Australia beat Lions in Sydney slugfest to avoid series whitewash

1 month ago 15

Australia congratulate Max Jorgensen's try

BBC Sport at Stadium Australia, Sydney

Australia (8) 22

Tries: Pietsch, Jorgensen, McDermott Cons: Donaldson 2 Pens: Lynagh

British and Irish Lions (0) 14

Tries: Morgan, Stuart Con: Russell

On a foul night of torrential rain and threats of lightning strikes in Sydney that forced play to be suspended for 40 minutes, the Wallabies shocked the British and Irish Lions and won a riotous victory in the third and final Test at Stadium Australia.

The hosts, and underdogs, were dominant for much of a dramatic evening, outscoring the Lions by three tries to two. They led the Sydney slugfest 8-0 through a Dylan Pietsch try and a Tom Lynagh penalty at the end of an intense first half.

Maro Itoje, Tommy Freeman and Australia's Tom Lynagh all failed head injury assessments in a cruelly physical contest played in horrendous conditions.

Lynagh's exit came after Dan Sheehan appeared to catch him in the head at a breakdown. Three minutes after the restart, James Ryan was knocked unconscious in a distressing incident where his head crashed into the knee of the giant lock, Will Skelton.

As Ryan was being treated, a series of fights broke out around him, then play was suspended after lightning was reported locally. Forty-three minutes had been played.

After an absence of half an hour both teams were back on the field for a warm-up. Ten minutes later, play resumed and the Wallabies struck again when the Lions gifted possession to wing Max Jorgensen who ran away to score in the corner.

Substitute Ben Donaldson's conversion made it 15-0 to Australia. Jac Morgan's try and Finn Russell's conversion narrowed it to an eight-point game, but the Wallabies hit back quickly.

With Ronan Kelleher in the sin-bin, Tate McDermott sniped in for the Wallabies' third try. Donaldson converted and a thumping home win was secured. Will Stuart scored in the last act for the Lions. Too little, too late.

Line-ups

Australia: Wright; Jorgensen, Suaalii, Ikitau, Pietsch; Lynagh, White; Slipper, Pollard, Tupou, Frost, Skelton, Hooper, McReight, Wilson (capt).

Replacements: Paenga-Amosa, Bell, Nonggorr, Williams, Gleeson, McDermott, Donaldson, Kellaway.

British and Irish Lions: Keenan; Freeman, Jones, Aki, Kinghorn; Russell, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje (capt), Ryan, Beirne, Curry, Conan.

Replacements: Kelleher, Genge, Stuart, Chessum, Morgan, Earl, Mitchell, Farrell.