It's all square Down Under after a nail biting finish in Melbourne
Today's game was always going to be close. It was always going to end with emotions raised high whichever side of the score line the Lions were going to end on. However, I don't think many people expected such drama. It was a real test match and for neutral supporters were treated to one hell of a game.
When the first whistle blew Alun Wyn Jones was straight out of the blocks and was like a man possessed putting in hard hits against the Australian opposition. Fellow Welshman and Lions captain, Sam Warburton, also started with conviction as his work at the break down was awarded with a penalty within the first 3 minutes of the game. An unusual miss from the boot of Halfpenny kept the scores 0-0 but the Lions crowd within the stadium were happy with their team's start as Bread of Heaven roared around Melbourne's Etihad stadium.
The lineout has been, and continues to be, one of the biggest problems of the Lions' set piece but a great lineout within the first ten minutes of the game saw the Lions gain three points. A maul was formed off the lineout and forwards and backs alike piled in to demolish the Australian defence to surge towards the try line. A real exhibition of power and skill from the men in red.
Suddenly things were not going solely in the way of the Lions once ten minutes had been played on the clock. The Aussies piled immense pressure on the Lions defence and they looked certain to score with numbers out on the left wing but an unlucky knock on by Australian fly-half O'Connor allowed the Lions to breathe a sigh of relief. The increased Aussie pressure did not go unrewarded as they made the scores level with a penalty from Christian Leali'ifano (3-3).
The Scrum. Oh, the scrum. It became a worrying aspect of the Lions game in the middle of the first half. Loose head, Vunipola, was being punished by Australian prop Benn Robinson and the Saracens man was struggling to get to grip with the fast pace and the high standard of the test match. On numerous times the referee penalised Vunipola and soon the men from Down Under were in the lead, 6 points to 3.Mistakes were also creeping in to the loose head prop's attacking game as he knocked the ball on during a promising passage of play. Was it time for Gatland to bring on Cole or another forward off the bench? Less than a minute after doubt was beginning to intensify around Vunipola's game the prop bossed the scrum and was awarded with a chance to make the score level with 25 minutes on the clock.
Penalties were controlling the scoreline throughout the first half. A game of cat and mouse. The first half ended with only 3 points between the two teams with the Lions going in to the dressing room 9-12 up.
Only five minutes in to the second half and the scrum was still causing problems for the men in red. However, despite the poor scrum, Warburton was controlling the breakdown with the confidence, skill and determination that comes with being Lions captain and his team were rewarded with a penalty. With 50 minutes on the clock a 2 minute period of nail biting rugby followed. A horrific pass by O'Driscoll was intercepted by the opposition and the Australians changed up a gear and threw everything at the Lions' defence, full back Leigh Halfpenny did incredibly well to clear the ball away from his own try line and give the Lions some breathing space after a worrying period of play.
A magnificent example of George North's strength was shown by the young wing during the second half. It was not enough for North just to power through the defence, instead he decided to pick up his tackler and carry him a few meters on his shoulder before placing him on the ground. A move that was received with enormous cheers around the stadium and most probably throughout most homes and pubs around Lion country. This strength, unfortunately for the Lions, was not enough to keep the Aussies at bay and with less than six minutes left on the clock Ashley-Cooper danced through the Lions defence and scored the game's only try. There was nothing much the Lions could have done to prevent the Aussie try that was just waiting to happen. With the score 16-15 and with less than five minutes left on the clock the Lions threw everything at the game and with the clock at 79 minutes the men in red were awarded with a penalty.
The penalty was on the halfway line - a big ask for full back Leigh Halfpenny but not impossible. It was all or nothing for the Lions. Halfpenny had a chance at winning the game and the series for the Lions but as the ball dropped just short of the posts the young Welsh player certainly did not lose the game for the visitors. The last few minutes of the game was filled with tension that can only come with a Lions game. There are probably many people out there this afternoon soaking their hands in moisturiser having bitten most of their nails off as nerves took over.
It now all comes down to next Saturday. It's all or nothing now for both sides. For the Lions - lose and it is yet another failure for the touring side against another southern hemisphere side but win and they will make history. Each player will forever be remembered as the team who won a series Down Under. They will be adored by supporters throughout the world and will be immortalised by their respective countries. However, having seen what happened today, next Saturday will be an extremely close game. A couple of points will most probably separate the two teams. A real challenge for both the men in red and gold. The Lions will have to bounce back harder than they have ever done before as the momentum now lies in the hands of the Aussies. It isn't impossible, nothing is impossible.
It wouldn't be a Lions tour if it didn't have its fair share of drama and today had a Shakespearean level of drama from start to finish.
Picture - GETTY IMAGES
When the first whistle blew Alun Wyn Jones was straight out of the blocks and was like a man possessed putting in hard hits against the Australian opposition. Fellow Welshman and Lions captain, Sam Warburton, also started with conviction as his work at the break down was awarded with a penalty within the first 3 minutes of the game. An unusual miss from the boot of Halfpenny kept the scores 0-0 but the Lions crowd within the stadium were happy with their team's start as Bread of Heaven roared around Melbourne's Etihad stadium.
The lineout has been, and continues to be, one of the biggest problems of the Lions' set piece but a great lineout within the first ten minutes of the game saw the Lions gain three points. A maul was formed off the lineout and forwards and backs alike piled in to demolish the Australian defence to surge towards the try line. A real exhibition of power and skill from the men in red.
Suddenly things were not going solely in the way of the Lions once ten minutes had been played on the clock. The Aussies piled immense pressure on the Lions defence and they looked certain to score with numbers out on the left wing but an unlucky knock on by Australian fly-half O'Connor allowed the Lions to breathe a sigh of relief. The increased Aussie pressure did not go unrewarded as they made the scores level with a penalty from Christian Leali'ifano (3-3).
The Scrum. Oh, the scrum. It became a worrying aspect of the Lions game in the middle of the first half. Loose head, Vunipola, was being punished by Australian prop Benn Robinson and the Saracens man was struggling to get to grip with the fast pace and the high standard of the test match. On numerous times the referee penalised Vunipola and soon the men from Down Under were in the lead, 6 points to 3.Mistakes were also creeping in to the loose head prop's attacking game as he knocked the ball on during a promising passage of play. Was it time for Gatland to bring on Cole or another forward off the bench? Less than a minute after doubt was beginning to intensify around Vunipola's game the prop bossed the scrum and was awarded with a chance to make the score level with 25 minutes on the clock.
Penalties were controlling the scoreline throughout the first half. A game of cat and mouse. The first half ended with only 3 points between the two teams with the Lions going in to the dressing room 9-12 up.
Only five minutes in to the second half and the scrum was still causing problems for the men in red. However, despite the poor scrum, Warburton was controlling the breakdown with the confidence, skill and determination that comes with being Lions captain and his team were rewarded with a penalty. With 50 minutes on the clock a 2 minute period of nail biting rugby followed. A horrific pass by O'Driscoll was intercepted by the opposition and the Australians changed up a gear and threw everything at the Lions' defence, full back Leigh Halfpenny did incredibly well to clear the ball away from his own try line and give the Lions some breathing space after a worrying period of play.
A magnificent example of George North's strength was shown by the young wing during the second half. It was not enough for North just to power through the defence, instead he decided to pick up his tackler and carry him a few meters on his shoulder before placing him on the ground. A move that was received with enormous cheers around the stadium and most probably throughout most homes and pubs around Lion country. This strength, unfortunately for the Lions, was not enough to keep the Aussies at bay and with less than six minutes left on the clock Ashley-Cooper danced through the Lions defence and scored the game's only try. There was nothing much the Lions could have done to prevent the Aussie try that was just waiting to happen. With the score 16-15 and with less than five minutes left on the clock the Lions threw everything at the game and with the clock at 79 minutes the men in red were awarded with a penalty.
The penalty was on the halfway line - a big ask for full back Leigh Halfpenny but not impossible. It was all or nothing for the Lions. Halfpenny had a chance at winning the game and the series for the Lions but as the ball dropped just short of the posts the young Welsh player certainly did not lose the game for the visitors. The last few minutes of the game was filled with tension that can only come with a Lions game. There are probably many people out there this afternoon soaking their hands in moisturiser having bitten most of their nails off as nerves took over.
It now all comes down to next Saturday. It's all or nothing now for both sides. For the Lions - lose and it is yet another failure for the touring side against another southern hemisphere side but win and they will make history. Each player will forever be remembered as the team who won a series Down Under. They will be adored by supporters throughout the world and will be immortalised by their respective countries. However, having seen what happened today, next Saturday will be an extremely close game. A couple of points will most probably separate the two teams. A real challenge for both the men in red and gold. The Lions will have to bounce back harder than they have ever done before as the momentum now lies in the hands of the Aussies. It isn't impossible, nothing is impossible.
It wouldn't be a Lions tour if it didn't have its fair share of drama and today had a Shakespearean level of drama from start to finish.
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