Australia 26-29 British and Irish Lions: Vacationers combat again from 18 factors behind to clinch sequence in closing minute

Hugo Keenan’s final-minute strive noticed the British and Irish Lions combat from 18 factors behind to beat Australia 29-26 on the MCG to clinch their three-Take a look at sequence with per week to spare.

The Wallabies started like a prepare in Melbourne and scored three tries for a 23-5 lead by means of prop James Slipper, scrum-half Jake Gordon and full-back Tom Wright, taking cost when Lions wing Tommy Freeman was sin-binned resulting from repeat workforce infringements.

The Lions crucially responded earlier than the break, nonetheless, with Tom Curry and Huw Jones tries arriving and including to Dan Sheehan’s earlier effort.

Australia moved 9 factors up within the second half by way of a 3rd Tom Lynagh penalty, however Tadhg Beirne then completed brilliantly for a fourth Lions attempt to make issues a two-point sport.

The hosts regarded to have carried out sufficient to carry on in entrance of a file crowd of over 90,000, however Keenan struck with 30 seconds remaining to seal a highly-dramatic victory – the biggest comeback in Lions historical past, in actual fact.

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Unbelievable drama as Hugo Keenan went over within the final minute to safe the sequence win for the Lions, however solely after a prolonged TMO verify for a ruck clearance by Jac Morgan

Keenan following his last-gasp attempt to seal sequence victory for the British and Irish Lions in Australia

How the Lions got here again to clinch sequence win

The Wallabies went 3-0 in entrance within the fifth minute by way of the boot of Lynagh with the Lions dominated offside, and although Finn Russell’s fast restart was intelligent and deep, Australia managed to exit cleanly.

Lynagh doubled their lead off the tee with a tougher kick when back-row Curry was penalised for failing to launch, however the Lions then settled into the sport to reply.

The vacationers’ scrum roared ahead for penalty benefit, and when returning Australia lock Will Skelton stoked flames by charging in to trigger two off-ball melees, the Lions responded with Sheehan’s strive – the hooker doing brilliantly to leap over off a five-metre faucet.

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Dan Sheehan leapt over for the Lions’ first strive

Russell poorly missed the conversion off the publish having been barely rushed by the chasing Harry Potter, leaving the Lions nonetheless behind, and shortly they fell additional adrift.

With Rob Valetini, Harry Wilson and Skelton carrying strongly into the 22, the hosts backed themselves by kicking to the nook twice because the Lions have been warned by referee Andrea Piardi – the second a really kickable effort.

Australia have been rewarded when prop Slipper compelled his means over out extensive, with Freeman sin-binned on the identical second for an additional penalty concession in a double blow.

Wright claimed the territory for Australia’s subsequent rating as full-back Keenan dallied to let the ball bounce and concede a 50:22, and shortly Gordon accelerated over simply as his Wallabies forwards appeared exhausted from their robust carrying efforts.

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Australia scored two fast first-half tries to stun the British and Irish Lions in Melbourne

Lynagh’s conversion slipped extensive however Australia had a 3rd strive virtually instantly from the restart as Joseph Suaalii counterattacked magnificently earlier than discovering Wright in house to dash over.

Once more, Lynagh could not add an additional two factors with the conversion, however Australia sat 18 factors in entrance at that time with not lengthy left within the opening interval.

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Tom Wright then rapidly added a 3rd strive for Australia, who at that time have been on fireplace

The Lions would probably have taken one rating earlier than the break as Freeman returned, as an alternative they managed two. First, Curry stepped and completed out extensive after Freeman had carried beautifully and Jack Conan had executed the ultimate scoring cross.

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Tom Curry went over within the nook to half Australia’s interval of dominance

Three minutes later Jones was over by the posts after a monumental Russell penalty kick from hand had earned a five-metre lineout assault – the Scottish fly-half changing for a six-point distinction on the break.

Valetini didn’t emerge after half-time in an enormous loss for Australia, and Skelton was quickly off too in what regarded a deliberate alternative.

A poor Russell kick out on the total put the Lions underneath stress, with centre Bundee Aki then harshly penalised on the breakdown and Lynagh kicking over for a nine-point lead.

A significant Curry deal with on Suaalii halted one other dangerous-looking assault, and on the hour mark the Lions had their fourth strive by means of Beirne within the nook after a neat James Lowe offload adopted a stirring Aki break.

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Tadhg Beirne finishes brilliantly within the nook to cut back the deficit to 2 factors

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Simply previous to that Beirne strive, Curry had tracked again to make an enormous try-saving deal with, forcing a knock-on from Joseph Suaalii

Russell transformed from close to the touchline to carry the Lions inside two factors, however the Lions’ subsequent main likelihood from shut vary was gone when Carlo Tizzano received an enormous turnover penalty.

A Will Stuart further roll within the 22 when ball carrying noticed an enormous likelihood evaporate for the Lions, with two prolonged scrums then seeing a wealth of time tick away.

There remained simply sufficient left for Keenan to skip ahead and end beautifully, after Stuart had carried arduous to place the Lions again within the 22, cueing Aussie devastation and Lions jubilation.

Farrell: We discovered a means – it means the whole lot | Itoje: It is surreal | Keenan: A second I am going to savour

Lions head coach Andy Farrell instructed Sky Sports activities:

“It wasn’t great, especially in the first half. We started with back-to-back penalties and yellow cards, and it really cost us on the scoreboard.

“However we discovered a means again into the sport, and that gave us confidence heading into the second half. And, wow – what a end!

“When we were able to build pressure, we rolled pretty nicely. Every time we got into the 22, we came away with something. We had solid belief at half-time and knew we could win if we controlled our discipline.”

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Andy Farrell spoke to Sky Sports activities because the British and Irish clinched a sequence win towards Australia after a last-minute strive

Lions match-winner Hugo Keenan chatting with Sky Sports activities:

“You don’t really think of these things – with my try-scoring record, I was probably the least likely!

“I am completely delighted. It got here off the again of numerous phases of arduous work from the lads. It was a fairly cool second – one I am going to undoubtedly savour.”

Lions captain Maro Itoje:

“It feels a little bit surreal. The primary 20 minutes we weren’t nice, weren’t bodily sufficient. We managed to discover a means within the second half of the primary half.

“The second half, again it wasn’t perfect, but we just managed to fight, got close and big Faz (Andy Farrell) was just telling us to play big all the time, to believe in ourselves.

“I give a load of credit score to the bench – all the fellows that got here on made an enormous distinction.”

What’s subsequent: British and Irish Lions tour of Australia on Sky Sports activities

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Watch the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia exclusively live on Sky Sports this summer

Sky Sports will exclusively show the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Tests against the Wallabies and seven tour matches to be shown exclusively live.

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