picture: Sporting Life
Chris O’Keefe
Australia 16-15 British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions will need to win the final test in Sydney to win the series against Australia after losing narrowly in an error strewn and always tense second test in Melbourne on Saturday.
Adam Ashley Cooper’s try was decisive as the Lions were unable to hold onto a six point lead in the remaining as the Wallabies lay siege to the opposition try line.
Leigh Halfpenny kicked all 15 points for the tourists but his attempt at goal with the last kick of the game couldn’t seal the series for Warren Gatland’s men.
Although Ashley Cooper’s try was the winning score, it may be the penalties conceded early by Mako Vunipola in a tight test match that made all the difference and it may be that the England loose-head prop is replaced for the third test by Alex Corbisiero.
Vunipola came under pressure in the scrum as the hosts clearly picked him out as a weak link, although both he and the Lions appeared to recover in the scrum as the first half continued.
It was a game high on tension and low on quality compared to last week as both sides made handling errors and star wingers Israel Folau and George North were contained.
The difference in the Wallabies display compared to last week was the kicking from Australia through Christian Leali’ifano who was faultless with 11 points, after both James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale let 14 points slip in Brisbane.
In an uneventful second half, the only Lions held a 12-9 lead and the high error count on both sides but a Leigh Halfpenny almost proved enough.
But in the closing minutes, the Wallabies attacked at the line and the constant tackling eventually took its toll as Ashley Cooper broke past Jonathan Davies’ tackle to score.
Australia have, like the class of 2001, wrestled the momentum away from the Lions ahead of the final test, but Gatland will likely ring the changes as other players return to fitness and others may miss out for the same reason.
Captain Sam Warburton was helped off after 66 minutes and the result of the physio check tomorrow may determine if Gatland needs a replacement.
Indeed, coach Gatland may feel this team will need freshening up in order to change the focus of the team, which had a noted physicality but clearly didn’t make good use of it’s strengths – or least one strength wearing the 11 shirt.
Pure Sport 