British and Irish Lions grind out a 21-10 win over Waratahs for a third win in 8 days
Big back-to-back wins over Western Force on Australia's west coast and Queensland Reds on the east coast followed a similar patterns where the Lions surged in the second half after arm-wrestles early with the local Super Rugby teams.
Advertisement
It was a different rhythm in Sydney, with a third different captain for the Lions and another re-arranged lineup with a view on the three-test tour.
Center Huw Jones scored close-range tries in the 12th and 35th minutes to give the Lions a 14-0 lead, although the Waratahs had a try overturned by the Television Match Official for a lineout obstruction in between.
The Waratahs scored from the second kick restart, sending the ball to the short side where winger Darby Lancaster beat some forward defenders, was knocked off balance by Hugo Keenan's attempted covering tackle before scrambling the last five meters to score in the left corner. That made it 14-5 at halftime.
The Lions hadn't conceded a point in the second half of their opening two wins but that run ended less than two minutes after the break, when Waratahs hooker Ethan Dobbins crashed over after a driving maul from a lineout, with two backs joining the maul.
Advertisement
Jack Bowen's conversion attempt hit the near upright, leaving the score at 14-10.
The Lions were denied an almost immediate try in response by some desperate cover defense before scrumhalf Alex Mitchell scored in the 55th, darting to the shortside from a ruck after sustained pressure from a scrum penalty and a stream of Waratahs errors.
Finn Smith converted to make it 21-10 and it appeared the Lions were starting to get on a roll again, particularly when Mitchell kicked a 50-22 to give the Lions another ideal attacking opportunity.
He then threw the last pass for replacement prop Ellis Genge to drive over on the hour, but the ball was lost in the tackle and the Waratahs held firm.
Advertisement
The Lions barged over again in the 76th but had a try disallowed for a lineout obstruction in the buildup, and weren't able to cross again in a scrappy, error-strewn encounter.
The Lions are now 3-0 since a 28-24 loss to Argentina in a warmup in Dublin before the traveling to Australia for a nine-game tour, which includes three tests against the Wallabies on July 19, 26 and Aug. 2.
The British and Irish squad will next play the Canberra-based Brumbies on Wednesday.
__
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
The Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Cameron Munster rocked by devastating news as skipper leaves Maroons Origin camp
Cameron Munster has left Maroons camp in Queensland after being rocked by the tragic news that his father Steven has passed away. QLD coach Billy Slater was surrounded by media on Sunday when he delivered the devastating news that Munster's father had died overnight, just days out from the State of Origin decider in Sydney. Slater revealed that Munster had been granted permission to leave the Maroons camp so he can return home to be with his family and loved ones during the terribly sad and difficult time. The Queensland skipper learned of his father's passing overnight but is determined to play in Origin 3 and honour his memory. 'Unfortunately we woke to the sad news of the passing of Cameron Munster's father Steven Munster overnight,' Slater told reporters on Sunday morning. 'Cam will exit camp to be with his family before rejoining his team for the game on Wednesday. 'On behalf of myself and our footy team and the state of Queensland, we send our thoughts, our love and condolences to Steven Munster's family and friends, in particular his wife Debbie, his daughter Danielle and of course his son Cameron. Thanks.' The awful development comes on the eve of the Origin decider in Sydney on Wednesday night, sparking a flood of messages as the NRL world rallies around the Maroons skipper and his family. Steven was one of his son's biggest supporters and was often seen attending games with wife Debbie to cheer on the Queensland and Melbourne Storm superstar. The Melbourne Storm also offered their condolences to the Munster family after reacting to the sad news for their star playmaker. "Melbourne Storm wishes to offer its deepest condolences to the Munster family following the passing of Cameron's father Steve overnight. Sending all our thoughts and prayers at this incredibly difficult time," the Storm wrote in a statement on social media. Munster's father Steven had been battling health issues for a number of years after being diagnosed with diabetes more than a decade ago. The Maroons skipper - who was man of the match for Queensland in a Game 2 victory that kept the Origin series alive - opened up about his father's condition during the Covid-affected season in 2020 when he flew back to spend time with his at-risk parents. RELATED: Another Bulldogs player set to leave in fresh fallout to Lachie Galvin move Cleary calls for NRL to make big change after issue that dudded Panthers 'Mum has high blood pressure and Dad has had diabetes for a long time,' Munster told at the time. 'If either one of them was to get (sick) they would be in serious trouble. Dad has had diabetes for a long time, he's not the best at looking after himself with it. 'He's been told he has a 10 per cent chance of living if he gets sick (with Covid), so that's pretty scary for me. Mum has had high blood pressure since I was born – maybe I gave it to her – but she is pretty good always taking her medication.' The Maroons were reportedly happy for Munster to stand down as skipper in the wake of his devastating loss, but he's determined to lead the state and pay homage to his father in Wednesday night's decider. The Maroons will be rallying around their skipper as they look to stop the Blues clinching back-to-back series wins, with the league world sending an outpouring of love and support after the tragic development. Terribly sad news out of the Maroons camp this morning - Cameron Munster's father Steven has passed away overnight. Flanked by the team, Billy Slater confirmed the Qld captain has exited camp to be with his family. Condolences & love being sent to the Munster's @abcsport @abcnews — Jessica Stewart (@Jess_Stewart16) July 6, 2025 RIP Very sad. — Lord St. John Cromwell, Earl of Strathmore (@AU_900) July 6, 2025 Dear Cam Munster, sorry to hear about the passing of your father. Sending my love and prayers to you and your family at this time. — Sami; ✡️ (@StormFanSami) July 6, 2025 Breaking news Sunday 6.7.25 11amCameron Munsters fatherStephen Munster has passed away overnight all in the rugby league fraternity pass on their condolences to the munster family — HOT HEADLINES (@jayystanlee) July 6, 2025 Much love to the Munster family. 🫶🙏 — Life Learn Do (@LifeLearnDo) July 6, 2025 Sending our collective condolences from all of the fanbase! Stay strong, Cam. 💜💜 — Dylan (@xXRynocerosXx) July 6, 2025
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Farrell: Waratahs may have over-watered pitch to hinder Lions
SYDNEY (AP) — British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell has suggested the New South Wales Waratahs may have deliberately over-watered the pitch at Sydney's Allianz Stadium ahead of Saturday's match in which the tourists struggled to a 21-10 win. The Lions kept their unbeaten record but produced their least impressive performance so far against a Waratahs team stripped of most of its Wallabies. Farrell implied the pitch had been watered to disadvantage the Lions at a post-match news conference. Despite winning 62 percent of possession and 70 percent of territory, the Lions stumbled to a three tries to two win amid a flurry of handling errors. Coastal areas of New South Wales state, including Sydney, had been hit by a 'bomb cyclone' in the week before the match which brought torrential rain and high winds. But Farrell said he had raised the possibility to pitch had been additionally watered after speaking with Waratahs attack coach and former England and Lions international Mike Catt. 'The pitch was very wet and I was asking Mike Catt after the game and he was laughing,' Farrell said. 'But, I mean, that's good tactics from them, isn't it? The ball's slippery, the breakdown's ferocious enough and the line speed is high-octane stuff as well from them. 'Catty just laughed and we've seen that done plenty of times. I don't know whether the pitch needed watering.' McKellar added 'no, no, no, no, no. Andy was probably sunning himself in Brisbane on Tuesday but it wasn't pleasant in Sydney, that's for sure.' Farrell was willing to concede the Lions did not play well after posting 50 points in their first two tour matches against the Western Force and Queensland Reds. 'There's a bit of frustration there,' Farrell said. 'It's nice to get a win but at this stage we're trying to judge the performance and we are a little bit more disappointed with the amount of possession and territory that we had and how we dealt with certain situations. 'Let's congratulate the Waratahs as well for the the type of game that they played, But when you have 70 per cent territory and 20 turnovers, that's by far not clinical enough.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Brave Munster to play Origin after his father's death
The death of Cameron Munster's father Steven has come as devastating news just days out from the State of Origin series decider. The Queensland captain, in a braveheart decision to honour his dad, will still lead the Maroons on Wednesday night after taking time away to grieve with his family before preparing to lead the side in what will be an emotion-charged occasion. Maroons coach Billy Slater made a statement to media on Sunday morning. "Unfortunately we woke to the sad news of the passing of Cameron Munster's father Steven Munster overnight. Cam will exit camp to be with his family before rejoining his team for the game on Wednesday," Slater said. "On behalf of myself, our footy team and the state of Queensland we send our thoughts, our love and condolences to Steven Munster's family and friends, in particular his wife Debbie, his daughter Danielle and of course his son Cameron." Days before the passing of his father, Munster spoke of his desire to lead the Maroons to what would be an historic victory if they can prevail in Sydney. No Maroons side in 45 years has lost the first game and won the next two away from home. The 26-24 win in Perth in game two is the first box ticked. Munster won his first decider on debut in 2017 and was superb. He backed that up in 2020 in a 20-14 win in Brisbane, after which he was named the Wally Lewis Medal winner as player of the series, despite missing most of game two after being concussed in the opening minutes. Both of those games were in Brisbane. He has played just one previous decider in Sydney, in 2019 when a last-minute James Tedesco try won it 26-20 for NSW. Munster, 30, was man of the match in his first game as skipper in game two and is determined to back that up in his 21st Origin match. "There's a lot riding on it and there's a lot of history that needs to be broken, but things tend to get broken," Munster said. "I'm probably going to need to stand up again for game three and I'll make sure I do. "I have played in a decider in Sydney when we just got beaten by them in the last two minutes. We had come back in a miraculous way. I think we were down 14 points at one stage, but then Tedesco scored and broke our hearts. "I know they're a good quality outfit and we're a good quality outfit too. We keep speaking about bringing our best game and we brought it for the first 40 minutes (in Perth) but it's going to take a whole 80-minute performance in Sydney." The Maroons have retained the Origin shield in a Sydney decider on four occasions, with wins in 1998, 2008 and 2013, along with a draw in 2002 when Dane Carlaw scored in the final minute. Munster indicated the Maroons will relish being the underdogs in Sydney. "In Perth, there was a lot of people that wrote us off, so there'll be a lot of people writing us off for game three," he said recently. "We can only control what we control in the week and get our preparation right. "We've got to go down there and try and play our hearts out and give it everything." It will be with a heavy heart for Munster but he has always given his heart and soul for the Maroons and his teammates will be right behind him in what are the toughest of times.
