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Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Debate over 'that' try continues long after the Lions clinch a series win over Australia
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Debate continued Sunday on a hemispheric basis over the last-minute try and absence of a penalty that sealed the British and Irish Lions' 29-26 win over Australia in the second test and a series victory with a match to spare. From the Northern Hemisphere, Jac Morgan's cleanout of Carlo Tizzano at the last breakdown Saturday was fair and perfectly executed. From the Southern Hemisphere, Morgan breached rugby's law 9.20 by striking Tizzano above the shoulders which likely in most matches in the south would have been considered endangerment and would have been penalized.
Japan Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- Japan Today
Lions stage stunning comeback to beat Australia and win series
British and Irish Lions' Tom Curry scores a try under pressure from Australia's Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii rugby union By Martin PARRY The British and Irish Lions staged a stunning comeback from an 18-point deficit with a last-gasp try to edge Australia 29-26 Saturday and seal the three-match series with a game to go. In a rousing performance before 90,307 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the tourists responded spectacularly after slumping 23-5 down with Hugo Keenan's 79th-minute try claiming a famous win. "This is fairytale stuff. It's what we have dreamed of, dreams do come true," Lions head coach Andy Farrell said. "To come to the MCG and roll against the punches in the first-half, they (Wallabies) certainly turned up. "To stay in the fight till the death and back ourselves. We were delighted with that... it's pretty special." It was a sensational reply after being stunned by three tries in eight first-half minutes from Australia's James Slipper, Jake Gordon and Tom Wright. The wounded Lions clawed back to be 23-17 behind at the break then dealt a crushing blow with Keenan's match-winning heroics, with the try awarded despite Australia's protest of a high clean-out in the lead-up. "Players make errors, match officials make errors," said Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt of the decision to let the try stand. "Our perspective is we felt it was a decision that doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they are always talking about." It is the first time since 1997 that the Lions have wrapped up a test series with a game to spare after winning in Brisbane 27-19. They remain unbeaten after eight tour games in Australia with only the final dead rubber test in Sydney next weekend standing between them and a whitewash. "I'm gutted. I've been gutted a few times in my coaching career, but that is right up there," added Schmidt. "Sometimes you just don't get what you earn. I felt we earned more than what we got." Farrell touted the showdown as the biggest of his players' lives and they rose to the occasion, but it was a titanic battle against a vastly improved Australia. The hosts beefed up with marauding powerhouse forwards Will Skelton, Rob Valetini and Dave Porecki all back from injury and their presence was huge -- helping combat the brutality that helped the Lions win in Brisbane. In Australia's past two series against the Lions, in 2001 and 2013, the Wallabies lost the first Test then levelled both in Melbourne. And they started well when Tom Lynagh nailed a penalty on three minutes to settle their nerves, then made it 6-0 soon after when he slotted another from 40 meters. The Lions, though, grew in confidence and began laying siege to the Wallabies line, with Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan diving over two tackles to dot down and open their account. Undeterred, the hosts kept coming and veteran prop Slipper powered over for a converted try with the Lions' problems compounded with Tommy Freeman sent to the sin bin after repeated infringements at the breakdown. It proved costly, with the Wallabies grabbing two tries in his absence, the first to scrum-half Gordon who sniped through a gap then fullback Wright after a sizzling run from Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. With Freeman's return, the Lions regrouped and clawed back with two tries of their own in quick succession. England flanker Tom Curry snared the first after being fed by Jamison Gibson-Park on the wing, with centre Huw Jones forcing his way over for the second. In a setback, Valetini failed to return for the second-half and Skelton went off soon after the restart. Tate McDermott converted a penalty to increase the hosts' buffer but the loss of their two big forwards was felt and the Lions began gaining ascendancy. Ireland lock Tadhg Beirne crossed in the corner and with Finn Russell adding the extras, the Lions were only two points adrift with 20 minutes to play. In a frantic finish, the Lions kept pressing with Keenan scrambling over at the death. © 2025 AFP
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Hugo Keenan - Lions win was 'a moment you play rugby for and you dream of'
Hugo Keenan, the British and Irish Lions' match hero, was resolute in his decision to score the game-winning try against Australia, despite head coach Andy Farrell's pleas for him to pass. With just 51 seconds remaining, Keenan sprinted over the line to give the Lions their first lead in a thrilling 29-26 victory at Melbourne Cricket Ground, securing a series win with one match still to play. The Ireland full-back had Jack Conan as an option on his outside, but he chose to kick into high gear, outpacing Len Ikitau to score the try. Farrell said: 'I was screaming, pass it, pass it, pass it! And knowing Hugo, he was never going to pass it! He was always going to back himself!' Keenan saw his chance and took it as the Lions completed a magnificent comeback in the second Test, having trailed 23-5 after just half an hour. 'Andy mentioned it after. I think he backed me in the end. Jack was outside and he would have finished it himself, but where there's a will there's a way!' Keenan said. 'It's a bit surreal. It was a class moment. It was off the back two minutes of phase attack, the lads digging deep. 'It meant the world to myself and everybody that was out there, the 23, the lads who weren't playing, the backroom staff, the 50,000 Lions supporters out there and everyone at home. It's a really special moment. 'I jumped into the crowd at the end a few times! It was unbelievable walking around the stadium. My parents were there, my brother, my uncle and aunt, my girlfriend. 'I've about 10 friends over from Ireland who have spent a bomb to be here but they are all saying it is absolutely worth it. Really cool moments which make it extra special.' The try was a personal triumph for Keenan, who entered the Lions camp with a calf injury and was then struck by a stomach bug that lasted for 12 days, resulting in him losing a stone in weight. 'It's been a mad whole trip. It's not how I imagined it going, getting sick for two weeks and coming in to camp a bit injured,' he said.. 'It's been a rollercoaster but these things happen for a reason and thankfully I was in full health come the last two Tests. I'm delighted to be involved and delighted that we got the result. 'It's special moments having our family and friends out on the pitch with us at the end. It's those moments you play rugby for and you dream of.'
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Oliver Brown: Stop moaning Australia, your player dived – as Lions' first clean sweep in 98 years beckons
It felt fitting that this truly enthralling Test, electrified by the Wallabies' wounded pride and the British and Irish Lions' extraordinary powers of perseverance, should end on a moment of the richest theatre. Just when it seemed that Hugo Keenan's last-gasp try had put a glorious, controversy-free exclamation point on this series, with Tadhg Furlong windmilling down the touchline to celebrate, referee Andrea Piardi deferred to the TMO to see whether Jac Morgan had committed an illegal clear-out on Carlo Tizzano just before the full-back scored.
The South African
6 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Australia vs British Lions 2nd Test: Teams, kick-off time, prediction
Owen Farrell has been named on the British and Irish Lions' bench for the second Test against Australia at the MCG on Saturday. Image: AFP Owen Farrell was named on the British and Irish Lions' bench for the second Test against Australia, one of seven changes to the matchday 23 as the tourists look to clinch the series in Melbourne. Lock Ollie Chessum, prop Andrew Porter and centre Bundee Aki all come into the starting side in place of Ellis Genge, who drops to the bench, Sione Tuipulotu and Joe McCarthy. McCarthy is unfit after limping off with a foot injury in the Lions' 27-19 win in Brisbane last Saturday, while Tuipulotu misses out with a hamstring strain. ADVERTISEMENT Influential performance Farrell was overlooked for the opening Test, but captained the side against a First Nations and Pasifika XV on Tuesday. He delivered an influential performance in his first full 80-minute game since April. Farrell replaces Marcus Smith, who was available for selection having passed a concussion test after suffering a head knock as a substitute against Pasifika. Ireland's Hugo Keenan retained his spot at fullback, with Scotland's Blair Kinghorn named as a replacement having proved his fitness against Pasifika. Wing Mack Hansen was touted as a strong contender for the bench, but has a foot injury. 'Feeling good' Head coach Andy Farrell revealed that Garry Ringrose had been originally selected in an all-Irish midfield with Aki, but withdrew after Thursday's training session with Scotland's Huw Jones coming back in. ADVERTISEMENT 'It's head related again,' Farrell said of Ringrose. 'There was no incident. He was feeling good. 'Players are getting very good at telling the truth of how they feel, so it was a no-brainer to make the change straight away.' After an upset loss to Argentina in Dublin, the Lions have won all seven games since arriving in Australia. Farrell's side can clinch a first Lions series win in 12 years with a game to spare at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where a crowd of 90 000 is expected. The Lions are coming off a bruising 24-19 win over the Pasifika side and are bracing for another physical contest with wet weather forecast. 'We have put ourselves in a good position after the first Test, but we know there will be a massive reaction from this Wallaby team,' said coach Farrell. 'Everyone saw the quality they have in Brisbane and we know we will have to be a lot better than we were last week. 'We're the privileged ones that get the opportunity to do something special and hopefully create a bit of history.' TEAMS Australia 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 David Porecki, 1 James Slipper Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Tom Robertson, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Carlo Tizzano, 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Ben Donaldson British and Irish Lions 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 3 Tadgh Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 James Ryan, 20 Jac Morgan, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Blair Kinghorn Prediction British & Irish Lions to win by 9 points Date: Saturday, 26 July Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Kick-off: 12:00 (SA time) Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy) Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) TMO: Eric Gauzins (France) How do you predict the match will end? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
