Lions vs Australia - It's All Or Nothing!
-842.jpg "Lions vs Australia - It's All Or Nothing!")
Lions vs Australia - It's All Or Nothing!
So it will come down to the final game. Right down to the wire. And who would have predicted this? After the Lions dominance in the first test this second battle proved a much more even contest with both sides counteracting the other with solid defences. The game was at times a boring spectacle with the defences on top and it all came down to a last minute kick for the second week in a row. Nobody will put any blame on Leigh Halfpenny for missing the monster kick but it means that Sydney will be the battleground to determine the test winner. Christian Leali’ifano on the other hand came back from his first minute injury last week to boot the hosts to victory, slotting four out of four kicks at goal.
The game started well for the Lions with mercurial skipper Sam Warburton in scintillating form earning a penalty in the first few minutes, forcing opposing captain James Horwill to hold on to the ball a little too long giving the referee no option but to award the Lions a penalty inside their own 22.
While Halfpenny has been something of a machine with the boot, only missing 2 shots at goal before this game, his first kick on this occasion fell agonisingly short, hitting the crossbar. Halfpenny more than made up for it with his next two shots, keeping his success percentage in the mid 90’s. He was closely matched by his Australian counterpart Leali’ifano who has a 100% success record in international rugby now.
The first half was a drab affair where the scrum proved a captivating battle once again, with the Wallaby pack gaining the early bragging rights, much as they had done at the end of the first test. The Lions edged ahead 12-9 at the break, but this was far from the end of the contest.
The second half was of a higher intensity, Australia looking to use danger winger Folau and the imperial Warburton giving a captains performance forcing more penalties. Sadly the Welshman’s game would come to an early end with a hamstring injury that leaves him in doubt for next weekend’s decider. The Lions fans played their part, giving the team a renewed steel and vigour in defence, their roars pushing the Lions to stand firm. The loudest roar of all came when George North proceeded to lift Folau onto his shoulders while carrying the ball forward - no easy feat!
Those roars got even louder when Leigh Halfpenny stroked over yet another successful kick to give the tourists an all important 6 point lead. This was not the end however as concerted Wallaby pressure upon the Lions line brought rewards of penalties and to home fans delights they opted to go for scrums instead of points. With 3 minutes left the ball was sent out to the left and centre Adam Ashley-Cooper found a gap to breach the line. Up stepped Leali’ifano to slot the extra’s and put them in the lead. The Lions spent the next 3 minutes manufacturing the one shot at goal. After the hooter it came. But sadly Halfpenny’s effort fell agonisingly short setting it up nicely for the final test in Sydney.
With Jamie Roberts fit again along with Alex Corbisiero and captain Warburton out for the rest of the series, it seems that Gatland has both a captain and team selection headache for the all-or-nothing 3rd test. Whether it be celebration or commiseration, all eyes will be on the Lions this Saturday.
Rachel writes for Shop Rugby, suppliers of a wide selection of rugby gear. Click here to shop the 2013 British & Irish Lions range.
-842.jpg "Lions vs Australia - It's All Or Nothing!")
