted 5 minutes though as a series of messy scrums – off the back of a great aerial take by Folau in the Wallaby 22 – ended up in a penalty going the way of the hosts, and Christian Lealiifano banged it over to level the scores.  Five minutes later again and it was déjà vous as Mako Vunipola was pinged again for illegal scrummaging and Lealiifano, showing no signs of grogginess after his face-tackle of Davies’ hip last week, showed his kicking prowess to edge the hosts ahead for the first time.

There was definite concern amongst the fans that the Saracens prop was struggling, but the return of the Mak (I’ve always wanted to use that) came at the very next scrum, with Adam Jones and Vunipola both getting the upper hand to win another 3 points for Leigh Halfpenny.  The front row repeated the trick just after the half hour mark to give the Lions the lead, before Lealiifano levelled things up with a kick of his own following an offside from Dan Lydiate, who was virtually in the Wallabies’ backline when the ball emerged from the ruck.

It had been a cagey, attritional, tense but ultimately scrappy first half, but it burst to life in the final play of the game as North collected a high ball before O’Driscoll, Geoff Parling and Jamie Heaslip all combined well to force another penalty, which Halfpenny slotted to give the tourists a deserved 3 point lead at half time – 12-9.

The opening to the second half proved to be an equally messy affair, but no less compelling, with several messy scrums, strong work by the superb James Horwill, a sharp break by Will Genia and an even sharper turnover from Sam Warburton keeping possession swapping hands on a frantically regular basis. The crowd settled into a nervous murmur as the back-and-forth continued, before George North set the stadium alight with a phenomenal display of power on the hour mark.  North took man and ball on the left, with Folau coming up quickly, and the big Welshman dipped one arm under the Wallaby sensation and carried him over his shoulder like a misbehaving toddler for a good 5 metres before eventually being brought down.  It fired up the crowd, and it certainly fired up the pack as well as Dan Cole, on for Adam Jones, utterly marmalised the Aussie front row to win a tricky penalty for Halfpenny, which he converted.

A 6 point lead in a game like this?  Surely the Lions were onto a winner?  Not so.  This Wallaby side is made of stern stuff, and an intercept from a poor pass of O’Driscoll led to Folau, Genia and James O’Connor making good ground to pile the pressure onto the tourists’ defence.  For 10 minutes the rampaging hosts battered at the tourists’ line, with the only brief respite being the odd clearance kick ran straight back at the men in red, and eventually it paid off.  James O’Connor, who had been having a mixed evening, ghosted on the outside of a ruck on the blindside and forced Jonathan Davies to think about stepping in, creating a gap for the excellent Adam Ashley-Cooper to snake through and dive over for a critical try.  Not as critical as Lealiifano’s conversion though, which he nailed beautifully from out wide under the most intense pressure.

Game over?  Of course not.  There was more drama to come, O’Connor took the ball back into his 22 and kicked out on the full, giving the Lions great field position with the lineout but Hibbard, who had scrummaged well, over threw and the lively Liam Gill (on for Wycliff Palu) snaffled the ball ahead of Cole to claim a critical turnover.  Chance lost.  But the game was not lost.  The Wallabies coughed up possession and the tourists launched one final attack from deep.  Led by substitute Conor Murray, they made their way up to halfway, where the hosts were penalised for going off their feet in the ruck.  Up stepped Halfpenny, on the very limit of his range – although why Murray didn’t tap and try to buy an extra 10 metres, I do not know.  The Welshman has been unflappable, but Halfpenny’s boot proved fallible as his attempted penalty to win the match in the last minute fell 5 metres short.  The Wallabies booted the ball of the park.  Series levelled.

The sight of magnificent Captain James Horwill in tears showed what this meant to the men in Green and Gold, and it may well be the last we see of him against the Lions as the IRB decision on his alleged stamping incident is due this week.  But now we have 2 Tests down, 2 last gasp missed kicks, 2 single-score margins, 2 sides putting everything into each performance.  1 decider in Sydney.  That seems pretty fair to me.

PS.  I may consider it more fair than others as I am just about to hop on a plane to Sydney with my tickets to the third Test.  I never said it was going to be fair on you.

Australia Player Ratings

Kurtley Beale – 6 – Will be glad he had a less dramatic match this time around.  Was always creative and looking to try something even if, more often than not, it didn’t come off

Israel Folau – 7 – Not quite as big an impact as last week and will hate the image of being carried over North’s shoulder like a naughty child, but still so, so dangerous in attack and in the air
Adam Ashley-Cooper – 8 – Committed, intelligent and defensively magnificent throughout, and a try was richly deserved for a man who outshone his illustrious opposite number as the classiest centre on the pitch
Christian Lealiifano – 8 – We saw what the Wallabies were missing out last week.  He distributed well and, whilst not threatening himself, brought others into the game.  Nerves of steel as well in a beautiful kicking display.
Joe Tomane – 5 – Looked pretty rusty after a bit of a lay off and, although he had a go a couple of times, was well marshalled and turned over on occasion.
James O'Connor – 6 – He still doesn’t look like the general he needs to be to play fly half at this level, but he atoned for an average display by creating the space for Ashley-Cooper’s critical try.
Will Genia – 7 – Yet another classy display from the 9.  Not quite as explosive as last week but he still created little half gaps for his teammates and he provides such a good pivot for ‘round the corner’ runners.
Benn Robinson – 6 – No darts with the ball in hand this time, but he largely held his own against Jones in what turned out to be a good tussle between the two.
Stephen Moore – 7 – The lineout was strong and his work around the park was crucial to the Wallabies building momentum at a key stage of the game.
Ben Alexander – 6 – A solid performance on his 50^th cap.  Had a real hit-and-miss battle with Vunipola but he carried strongly as well.
Kane Douglas – 7 – Ultra-physical and aggressive, the lock was a key component on why the Lions struggled to dictate the tempo of the game.
James Horwill – 9 – If he is out of the final Test, you cannot underestimate the impact that will have on the series.  A colossal performance that was filled with hard graft and leading from the very front.  Did not take a single step backwards.  Man of the match.
Ben Mowen – 7 – Another good display from a man who looks like he was made for Test rugby.  His versatility and abrasiveness made him a real thorn in the Lions’ side when they were in possession.
Michael Hooper – 8 – Lightning around the park and was often the first man to get around the ruck to make a covering tackle on the other side.  His pace and aggression on the carry is a real asset too.
Wycliff Palu – 7 – A much stronger display.  His carries and offloads were important to any period of Wallaby possession but his defensive graft was also key to helping to keep the Lions’ attack at bay.

Subs Used

James Slipper – 5 – Destroyed in his first scrum but recovered well to hold his own afterwards.
Sekope Kepu – 6 – Another to struggle in the set piece but his carrying was an asset to his side.
Rob Simmons – 6 – Upped the energy levels and was active in the loose
Liam Gill – 7 – A great cameo saw the Reds flanker get into the Lions pack to force a couple of turnovers – none more important than a cheeky lineout steal at the end.
Rob Horne – No time to make an impact

 

Lions Player Ratings

Leigh Halfpenny – 6 – You can’t blame him for falling short with the final kick of the game, but we barely saw him hitting the line or contributing to the attack

Tommy Bowe – 7 – Great to see him back in a Lions Test jersey, and although he wasn’t as involved as he may have liked, his few contributions were made with a touch of class
Brian O'Driscoll – 5 – He is a great leader and there is no doubting his commitment – but he looked ordinary in attack and doesn’t seem on the same wavelength as Davies...and the referees as well.
Jonathan Davies – 5 – Critically stepped in and didn’t trust his cover when Ashley-Cooper went over.  A couple of decent carries but otherwise very quiet.
George North – 6 – Very quiet but wins a point for a moment that will be long remembered in Lions folklore – the picking up and carrying of Folau.  Classic stuff.
Jonathan Sexton – 7 – Once again looks calm and in control and did nothing wrong.  The men outside him weren’t firing on all cylinders, and where was North on his inside shoulder?
Ben Youngs – 6 – Pretty mixed from the England 9.  His service was very quick when the Lions pack finally got decent ball but otherwise struggled to create opportunities
Mako Vunipola – 5 – Recovered well from some scrummaging troubles early on but still didn’t look entirely comfortable, and one abysmal pass to O’Driscoll put his team under pressure.
Tom Youngs – 8 – The Lions’ hooker put in another strong showing around the park, tackling his socks off and carrying aggressively.  Lineout was largely decent, but had a couple of wobbles.
Adam Jones – 7 – One great steal and held his side of the scrum up well once again.  Questions have to start being asked about his fitness levels as he looked exhausted during the second half.
Alun-Wyn Jones – 6 – Nowhere near as impressive as in previous weeks, he failed to step up to the plate as the ‘enforcer’ and didn’t out muscle his opposition.  Was a demon in the tackle area though.
Geoff Parling – 6 – Mobile and committed, but didn’t cause as many problems in the lineout as he would have liked.  
Dan Lydiate – 7 – A very decent chop-tackle performance, but he conceded a couple of costly penalties as well.  The Lions needed perhaps a bit more zip and attacking prowess to cause problems.
Sam Warburton – 9 – The best Lions player on the pitch by a fair distance.  Made 3 turnovers and was more often than not the tourists saviour in defence.  Will be a huge blow if he misses the next Test.
Jamie Heaslip – 6 – Once again, there were flashes of class from the Irish number 8, but he disappears far too often from games

Subs used:

Richard Hibbard – 6 – Scrummaged well when he came on but that missed lineout will haunt him for a long time

Dan Cole – 6 – Great impact in the scrum when he came on and tackled well, but will wish he had a cat’s reflexes rather than a hippo’s when that loose lineout floated towards him
Tom Croft – 6 – Did well and tried to up the intensity but when he came on but was fighting a losing cause
Sean O’Brien – 7 – Impressively involved and aggressive when he came on.  May well have sealed himself a spot next week with Warburton’s injury
Conor Murray – 7 – Very decent cameo.  Opened with a great steal and a good box kick and showed why Gatland prefers a physical scrum half.

Preview - The Second Test - Australia v British & Irish Lions

Life isn't fair.  It's full of people, who through no effort or graft, somehow land on top of the pile when it comes to athletic ability – and no matter how much we try to emulate them, it usually only ends in embarrassment for us and amusement for others.  Take this week as an example, when Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor were snapped having a cheeky burger at 3am.  Now every weekend I find myself in the line for Big Mac at 3am in the morning, and I am nowhere near the international set up.  Aside from the fact the precursor to the midnight munchies is a sizeable amount of ale and Aftershocks, I cannot see how I am doing anything different to these renowned athletes.  It's just not fair.

Speaking of not fair, the bitter taste of injustice has been tasted by all this week – with blokes on both sides feeling pretty hard done by.  For the Lions, Alex Corbisiero continues to crumble like a biscuit if he plays more than 30 minutes, whilst the hardest man of the lot – the anti-biscuit if you will – Paul O'Connell, has also been forced to withdraw.  Add that to the sense of incredulity that Aussie Captain James Horwill was let off the hook by (surprise, surprise) an Australian disciplinary committee for cleaning his studs on Alun Wyn Jones' eye socket, and you have a Lions squad feeling pretty peeved in the run up to the second test.

Of course, the Horwill Great Escape was just about the only bit of good news to come the Wallabies' way this week – and that was before it was announced the IRB would be reviewing the disciplinary decision.  Aside from the fact that Beale and O'Connor's fast food fetish has created another unwarranted media storm over the Wallaby camp, the men in Green and Gold have had their own injury problems to worry about.  Half the backline seemed to collapse in a crumpled heap on Saturday, and despite the return of a presumably still-groggy Christian Lealiifano, experienced stalwarts Pat MacCabe and Berrick Barnes are both out. 

That said, despite the grumbling, you'd be hard-pressed to find any negativity scattered around – instead the players are using all their perceived injustices to get themselves in the right frame of mind for Saturday's critical second test in Melbourne.  The Aussies have been uncharacteristically quiet in the build up to this game, but they will come flying out of the blocks and get stuck into the men in red from the first whistle.  This is do or die now for them.  If you have to go underhand to get the advantage, so be it.  Horwill, in particular, will have nothing to lose.  They know that they could – and should – have beaten the Lions this week, and they will be fired up like no one else for this one.  The pack remains unchanged,  which means Ben Mowen will once again be charged with Scrum-half hunting duties – a job he performed so well against Mike Phillips – and the pack will be looking to expose the loss of grunt in the Lions' forwards by cutting the supply to North and co off at source.  They will be aware that Ben Youngs is a dangerous operator, but he has his flappy moments under pressure and that is something they will be looking to exploit.  Out wide, Lealiifano's return is crucial.  His vision and distribution will provide options either side of the breakdown for the Wallabies, which helps take the pressure off O'Connor – and that's not even mentioning the influence Kurtley Beale can have at full back.  He may have been Slippy the Bush Kangeroo last week, but the Rebels man is a creative and electrifyingly explosive force on the rugby pitch and he will be looking to get his hands on the ball as much as possible.  Another person who needs his hands on the ball is Israel Folau – the winger enjoyed a remarkable debut last week, and his ability to beat players means that his teammates should look to get him involved as much as possible.  Also expect Genia and O'Connor to try and draw George North up in the line before forcing him to turn, kicking in behind where Folau can be so dangerous with his aerial ability.

However, Folau, is not the only man with magic in his boots at the moment.  George North might be sorry for goading Genia last week, but he won't be making any apologies about the sheer quality of his performance.  Simply the Lions' most dangerous man, he needs to make sure he comes off his wing as much as possible to smash holes in the middle.  But perhaps it's in the tight where the game will really be one – Vunipola will be targeted by the underrated Wallaby scrum and he needs to hold his own at the very least if the Lions are to compete.  Behind him, the selection of Parling with Wyn Jones was a sure-thing given the Englishman's form, and his lineout ability is ranked right up there with the best – but he'll need to show he can provide the shunt in the scrum and the grunt around the park to keep the Wallabies at bay.  It's interesting to see that Gatland has noted this apparent loss of physicality and tried to combat that by playing his love-child Dan Lydiate at 6.  Now Lydiate has been in decent form and is a great player, but it is harsh on Croft who did nothing wrong last week – still, I can see the logic.  Behind the fatties, Ben Youngs, the form scrum half on tour will be desperate to prove he is not just a stop gap for Phillips.  The Welshman's box-kicking and general decision making were appalling last weekend, and this is where Youngs needs to have accuracy and conviction – if he thinks he sees a gap, go for it, don't change your mind halfway through and get clattered like Phillips did.  Perhaps the most intriguing change though is that of Tommy Bowe for Alex Cuthbert – the Cardiff man is a fine athlete but Bowe just oozes class and adds some subtlety to compliment North's brute power.  But what really catches the eye with Bowe is that his comeback is just under 3 weeks after he broke a bone in his hand – now I've had the same injury, and it took me twice as long…but then again, I didn't have a team of world-class doctors, physios and surgeons at my service 24/7.  Life's not fair.

Who gives a crap about fair though?  Fair's boring.  Fair is predictable.  Which is why, on Saturday morning, I will be watching the game literally wishing for moments of injustice, controversy, brutality and misfortune.  Why?  It adds to the drama.  It helps make a Lions Test Series.  And that sounds like a pretty fair start to the weekend for me.

Wallabies Team News

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has been forced to make two changes with injuries to fullback Berrick Barnes (head) and winger Digby Ioane (shoulder) prompting the promotion of Kurtley Beale and Joe Tomane with the latter set to win only his second cap. Centre Christian Lealiifano has recovered from the head knock that sidelined him in the opening moments of the first Test while James O'Connor retains the No.10 shirt despite widespread criticism of his showing in Brisbane. Centre Rob Horne and uncapped fullback Jesse Mogg have both been added to the bench.

Starting Line up: Kurtley Beale; Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali'ifano, Joe Tomane; James O'Connor, Will Genia; Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, James Horwill, Kane Douglas, Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Wycliff Palu.

Subs: Saia Fainga'a, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, Liam Gill, Nick Phipps, Rob Horne, Jesse Mogg.

Key Player

James Horwill.  Yes he has been given bad press for, under his explanation, “an attempt to regain his balance”.  If he’s that aggressive when he’s stumbling around on the rugby field, I dread to think what he’d be like on ice skates.  But he remains the Wallabies’ most influential and important player – the captain has to instil a frantic do-or-die mentality into the minds of each and every one of the blokes wearing a green-and-gold shirt.  That means taking the Lions aback with manic aggression, relentless physicality and a hard-nosed approach from the very first whistle.  The IRB may well decree that Horwill will play no further part in this series after tomorrow – he better make this performance count.

 

Lions Team News

Lions coach Warren Gatland has made five changes to his side - two forced by injuries to lock Paul O'Connell and prop Alex Corbisiero. As a result, Geoff Parling comes in the second row and Mako Vunipola will pack down at loose-head. There is also a promotion from the bench for blindside Dan Lydiate while winger Tommy Bowe and scrum-half Ben Youngs have also got the nod. Flanker Tom Croft drops to the bench as does winger Alex Cuthbert but No.9 Mike Phillips drops out of the squad with Conor Murray providing cover. Ryan Grant fills the void on the bench left by Vunipola while there is also room for versatile back-row Sean O'Brien.

Starting Line up: Leigh Halfpenny, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll, Jonathan Davies, George North, Jonathan Sexton, Ben Youngs; Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (c), Jamie Heaslip.

Subs: Richard Hibbard, Ryan Grant, Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Sean O'Brien, Conor Murray, Owen Farrell, Alex Cuthbert.

Key Player

Ben Youngs.  The England 9 has come in for Phillips and now has a chance to cement that spot for himself.  On his day, the Leicester man can cause just as many problems as Genia himself, but he has to bring a measure of consistency into his game.  In a way, the scrum-halves are the most influential people on the pitch – not just because they never stop yapping at anything that moves, but because they act as the key link in the chain between pack and backline.  If he crumbles under the inevitable pressure, as he has done previously, then it could well be all over for the Lions.  Withstand it, kick well, and he becomes a calming influence for the whole side – the Wallabies lose their intensity, and then the gaps may just open up for him to show what he can do.

 

Key Battle

Ben Alexander v Mako Vunipola.  With great match ups all over the park again, it’s easy to get excited about the rematch between North and Folau, the battle between Tomane and Bowe and Genia and Bowe – but I’ve picked a slightly less sexy contest between the two front rowers.  What it may lose in glamour points though, it gains in absolute criticality to the outcome of the second Test.  Alexander is a decent prop but he struggled against Corbisiero, who – when he’s not on a sickbed – is one of the best scrummaging props in Europe.  Vunipola, on the other hand, is a completely different kettle of fish.  He may be a hard carrier and a tireless worker in the loose, but his work in the set piece is nowhere near as effective – Alexander will fancy his chances.  If he can get a nudge on his side of the scrum, the rest will follow, and the wave of passion and aggression that follows a big scrummaging statement may just be enough to cast doubt into the Lions’ minds.  If Vunipola holds firm though, then the sting in the Wallabies’ tail may just feel a little less sharp.

Prediction

Another week, another British & Irish Lions Test Match.  I will never get bored of saying that.  After the sheer drama of the last week – quite apart from the actual First Test itself – excitement levels have peaked in the Second Test build up.  This is knock out stuff – the Lions win, and it’s a leisurely coast over to Sydney, the Wallabies win, and we’ll have a bloodbath in New South Wales that will have even Origin fans looking away.  So much will come down to whether or not the Lions have braced themselves and can contain that early Wallaby onslaught that will surely come from the off.  I think they’ll just manage it – but prepare your nails for another nerve-shreddingly close encounter.  Lions to take the series – by 3 points.
 

Review - Melbourne Rebels 0 - 35 British & Irish Lions

Once the test series starts on a Lions tour, it can be pretty hard to keep the mid-weekers motivated.  Traditionally coaches have tried to counter this with promises of potential Test-spots that are about as believable as a Bill Clinton response to an allegation of sexual deviance, or simply by telling the guys at the start of the tour that they've got no chance of playing a Test match and so they may as well just get on with it, a la Graham Henry and Clive Woodward.  And we all know how well that strategy went down.

But, in this Tour, there genuinely feels like there is something up for grabs with each game, particularly with players dropping as quickly Jordan's knickers (due to injury, rather than potential bedroom antics, of course).  After a 1st Test victory there were plenty of areas for improvement – could Murray or Youngs displace the ineffectual Mike Phillips, could Tuilagi provide more ballast in the midfield, could Lydiate provide a harder edge than Croft in the back row?  All real questions that the Lions mid-weekers would have been desperate to answer.

Don't think, though, that this was simply an internal exercise of showboating and self-promotion to impress Gatland and his crew – there was a match to win and pride to restore, after the meek loss to the Brumbies in Canberra the week before.  The Rebels may not be the strongest of the Super Rugby sides but they are improving fast, and are amongst the most tenacious of teams out there – especially at home.  Ask big sides like the Chiefs, the Crusaders or the Reds, who have all struggled to put them away, despite being superior on paper – and don't mention the Rebels to the Stormers or the Waratahs, who have both been turned over by the Melbourne outfit in recent weeks.  Despite missing guys like James O'Connor, Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps and the superb Scott Higginbotham, they have a phenomenal team-ethos that is determined by the grafters amongst them, with the likes of Mitch Inman, Gareth Delve and Hugh Pyle all up there with the best.  There was no chance that they would allow this one to become a non-event.

And it certainly didn't seem as if the visitors were treating this as a damp squib either, as from the off the hosts went onto the attack.  Manu Tuilagi looked hungry for the ball and made yards in the middle, before strong carrying around the fringes pulled the Lions up to the Rebels, where Owen Farrell plopped a lovely delayed pass into Sean O'Brien's hands, only for Brad Barritt to miss the following offload from the big Irish flanker – had he collected it, he'd have been under the posts.

The next 10 minutes were a tale of faltering set pieces, with Hibbard missing his next 2 lineouts and the Rebels' scrum disintegrating following good pressure from Ryan Grant and Dan Cole, which allowed the tourists to clear their lines comfortably after a brief spell of pressure from the Melbourne outfit, created by some booming yet precise kicks from Jason Woodward and stalled by sloppy handling from Luke Burgess.

The tourists, though, seemed comfortable, and it was refreshing for Lions fans to see Owen Farrell standing flat and dictating play beautifully with the good platform his pack was creating.  The breakthrough eventually game after another Tuilagi burst gave the men in red front foot ball, before Barritt dabbed a delightful grubber kick through for Sean Maitland to chase, which was covered superbly by Woodward but gave the Lions a 5-metre scrum.   From that position, there was only ever going to be one outcome – the Lions' pack blasted their way forward but Toby Faletau was held up, only for Conor Murray to wriggle his way over when the ball squirted out for a well-taken score.  Farrell nudged over an excellent conversion to give the tourists a 7 point lead.

The Lions continued to look like the dominant outfit in the game, but they were consistently denied by little mistakes – with Cole and O'Brien both fumbling in promising positions – and big defence, with Mitch Inman, Gareth Delve and Hugh Pyle all contributing with a couple of rib-ticklers.  The resistance could only last for so long though, as the force of nature that is Tuilagi burst through Delve's attempted tackle, held off 3 tacklers and offloaded to Maitland who scooted towards the line and fed Faletau.  For the second time, the Welsh number 8 went close – this time slipping on his way to the line – but the ball was recycled quickly and fed via Simon Zebo to the looping Maitland, who touched down for one of the tries of the tour.  Farrell once again added the extras.

The Rebels were unable to get a foothold in the game, with Ian Evans proving to be a menace in the lineout and Richie Gray and Dan Lydiate tackling themselves to a standstill.  The Lions were looking sharp in attack too, with Farrell showing good vision to take a quick tap and put Zebo away down the left, and the magical Irishman bamboozled one defender before delaying the return pass to Farrell too long.  The halftime whistle went and the Lions were content with a lively, if scrappy, first half display which saw them hold a 14 point advantage.

The second half opened in the same way the first finished, with plenty of promise but a bit to be desired on the execution.  A loose pass by Farrell following a quick tap help up a move that was looking promising on the left, whilst another O'Brien fumble close to the line following a lineout cost the Lions a potential try once again.  Farrell, though, was continuing to impress with his ambition, and Rob Kearney nearly went over following an audacious outside-of-the-boot chip that was only just gathered by Tom English ahead of the Irish 15.  It was a brief respite though, as this time a lineout move did come off, with slick hands from Lydiate giving O'Brien the chance to step inside the defence and dive over for a well-worked score.  Farrell was once again flawless with a difficult conversion, and the Lions led by 21-0.

Ten minutes later, it was more Lions' lineout dominance as they gained good field position thanks to the non-stop work of Faletau with the ball in hand.  This time, as they blustered their way to the line following a catch-and-drive, the Rebels hauled down the red pack mid-maul, prompting referee Glenn Jackson to award the penalty try.  Easy pickings with the boot for replacement Stuart Hogg – on for Farrell – as well.

It was perhaps ironic that the second half scores were all down to the most-maligned aspect of the tourists' game so far in Australia – the lineout.  And it proved to be the case again 8 minutes from time, when substitute Tom Croft took a superb take at the tail of the lineout and popped the ball down to fellow replacement Ben Youngs, and the Leicester 9 scored a trademark try – dummying the defence and accelerating his way past the cover for a fine solo score.  Another easy kick for Hogg took the score out to 35-0, and that's how it stayed.

Job well done for the Lions, with several players impressing in this 'interview' for the second test.  The mid-week side can be proud of finishing an injury-plagued tour on a high with a comprehensive win, but they'll all openly be hoping that their tour doesn't end here.  Because the real job is still to come.

Rebels Player Ratings

Jason Woodward – 8 – Some delightful moments with the boot and enterprising moments in attack...as well as the occasional howler.  The classiest player in the Rebels’ backline.

Tom English – 6 – A creditable and tenacious display.  Made his tackles and worked hard to cover ground when the defence was stretched.  Little chance with the ball in hand though.
Mitch Inman – 7 – Some strong moments in defence and some quick feet showed why the centre is on the cusp of receiving international recognition
Rory Sidey – 5 – A quiet game.  He had his hands full in defence with Barritt and Tuilagi and was unable to make too many dents on the rare occasion he did get the ball.
Lachlan Mitchell – 7 – Quick and intelligent play by the ex-Wasps man.  Had a good battle with Maitland and joined the line with some good effect.
Bryce Hegarty – 4 – Unable to get his side moving forward and was painfully predictable in attack.  All too often he was content to hurl a long pass backwards miles away from the gainline.
Luke Burgess – 5 – A bit of a nothing display by the man who’s just returned from France.  He’s known for being a tenacious and lively scrum half but he offered next to know attacking threat here.

Nic Henderson – 4 – Destroyed at scrumtime and struggled to have an impact in the loose.  Regained some credit in the second half with a couple of reasonable carries.

Ged Robinson – 4 – Was part of a dominated front row and the lineout wasn’t especially reliable, either.
Laurie Weeks – 5 – Was more apparent in the loose than his propping colleague and did manage one first half penalty off Ryan Grant in the scrum which was a rare victory.
Cadeyrn Neville – 6 – A mobile display but was unable to make any sort of dent in proceedings.  Not physical enough.
Hugh Pyle – 7 – A couple of promising gallops caught the eye and never stopped working throughout.
Jarrod Saffy – 5 – A disappointing showing from the flanker who is normally so reliable.  Was turned over too easily and won’t have enjoyed being handed off by a replacement scrumhalf.
Scott Fuglistaller – 7 – Made a nuisance of himself, especially as the game wore on, and several of his interventions probably helped prevent tries.
Gareth Delve (capt) – 7 – Left grasping at thin air when attempting to tackle Tuilagi in the first half but he won’t be the last.  A physical and dedicated performance impressed fans on both sides and one hit on Ryan Grant in particular was brutal.

Subs used

Pat Leafa – 5 – Lineout didn’t particularly improve with his introduction
Cruze Ah-Nau – 6 – The scrum seemed a little more solid and he threw himself into contact when he came on
Paul Alo-Emilie – 6 – Surprisingly mobile for a big bloke.  A couple of decent hits caught the eye.
Luke Jones – 7 – One gallop in particular got the crowd on its feet, but he may want to work on his kicking skills
Jordy Reid – 6 – Abrasive and physical but he wasn’t able to stem the Lions’ pack
Nic Stirzaker – 7 – I guess if you’re that ginger you have to be fast.  This kid looked lightening though and threatened well around the fringes
Angus Roberts – No time to make an impact
Cooper Vuna – 6 – Looked lively and enthusiastic but was well shackled by Maitland.

 

Lions Player Ratings

Rob Kearney – 6 – A solid display without being spectacular.  This will probably be his last showing of the tour and he’ll be frustrated that injury has prevented him from showing his best form.

Sean Maitland – 7 – Some dodgy decisions but he worked tremendously hard, none more so than we he deservedly scored after helping to create the tourist’s second try.
Manu Tuilagi – 7 – A powerful return.  A couple of busts, offloads, decent passes and – shocker – a cheeky grubber showed that the English centre is ready to be called on for Test duty.
Brad Barritt – 6 – Does what he does very well.  Tackles, tackles and tackles.  Always secures the ball in contact and is a good safe option to have in a chaotic Lions game.
Simon Zebo – 7 – Must have been doing something right to get a name chant going.  Some fantastic footwork certainly caught the eye but perhaps he should have put Farrell away in the second half?
Owen Farrell – 8 – His best display of the tour.  He has gotten better with each game and some lovely passes, chips and vision showed that he does have a decent skillset in the locker.
Conor Murray – 7 – It didn’t always go his own way with some sloppy handling errors but he worked hard and took his try well.
Ryan Grant – 6 – Turned over a couple of times in contact but scrummaged well on the whole, although he will be annoyed at conceding a penalty.
Richard Hibbard – 8 – Showed how capable he is on his day.  Some bruising carries – especially in the second half – complemented an all-action defensive diplay and, aside from an early wobble, a reliable lineout.
Dan Cole – 7 – Scrummaged well and, although he didn’t win any turnovers, made enough of a nuisance of himself to slow the Rebel’s ball right down.
Richie Gray – 8 – His best showing of the tour.  His work rate in the tight and in the loose was superb and a couple of powerful gallops got the Lions on the front foot.
Ian Evans – 7 – Another quietly effective display.  His intelligent play in the lineout was a constant thorn in the Rebels’ side.
Dan Lydiate – 7 – The chopper gave another understated display characterised by a colossal defensive effort, but he was let down by some poor hands and isolated carries on occasion.
Sean O'Brien – 7 – Another to excel in terms of work rate, but this time the Irishman’s hands let down his strong carrying and tackling work on occasion.
Toby Faletau – 9 – A real statement to Gatland.  He was everywhere and we finally saw, for the first time in a year, some real conviction on the carry.  He will be pushing Heaslip very hard for that shirt.

Subs used

Rory Best – 6 – Throwing in was decent, which was a great improvement from last week

Tom Court – 6 – Did not look out of place on his Lions debut and showed some nice hands
Matt Stevens – 6 – A couple of decent trundles helped the Lions build momentum
Tom Croft – 7 – Wonderful work at the back of the lineout and superb defence late on showed just why he is so valuable
Justin Tipuric – 7 – Seems to have been the best player not spoken about this tour.  Made another telling impact with a couple of sharp turnovers.
Ben Youngs – 7 – An impressive cameo.  Superb vision and speed to score off a lineout and service was crisp.
Billy Twelvetrees – 6 – Played at 12 and 10 and didn’t do anything wrong in either position.
Stuart Hogg – 6 – Must be seriously annoyed they keep playing him at 10.  He looks so much more dangerous at 15.

Preview - Melbourne Rebels v British & Irish Lions

The calm before the storm.  That famous phrase comes to mind when talking before a mid-week, inter-Lions Test match between the dirt-trackers and a provincial side.  Or, after the game we’ve just seen, perhaps the calm after the storm would be more appropriate.  Somehow, a game that would have had us all clamouring for selection hints and ideas on combinations now seems about as interesting as a paint-drying competition contested by accountants.  Or so it would seem – this is, after all, a Lions tour and there is still a heck of a lot to play for in this one.

The Rebels are still the babies of Aussie rugby.  I say the babies, but they’ve overtaken the Force in terms of bank-backing and league position this year and, despite a mixed season where an embarrassing 70-point hammering against the Sharks and a home-loss to whipping boys the Kings were followed up by back-to-back wins over the Stormers and the Wartahs.  It’s a bit hit-and-miss as to which Rebels side will show up, but when they do, they can give anybody a run for their money.  They’re also only missing 4 Wallabies, and although guys like James O’Connor, Scott Higginbotham, Kurtley Beale and Nick Phipps are hard to replace, they’ve actually played some of their best rugby this year without their ‘big stars’.  I’m not quite sure what that says about their key players, but the Rebels have made a habit of forcing tight games through a frantic and committed defence which forces turnovers and a strong and mobile pack which is more than capable of outmuscling any opponent – and the big boys in the Melbourne side will be hungry to make their own statement and piece of history against the tourists, especially since their rivals, the Brumbies managed to do a job on them.

The Lions’ mid-weekers meanwhile, will know that there are still potential Test squad spots up for grabs, especially with somebody going down crocked almost every other day it seems.  The likes of Richard Hibbard, Dan Lydiate, Sean O’Brien and Manu Tuilagi all have decent shouts and making headway and it seems like the team spirit amongst the squad is such that there will be no half-measures in this game.  With Tuilagi back in the side, the team has a much more ‘Gatlandball’ look about it, unlike against the Brumbies, when Billy Twelvetrees was forced into the crash ball role.  With Brad Barritt and Manu Tuilagi, in particular, forming an ultra-physical midfield, you can be sure that the side won’t lack for momentum when it comes taking on the Rebels on the gainline.  Also, having a bloke at 10 who has actually played more than 1 professional game at fly half is always a bonus. 

This may not be the main event, but this is still a Lions tour, and this is still the scalp that every side wants.  It may seem calm now, but by Tuesday night, a storm will be brewing.

Rebels Team News

The Rebels are missing four Wallabies but include three capped players in their match-day squad, with scrum-half Luke Burgess starting his first game on his return from France, and former Wales international Gareth Delve leading the side from number eight.

Starting Line up:  Jason Woodward; Tom English, Mitch Inmar, Rory Sidey, Lachlan Mitchell; Bryce Hegarty, Luke Burgess; Nic Henderson, Ged Robinson, Laurie Weeks, Cadeyrn Neville, Hugh Pyle, Jarrod Saffy, Scott Fuglistaller, Gareth Delve (capt).

Subs: Pat Leafa, Cruze Ah-Nau, Paul Alo-Emilie, Luke Jones, Jordy Reid, Nic Stirzaker, Angus Roberts, Cooper Vuna.

Key Player

Hugh Pyle.  The lanky second row has been a revelation this season, touching down for 3 tries already.  He is surprisingly strong in the tackle and his inspector gadget arms have proven to be a useful weapon, not only in reaching for the try line but also in getting his hands free to offload behind defenders.  He’ll also be well aware that one of the few areas where the Rebels can genuinely pressurise the Lions is in the lineout, with Richard Hibbard and substitute Rory Best enduring tricky times on their throws of late.  If Pyle can get in front of the Lions’ jumpers, then it may just plant some seeds of doubt in tourists’ minds – and we all saw what happened when the lineout fell apart against the Brumbies.

Lions Team News

Wales flanker Dan Lydiate will lead the British & Irish Lions against the Melbourne Rebels on Tuesday night after the latest injury crisis to hit the squad forced them into a late change.  England lock Geoff Parling was set to lead the Lions into their final midweek clash at AAMI Park but was withdrawn on the eve of the game following an injury to fellow second row Paul O'Connell. Parling looks set to replace O'Connell in the Test side for Saturday's showdown at the Etihad Stadium while Wales lock Ian Evans is promoted from the bench to fill the void in the team that will line-up against the Rebels. The late switch follows another change to the original side that saw Ireland and Ulster prop Tom Court drafted onto the replacements' bench for Mako Vunipola, who is being rested as cover for Test prop Alex Corbisiero who is battling a calf injury suffered in the Lions' first Test triumph at the weekend.   Centre Manu Tuilagi is back for his first game since suffering shoulder injury against the Reds back on June 8 and will partner England colleague Brad Barritt in midfield. Rob Kearney is named at fullback, linking with Simon Zebo and Sean Maitland in the back three.

Starting Line up: Rob Kearney; Sean Maitland, Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt, Simon Zebo; Owen Farrell, Conor Murray; Ryan Grant, Richard Hibbard, Dan Cole, Richie Gray, Ian Evans, Dan Lydiate (capt), Sean O'Brien, Toby Faletau.

Subs: Rory Best, Tom Court, Matt Stevens, Tom Croft, Justin Tipuric, Ben Youngs, Billy Twelvetrees, Stuart Hogg.

Key Player

Manu Tuilagi.  The Leicester centre has had a frustrating tour, playing a grand total of 95 minutes.  He put in an impressive display against the Western Force before an injury against the Reds forced him off before he could have an impact in that game, and he will be keen to make up for lost time.  He will be well aware that Gatland’s game plan demands having at least one centre who can make serious yardage on the carry, and that the Lions backline doesn’t quite seem to function without the likes of Roberts or Tuilagi trucking the ball up on first phase.  A big and busy performance here will not only keep the Rebels’ defenders interested and the Lions on the front foot, but will also give Gatland a serious selection headache heading into the second test.

Key Battle

Gareth Delve v Toby Faletau.  Gareth Delve is a name that will ring familiar with many northern hemisphere fans – especially the Welsh.  The former Gloucester and Wales number 8 made the move down under with Danny Cipriani when the Rebels were first set up – but unlike the self-styled ‘flash’ fly-half, the number 8 won the respect of his peers and the fans with his bravery, dedication and general reluctance to act like a complete tit.  As captain, he is less of a powerful ball carrying number 8 but more of a glue that holds the side together – at times he seems to be everywhere, taking the hard yards, making his tackles, offloading into space.  Of course, he will be up for another grafter in the shape of Faletau, but the current incumbent of the Welsh number 8 shirt has that little more zip to his play and his work rate and carrying will be crucial for the Lions.  If Delve can tie his man down into a personal battle, however, the Lions may find that they will lose a bit of fluency and, if the game gets scrappy, anything can happen.

 

Prediction

After the hype of a Test match it seems odd to come back to the midweek games, but make no mistake, this will be a physical contest.  With both sides containing hard, physical players there will be no shortage of big hits and, whilst the Lions players will be looking for one last big shift to force themselves into Test contention, the Rebels will be fired up to prove that they are not simply a forgettable undercard to the second Test in Melbourne on Saturday...or indeed the State of Origin on Wednesday.  But the Lions will have too much experience and too much class throughout their ranks, and I can see them breaking down the Rebels as the game wears on – despite the Melbourne outfit proving to be a stubborn side and surprising several ‘big’ teams this year.  Lions by 15.
 

Lions Test Match Review - Australia 21 - 23 British & Irish Lions

I read a superb article by a Mr Dan Jones in the Evening Standard on the tube the other day.  It made the point that, in this day and age, we are force-fed all sorts myopic mumbo-jumbo in an attempt to lure us into paying for expensive Sports Channels in order to watch events that, when you really stop and think about it, you couldn’t give a flying fig about.  I mean, is Norwich v Stoke really a “colossal clash of 2 footballing giants in a high pressure game sure to deliver drama” when there is only the ‘glory’ of a 14^th place finish up for grabs?  And does anyone really care about the “blood, sweat and tears” that will “surely” be on offer in the winner-takes-something-presumably clash between Sale Sharks and Worcester on rainy Friday night in Manchester.  Yes, the media are pretty fond of exaggerating the average into something wonderful.

But amongst this quagmire of mediocrity, there is the odd gem.  And nothing shines brighter than a Lions series.  One tour every 4 years.  One test series against a certain country every 12 years, on the current rotation.  For those in Britain and Ireland, it is the ultimate honour, and the utmost sign of respect in being cheered and applauded by those who would normally be hurling drunken insults at you.  For those in the Southern Hemisphere, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  Unless you’re George Smith, of course.  The mystique and rarity of a Lions tour means that when every Tour does come around, we’re not quite sure what to expect – remembering the raw emotion of these games is almost impossible.  But with an Wallaby line up containing the likes of Israel Folau, James O’Connor and Will Genia, and a Lions side boasting the firepower of George North and the genius of Brian O’Driscoll, fan could have been forgiven for expecting fireworks as the 2 sides ran out at Brisbane for the first match between these 2 sides for 12 years.

If the fans were expecting an explosive opening, they got it.  Actually, it was more of a car crash, and it made what should have been a day Christian Lealiifano would never forget a day that the young centre will probably never be able to remember.  Johnny Sexton kicked off, the Wallabies cleared their lines, Jonathan Davies took a short ball and Lealiifano was out cold on his debut, having felt the full force of the stocky Welshman’s hip on his head.  It was a sad sight, but tempered by a thumbs up from the Brumbies star and (as we know now) the knowledge that he will be fit for the next Test.  The Wallabies who hadn’t experienced a Lions Test before now understood what this was all about; this was war.

And just like any war, it was proving to be stuffed full of little battles of critical importance – most importantly, the breakdown, and it was the hosts who struck first not once, but twice, winning penalties after veteran centre Brian O’Driscoll failed to clearly release giving away two penalty shots to Wallaby fly half James O’Connor.  Thankfully for the tourists, the Justin Bieber of rugby had forgotten his kicking boots and fell short with his first attempt, before hooking his second effort to the left.  Not only did these 2 missed opportunities crank up the tension in the home crowd, they also took attention away from a stamp by captain James Horwill on the face of Alun Wyn Jones which could be described as ‘cheeky’ at best and thuggish at worst – that said, I’ve always liked Horwill and he’s a hard but generally clean player, so I guess we can give him the benefit of the doubt there.  The footage doesn’t look great, but the citing commissioner clearly decided that people like me are obviously just a bit wet, and the Reds skipper had no case to anwer.

The Lions themselves were answering a few questions up at the other end of the field as they finally got their hands on the ball.  A huge shunt in the scrum gave the tourists good field position and George North, Tom Youngs, Alex Corbisiero and Alun Wyn Jones all made significant yardage before referee Chris Pollock made a dubious call at a ruck deep inside the Wallaby 22, despite the hosts pack looking like they’d flopped all over the ball.  Will Genia, the electric scrum half, tapped and went quickly, dummying and stepping, bamboozling Mike Phillips before dropping a delightfully delicate grubber onto his right foot for debutant Israel Folau to scoop up and dive over for a score.  It was an absolutely breathtaking score and further underlined the widely held view that Genia is probably the smartest rugby player on the planet.  O’Connor forgot his kicking woes and nudged over to give the hosts a 7 point advantage after 15 minutes.

The men in Green and Gold had landed the first big blow and the Lions were looking shaky on their feet, with mistakes creeping into their play – a couple of silly penalties and a simple dropped catch from Alex Cuthbert had the home crowd sensing that something special might be on the cards.  Leigh Halfpenny managed to stall the soaring confidence with a well-struck kick following a collapsed maul, before the men in red struck back with one of the great individual efforts involving more than a touch of Robinson in 2001 for its sheer explosiveness.  Berrick Barnes launched a somewhat aimless kick from outside his 22, which was collected by the ever-lethal George North, just behind halfway.  The gargantuan winger burst between O’Connor and Pat McCable before rounding Barnes and gassing Will Genia to score in the corner.  Halfpenny added the extras from out wide, and the Lions had a three point lead; and we had one hell of a game on our hands.

This was frantic, brutal, wonderful rugby.  Ben Mowen, on debut, was wreaking havoc on the Lions ball at the breakdown, but the men in red now had the ascendency.  George North leapt around Genia to reach over in the left hand corner, but was denied by a combination of the touchline and a wonderful last ditch effort by Israel Folau.  The try wasn’t to be but the penalty was, and Halfpenny slammed over another 3 points to push the tourists out to 7 – 13, with all the momentum in the Lions’ sails.  But this Wallaby side has magic in its boots.

Phillips imitated Barnes by launching an aimless kick back to the opposition and, following good hands from Kane Douglas, Genia and Mowen, Folau found himself in space but with, seemingly nowhere to go.  Or so we thought.  Bang, he stepped Sexton, bang, he palmed off Corbisiero and bang, he hit the afterburners to round Halfpenny and touch down for yet another sensational score.  This was a test debut to remember, although O’Connor would rather forget his attempted kick as he skewed yet another one wide.

The first half closed with both sides looking dangerous, with Genia making a sharp break before a strong carries from Corbisiero and Tom Croft took the Lions close, forcing the Wallabies to concede another penalty – this time surprisingly missed by Halfpenny.  The hosts were rocked though by another head injury, as Barnes was forced off the pitch with concussion – although having somebody of Kurtley Beale’s calibre on the bench is not the worst thing.

The second half opened with the scores at 12 – 13 in favour of the tourists, but it was the Aussies who looked the more pumped up early on.  Firstly Mowen manhandled Phillips to turn over possession before McCabe carried strongly up to the Lions 22, only for a fine turnover by Jamie Heaslip on James O’Connor to suck out the Wallaby momentum.  The momentum was further stalled 10 minutes in, when yet another head injury forced McCabe off, with the centre being replaced by flanker Liam Gill, with Robbie Deans opting to play openside Michael Hooper at inside centre.  Now, Hooper is as strong and as quick as pretty much any centre out there, but his positioning is naturally not up to scratch, and this was ruthlessly exploited by the Lions.  Tom Youngs threw in to a lineout, and the clean ball came back to Sexton who picked out Cuthbert on a gorgeous line through a hole created by the over-eagerness of Hooper in the middle of the park, and the powerful winger ploughed through the despairing dives of 4 cover defenders to touch down beneath the sticks.  Halfpenny added the formalities, and the shift in power in the game seemed insurmountable for the hosts.

But then something strange happened.  The game began to loose its fluency as the Lions became tense and the Wallabies dragged the tourists into an arm wrestle.  A silly penalty straight after Cuthbert’s score gave 3 points to O’Connor before Hooper, Douglas and, in particular, Benn Robinson carried well into the heart of the Lions’ defence – usually through little gaps created by Genia.  The pressure forced another penalty from Mako Vunipola, and this time Beale showed off his cajones by knocking over a crucial kick to bring the scores back within 2.

Halfpenny attempted to ease some of the tension with a banker 3 points after Ben Mowen had been pinged following a smart chip-and-chase from Johnny Sexton, but this was just a brief respite.  Beale scorched through the Lions defence, beating Hibbard and captain Sam Warburton with an electric sidestep and burst of pace that took him up to within 10 metres of the Lions line, and forced another 3 pointer.  Beale made sure his good work paid off, and you couldn’t help but feel that this was some statement from the mercurial Melbourne Rebel – it was only fitting that he would have a key say in the match.  Unfortunately for him, it probably wasn’t quite the outcome he was hoping for.

It almost felt that, despite being seemingly in control for so long, the tourists were clinging on.  A dominant Lions scrum was ruined by a Heaslip fumble, leading to a gorgeous chip from Genia that was gathered by Folau, and the ex-NRL and AFL star was hauled down by North as the 2 freak-athletes continued their sensational battle.  The momentum gave Beale another penalty attempt, this time for the lead, but the pressure caused the bad-boy of Aussie rugby to scuff his kick out to the right.  Last chance missed?  Not quite.

Despite all the drama, there was one final twist in store.  A cracking tackle from Dan Cole forced a spilled ball by Horwill and a Lions scrum with 2 minutes to go.  Surely this was game over.  Instead, James Slipper twisted through Cole and Hibbard buckled, giving the Wallabies one final kick at goal from 45 metres out.  Beale stepped up.  And slipped up.  The ball fell agonisingly short and wide as Beale looked on off the Brisbane turf.  Time was up.  The Lions had won.
 

Throughout the celebrations by the British and Irish players, you could not help but feel sympathy for the man who has defeated so many personal demons only to fall (or slip, technically) at the moment that would have sealed one of the great personal comebacks in sport.  But in reality, this was just one moment of drama in a Test that was physical, fast, frantic and filled with moments of genius.  Welcome to a Lions series.  More of the same, please.

Australia Player Ratings

Berrick Barnes – 5 – A pretty average night cut short but a horrible concussion.  His passing was decent enough but his kicking from hand – usually so reliable – was wayward and led to the Lions’ first try.
Israel Folau – 8 – What a debut.  Two tries – one of which showed sublime finishing – were the highlights of an immensely threatening and athletic display.  Influence faded in the second half, though.

Adam Ashley-Cooper – 7 – A quiet game but effective as well from the wonderfully versatile centre.  Marshalled O’Driscoll and Davies superbly but couldn’t quite get into the attack as much as he would have liked.
Christian Lealiifano – No time to make an impact.
Digby Ioane – 6 – Looked a fraction rusty after a few weeks out but still showed his running threat with a couple of lively runs on the odd occasion he got the ball in space.
James O'Connor – 5 – A mixed bag.  Despite some smart play, he still looks like he lacks the authority to play Test rugby at fly half and his missed kicks proved to be very costly.
Will Genia – 9 – What a marvellous display.  His vision is sensational and only matched by his physicality and skill level.  Set up one try majestically and caused problems throughout.  Man of the Match
Benn Robinson – 7 – Surprisingly prominent in the loose.  He struggled a tad in the scrums but his hard running made inroads on more than one occasion.
Stephen Moore – 6 – The man with the head like an egg was a reliable presence in the lineout and around the park, where he brought a physicality to match the Lions.
Ben Alexander – 5 – A quiet display.  Didn’t enjoy scrummaging against Corbisiero and was anonymous in the loose as well.
Kane Douglas – 8 – A strong and athletic performance from the Waratah.  Several times he was man making a big tackle when it looked like the Lions were about to break through.
James Horwill – 7 – A real workmanlike shift from the skipper.  Led from the front and didn’t take a step back from the physical stuff.
Ben Mowen – 7 – Like Folau, made a fine debut.  Was all over the park and looks like a natural Test player.  His manhandling of Mike Phillips had the Aussie fans (and a fair few Lions ones) on their feet.
Michael Hooper – 7 – Got caught out when out of position for Cuthbert’s score, but his physicality and energy throughout made sure that the Lions did not have it all their own way.
Wycliff Palu – 5 – Expected more from the big man.  Far, far too quiet by a man who is usually such a destructive ball carrier.

Subs Used

James Slipper – 6 – Righly or wrongly, helped win a key scrummaging penalty at the death
Sekope Kepu – 6 – Helped the set piece get the upper hand at a key moment late on
Rob Simmons – No time to make an impact
Liam Gill – 6 – A quiet showing from the talented flanker but his energy was key to the Wallabies staying in the game
Nick Phipps – No time to make an impact
Pat McCabe – 6 – Solid in defence and brave on the carry as always.  Lacked a bit of subtlety but performed well under pressure
Kurtley Beale – 7 – You can’t help but feel sorry for him.  Despite missing 2 key kicks, the Beale’s attacking influence was superb and was instrumental to the hosts’ comeback.

 

Lions Player Ratings

Leigh Halfpenny – 8 – Superb again with the boot – despite one tricky miss – and active in attack, joining the line at pace and looking to put his footwork and smart passing again to good use.

Alex Cuthbert – 6 – A superbly taken try but too often he seemed caught out defensively, and he won’t enjoy rewatching that simple dropped high-ball again
Brian O'Driscoll – 6 – Improved as the game went on but he should have been aware of Pollock’s breakdown interpretation before the game had even started.  Defensively magnificent though.
Jonathan Davies – 7 – A solid and strong display.  Not quite the magic of last week but he adapted his game to embrace the more physical role as a 12 he was expected to take on.
George North – 8 – What an absolute machine this guy is.  I would have preferred to see him coming off his wing a little more and I’m not sure about the gloat at Genia, but his creation and execution of an opportunity that simply didn’t exist was absolutely world-class.
Jonathan Sexton – 7 – Some moments of pure class in a very solid display.  Invariably made the right decisions and led the line very effectively.
Mike Phillips – 5 – Not a great day for big Mike.  He generally lacked conviction with his darts and was manhandled because of it, and his box kicking was very ordinary
Alex Corbisiero – 8 – A great display from the loosehead.  Was part of a dominant front row in the first half but also carried effectively as well, breaking tackles on several occasions.
Tom Youngs – 9 – The Lions’ best player in my book.  His work rate in defence was superb, his carrying was powerful and his set piece work was both accurate and, later on, ambitious.
Adam Jones – 7 – As usual, quiet around the park but performed his main job with a typical ruthlessness.
Alun-Wyn Jones – 7 – An aggressive performance that was exemplified by the key yardage he made around the fringes.  His defensive work also caught the eye.
Paul O'Connell – 6 – Not quite as impressive as previous games but still a tireless contributor and rucked his heart out.
Tom Croft – 7 – Not at his most eye-catching but his defensive work was exceptional and showed he can get stuck into the dirty stuff.
Sam Warburton – 8 – A very decent captain’s knock.  Managed to keep the referee onside after a difficult start and was physical in the tackle throughout.  Led from the front.
Jamie Heaslip – 6 – Needs to find consistency.  A couple of notable charges and turnovers are all very good but he has to make sure he can contribute between these odd moments of brilliance.

Subs used:

Richard Hibbard – 5 – The scrum became tricky and his doglegged defence allowed Beale an easy gap to skip through.  Carried well, though.

Mako Vunipola – 6 – Big carries as usual, but his side of the scrum was under particular pressure late on.
Dan Cole – 6 – Was looking strong in the scrum until the very end, when I don’t think he knew what happened.  One big tackle in particular was important and his defensive scavenging slowed the ball down for the Wallabies
Geoff Parling – No time to make an impact
Dan Lydiate – No time to make an impact
Ben Youngs – 6 – His service looked sharper than Phillips' and he may well have given Gatland some food for thought ahead of the second Test.