We take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly following the British & Irish Lions’ controversial 29-26 series-clinching victory over the Wallabies in the second Test at the MCG on Saturday.
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British & Irish Lions class of 2025
They’ve only gone and done it. It certainly wasn’t the walkover of a week before, but Andy Farrell’s Lions class of 2025 showed tremendous guts and gumption to claw their way back into the game after trailing by 23-5 at one stage and seal the series.
Built off the back of some big performances from some big players, this iteration of the Lions has written their names in history and can even add an exclamation point with a potential 3-0 series win still alive.
Maro Itoje
If he wasn’t already a Lions legend, Itoje certainly is one now after leading the charge in a dramatic fight back that will live long in the memory of the famous touring team. The skipper conceded two penalties early on but put those behind him to deliver a colossal performance and remind all and sundry once more just how good a player he is. Take a bow, Maro!
Returning Wallabies
Much was expected of Will Skelton and Rob Valetini after the hulking duo missed the opening Test, and boy did they deliver in Melbourne. Although questions will be raised of Joe Schmidt’s decision to substitute the pair at different points of the game, there’s no doubting the impact they had on the Wallabies as a whole, with their presence nearly lifting them to a famous series leveller.
Many constantly make mention of Australia’s supposed lack of quality, but there’s no doubting that Skelton and Valetini are proper Test match players.
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Controversial end to the game
Much of the headlines following the final whistle have centred around referee Andrea Piardi and TMO Eric Gauzins’ decision not to penalise Jac Morgan for a supposedly illegal clearout on Carlo Tizzano after Hugo Keenan scored the match-winner in the final moments of the contest. It’s a pity that one refereeing call right at the end of the game is getting so much attention, but it is what it is and, unsurprisingly, many pundits and supporters have been quick to offer up their opinions of the event.
With the likes of Stan Sport commentators Michael Hooper and Martin Johnson having two different trains of thought on the incident, it’s clear how tough a call it was to make.
Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies
Despite an unbelievable Test match performance by Schmidt’s brigade, who led for 79-minutes of the contest and produced some immaculate moments of attacking footy, it was just not to be, with the Lions snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Although there will be so much good to take from this showing as the side prepares to avoid a whitewash in Test 3, the reality is that the outcome many had predicted ahead of the tour has now come to fruition and the series is gone for the Wallabies with one game still to go.
