Lions Fall Short as Wallabies Secure Series Finale
The hopes of a dominant tour for the British & Irish Lions came to an end as they suffered their first defeat in Australia on a rain-soaked evening in Sydney. The home side rose to the occasion, overcoming challenging weather and a break in play due to a lightning storm to deny the visitors a perfect record.
The Lions also faced mounting injury concerns, losing captain Maro Itoje, Tommy Freeman, and James Ryan to head injuries before both teams were ordered off the pitch as a precaution. The match was paused with the hosts leading 8-0 at 9:12 p.m. local time, resuming after a 38-minute delay.
A try from Jac Morgan in the 61st minute offered the Lions brief hope, but the Wallabies remained in control, securing the win with early points from Dylan Pietsch and second-half scores from Max Jorgensen and Tate McDermott. Will Stuart’s late effort for the Lions provided little comfort.
Joe Schmidt’s side adapted to the conditions more effectively, outmaneuvering the Lions tactically. The visitors struggled to pose a consistent threat, with unreliable kicking and a weakened lineout. Australia’s forwards were sharper in both attack and defense, ensuring the Lions fell short of their first unbeaten multi-Test tour in nearly a century.
This was the second time in weeks that a match had been halted due to lightning, following a similar interruption in the Australia-Wales women’s game in Brisbane. Heavy rain disrupted transport and left fans soaked long before kickoff.
Australia started strongly, grabbing an early try when a well-timed pass from Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii set up Pietsch for the opening score. The Lions almost responded quickly, but a turnover by Billy Pollard cost them a scoring opportunity near the home side’s line.
Taniela Tupou’s impact in the scrum added to the visitors’ frustrations in a tough opening half. The Wallabies controlled possession and territory, unsettling their opponents. Fin Russell’s handling error and a subsequent penalty only highlighted the Lions’ struggles.
Things worsened when Itoje left the field for a head injury assessment and did not return, forcing Ollie Chessum to step in alongside Ryan while Dan Sheehan assumed the captaincy.
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