B&I Lions edge Wallabies at the death to win series

MATCH REPORT: The Wallabies have suffered a heartbreaking series loss to the British and Irish Lions after letting slip an 18-point lead to crash to a 26-29 loss in the final minute of their second Test at the MCG.

The Australians looked set to level the series after a rousing opening 30 minutes, but the Lions roared back with fullback Hugo Keenan scoring with 45 seconds left on the clock for his team to take the lead for the first time in the match.

The game ended in controversial circumstances with the Wallabies complaining that flank Carlo Tizzano was illegally cleaned out in the build-up to the match-winning try.

While the TMO and referee Andrea Piardi reviewed the clean-out by Jac Morgan, he didn’t deem it a penalty and the try stood.

Coming after the Wallabies’ loss in Brisbane, the Lions will lift the Tom Richards Cup with a third Test still to play in Sydney.

The result meant the Wallabies became the first team since the 1966 Lions tour to have lost the series in two games, with that Australian outfit losing both matches in a two-Test tour.

In the Lions’ last two visits down under, in 2001 and 2013, Melbourne had been a happy hunting ground with the Wallabies drawing level after first Test defeats.

It appeared this series would also follow that script as the home side came out firing in front of a crowd of 90,307, which was the largest ever to watch a Lions series.

With Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, who sat out the first Test through injury, adding size to the pack, the Wallabies answered their critics and aimed up early in a physical display that had the tourists on the back foot.

Two early penalty kicks by Tom Lynagh gave the Wallabies an early six-point lead and a boost of confidence, but the Lions were first across the tryline in the 15th minute through hooker Dan Sheehan.

Prop James Slipper, only the second Wallaby to have played in two series, then scored for an 11-5 lead, and everything seemed to be going the home side’s way.

Freeman was yellow-carded after his team’s multiple infringements and the Wallabies then raced out to a 23-5 lead with halfback Jake Gordon and fullback Tom Wright both scoring.

But the tide started to turn and the Lions closed the gap to six points by half-time, with flanker Tom Curry and centre Huw Jones touching down.

The second half was an arm wrestle and a 59th-minute try by Tadgh Beirne set up a thrilling finale.

The Wallabies showed desperation in defence and it looked like they would hold on for a famous victory, but the Lions had the final say.

Man of the match: There were plenty of heroes in the Wallaby team. Scrumhalf Jake Gordon had one of his best games at Test level, and he caused all sorts of problems for the Lions. Rob Valetini also brought the much-needed muscle in the physical exchanges. However, the award goes to British and Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje, who was a colossus in all areas of the match, especially in the second half.

Moment of the match: There were plenty, but Hugo Keenan’s winning try stands out. There was also that ruck penalty the Wallabies were complaining about at the end.

Villain: It was an epic Test match. No one deserves that label.

The scorers:

For Australia:
Tries: Slipper, Gordon, Wright
Con: Lynagh
Pens: Lynagh 3

For British and Irish Lions:
Tries: Sheehan, Curry, Jones, Beirne, Keenan
Cons: Russell 2

Yellow card: Tommy Freeman (B&I Lions, 24′ – repeated infringements, offside)

Teams:

Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 David Porecki, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Tom Robertson, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Carlo Tizzano, 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Ben Donaldson.

British and Irish Lions: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 James Ryan, 20 Jac Morgan, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Blair Kinghorn.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)