
Farrell says win over Australia 'what dreams are made of'
But they conjured an incredible turnaround with two tries in quick succession before half-time -- winger Hugo Keenan's 79th-minute effort sealed the three-Test series and shattered Australian hearts.
"It's fairytale stuff. To leave with a win like that, it means everything," said Farrell after the nail-biting triumph.
"The lads have dreamed of being Lions all their lives. To get to the point at the MCG with 90,000 odd people and win it with a dramatic finish like that, it's what dreams are made of.
"We are absolutely delighted, we showed courage.
"The drama and how it unfolded is what makes it so special," he added.
Australia was a different team to the one beaten in the first Test at Brisbane, with dangermen Will Skelton, Rob Valetini and Dave Porecki all back from injury.
Their added muscle made the Wallabies far more physical in the collisions, rattling the Lions with three tries inside eight first-half minutes before they tired in the second-half.
"Australia said they were going to show up, and they did," said Farrell.
"It was more than physical. They played some nice rugby and capitalised on our ill-discipline."
Valetini failed to show for the second-half while Skelton departed soon after the restart.
It was in their absence that the Lions were able to pull off the remarkable comeback.
"It wasn't great, especially in the first-half," said Farrell.
"We started with back-to-back penalties and yellow cards, and it really cost us on the scoreboard.
"But we found a way back into the game, and that gave us confidence heading into the second half. And, wow -- what a finish."
The series now heads to Sydney next weekend for what is a dead rubber Test but one the Lions want to win to seal a rare series whitewash.
They have so far won all eight tour games since arriving in Australia.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


France 24
4 hours ago
- France 24
'Draw that feels like a win': India hails great Test escape
India, 2-1 down in the five-match series and a daunting 311 runs behind on first innings, batted out Sunday's final day to take it to a decider at the Oval, starting Thursday. Captain Shubman Gill struck his fourth century of the series before unbeaten hundreds from Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar denied England victory. KL Rahul also scored 90. It was a remarkable fightback after India had lost their first two second-innings wickets without a run on the board on Saturday. "When it comes to India-England, Old Trafford is known for keeping the series alive," India great Sachin Tendulkar posted on X. It was a "fantastic comeback" said Tendulkar who added that Rahul, Gill, Jadeja and Sundar had shown "great character and fighting spirit". The Times of India headlined with "The draw that feels like a win", while said it had been a "great escape". Gill had come into his first series as captain with question marks over his overseas batting record. But he has laid all doubts to rest with a record-breaking run, joining Don Bradman and Sunil Gavaskar as the only Test captains to score four centuries in a series. His 722 runs are the most scored by an Indian batsman in a series against England, surpassing team-mate Yashasvi Jaiswal's 712 in 2023/24. "Nobody ever doubted Shubman Gill's talent," said head coach Gautam Gambhir . "Those who did, they just know to talk cricket but lack understanding of the game. Some people take time to blossom in international cricket. And no one in the dressing room is surprised by what he has done." Uncapped wicketkeeper Narayan Jagadeesan was on Monday called into the India squad as cover, after Rishabh Pant was ruled out with a fractured foot. Dhruv Jurel is expected to take the gloves in the fifth Test.


France 24
8 hours ago
- France 24
Wallabies call up former All Black prop Ross for third Lions Test
Ross, who was born in Australia before moving to New Zealand as a child, will join the squad as the Wallabies try to avoid a 3-0 series whitewash in Sydney on Saturday. The Lions won the first Test in Brisbane 27-19 and the second at Melbourne 29-26. "Aidan Ross will join the squad in Sydney to help the team prepare for the final Test of the British and Irish Lions series," the Wallabies said on social media. "Harry Potter will remain in Melbourne after sustaining a hamstring injury." Ross played his sole Test for the All Blacks in July 2022 against Ireland and has now completed World Rugby's mandatory three-year gap before switching allegiances. The 29-year-old was at Waikato Chiefs since 2017, playing his 100th game in their Super Rugby final triumph in June, but he will switch to Queensland Reds next season. Potter started the second Test against last weekend, but hobbled off 20 minutes into the game with replacement scrum-half Tate McDermott playing as wing. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has several options to replace Potter, including Dylan Pietsch, Filipo Daugunu and Corey Toole. © 2025 AFP


France 24
10 hours ago
- France 24
Australia rugby boss seeks answers on controversial Lions try
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt was fuming after the game in Melbourne on Saturday, adamant that Italian official Andrea Piardi got it wrong. Australia led for 79 minutes and were on the cusp of an upset when Hugo Keenan crossed at the death to seal an epic 29-26 comeback victory and the three-match series after the Lions won the first Test in Brisbane. Schmidt was adamant the try should not have stood, citing a high clean-out in the lead-up by Welsh flanker Jac Morgan on Carlo Tizzano. World Rugby rules state that contact made above the shoulders at the ruck is not allowed. Piardi reviewed the incident and ruled there was no foul play, but Rugby Australia chief executive Waugh backed Schmidt's interpretation. "We've got the utmost respect in respecting the referee's decision," Waugh told The Australian newspaper on Monday, adding that the Lions deserved praise for their comeback win. "But I do think there's a level of accountability and explanation that needs to come with that. And we look forward to that." In his post-match comments, Schmidt said the decision "doesn't really live up to the big player safety push" being made by World Rugby. "My response is absolutely identical to Joe's comments in the press conference," said Waugh. "I played professionally for 13 years and Joe's coached professionally for 20 years and both our views, and all those organisationally, are very aligned with what Joe talked to in that post-match press conference. "I look forward to World Rugby's response to it." © 2025 AFP