The British and Irish Lions have overcome an 18-point deficit to beat the Wallabies 29-26 in Melbourne and win their three-match series with a game to spare.
The visitors trailed 23-5 in the first half and won with a try to Hugo Keenan in the 80th minute.
Australian rugby commentator Brett McKay joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
British and Irish Lions have edged Australia twenty nine to
twenty six in a thrilling rugby test in front of
ninety thousand fans in Melbourne, courtesy of a last minute
try to Hugo Keenan, wrapping up the series two nil
with one game to spare. The try was awarded despite
Wallaby's flanker Carlo Tizano appearing to have been illegally cleaned
(00:34):
out in the build up by Lions reserve back rower
Jack Morgan. The referees had a look at it afterwards,
both the rug at the same time in adynamic ruck.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Players rapping, we don't see any four playing trice down.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Try for the Lions. Got to come back for the
Lions and the trophy is going back to the Northern Heimms.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
If he had to say the decision wasn't universally agreed
with his former Wallaby Morgan to the NUI afterwards, but.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
The end is a penalty to the Wallabies and the
referees were too weak to give it. It doesn't matter.
You cannot hit a guy in the back of the neck.
The referees have got it wrong. It has cost the
Wallaby's survival in the series. The British and Irish Scions
lead this series too, Neil. It was brave to come
back from them, but it is a terrible decision that
(01:46):
decides this match.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
You are not a lot of gray area there from
Morgan to the NEWI. The Lions had overcome an eighteen
point deficit after three first half tries and eight minutes
for Australia. Let's bring in our favorite Australian rugby voice,
Brett McKay. Hear him on the eight nine Combo Rugby podcast,
read him at RugbyPass dot com. Let's start at the end.
(02:08):
Was it an illegal clean out?
Speaker 5 (02:13):
It didn't look great, I'll say that up up front,
but having looked at it a few more times, it
sort it's certainly it wasn't clear. I didn't think and
I know Joe Schmidt teed off post match about protecting
welfare of players and things like that, but it kind of,
I don't know, on a few viewings afterwards, it kind
(02:33):
of looked like he's probably come down on back of
shoulders and maybe neck and so you know, maybe that's
where maybe maybe it's the maybe that it makes it
a makes it makes it a still a highly contentious moment.
But it always felt like, in particularly in those last
(02:53):
five minutes, it was going to come down to a
big decision like that, and it was just a matter
of where's it going to come on, which part of
the field, who's in possession? You know how much time
lists on the clock and you know there we were
eightieth minute and it all happened. And the feeling the
next morning, Mate, I've got to say is still every
(03:15):
bit is gutting and deflating as it was trying to
come back to the hotel and you know, wind out
last night. It's just one of those real, real gut
punches that just hits you.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Some of the rugby. The Wallabies played the first half
out as good as I've seen and I'll get your
view on this in recent times. How much optimism did
that give you last night? And does it give you
I guess moving forward even though this is.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
Deflating, Yeah, look, it has to Mate, it and your
spot on it was, you know, it was probably the
it was probably the most comprehensive, you know, thirty four,
thirty five minutes of the first half that we've seen
from this playing group. You know, the we've we've been
talking on the eight nine all week about them having
to you know, start well, get out to a lead early,
(04:02):
extend it. What really really pushed the lines because we
hadn't seen that of them this this tour. The only
time that the Lawrens had trailed at halftime was in
Dublin against Argentina and so you know, the Reds, the Brumbies,
even the Warrior task to an extent. So the first
Nations game here in Melbourne on Tuesday night, you know,
they sort of try for try early on and the
(04:24):
Lions had to try to really catch up to play
the game. But at no point on tour had the
Lions trailed and really had to play to get back
into the game. And so you know, to build up
the lead that they did was just absolutely fantastic and
you're right, played some brilliant rugby, you know, a lot
more physical in the carry. Found a way to get
Joseph Suli involved at thirteen and it was his little
(04:49):
little left footstep to straight and that put Tom puts
Tom right away from halfway. So you know, a really
really good piece of rugby. So look, going forward made
it's got to bring optimism because you know they've they've
pushed one of the very best teams in the world,
you know, all the way and you know probably probably
(05:09):
could have could make arguments for them for them winning
that game. So it's got to give them belief. It's
got to give optimism and it's got to be a
step forward for austral And rugby from here.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Tell us about the lines come back though, from twenty
three to five down. What did they do differently? How
did they get themselves back into the match.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
Yeah, it was one of those things that there was
always going to be a response and we've seen we
have seen in games before halftime and we see this
against New Zealand. We certainly said against South Africa as well.
The top teams always managed to find a gear in
those five minutes either side of half time, don't they,
And there was just a feeling of they, you know,
twenty three five would be great, Yere, but they really
(05:46):
got to make sure it doesn't get it doesn't get
not narrowed and then you know they score that it's
second try of curries and that was just a little
bit soft I think the Lions are able to get
back into the Wallabies half and then and then twenty
two I think way too easily. And then the third
try probably hit them while they're on the back foot.
(06:09):
Where's that? You know, where's that try come from? Oh,
now we've conceded another one. And so you know, suddenly,
as I say, twenty three ten at halftime, they probably
could have taken, but twenty three seventeen it probably changes
the messaging at halftime, you can imagine that twenty three ten,
the messaging is really really positive. You know, it's a
good lead, boys, let's go out score first, extend that,
put them on the back foot again, do what we've
(06:29):
been doing. Twenty three seventeen, though, suddenly it's all, you know, boys,
this is what we could have but this is what
we could have been doing instead, We've got to now
do this. And you know, they did score first. They
did add that penalty, but that was and that was
about the fifty third, fifty fourth minute, and after that
point I actually wasn't one hundred pcent sure where the
(06:51):
points were going to come from from the Wallabies, and
that was always a danger. Was twenty six points for
me enough it never felt really felt like it was
it was going to and certainly in the last quarter
was there. We was just no points coming and no
real threat of points coming from the rubb, from the
bump from the lines at that point.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Back to bake t Starts and the team jersey for
Tom Liner, does he appeal as the long term Wallabies
first five to you?
Speaker 5 (07:16):
It feels like at the moment, but yes, yes, And
I think they had a different shape about them last night,
and I think there was a much better connection with
the midfield as well. So the big adjustment that we
noticed was that they were playing, particularly when they were
going wide to midfield, they were playing playing a lot
more before the game line. Rather than trying to burst
(07:39):
Sue Lee through a gap as he made contact in Brisbane,
they were really playing before the game line and letting
him do something, you know, with the time and space
that he had, and it did definitely work. There was
a few opportunities there to you know, for him to
make a few little line breaks, to get a few
little off loads away and things. So Lina certainly takes
(07:59):
takes credit for that. Obviously, the game plan was was
tweaked to allow that, So yeah, I think I think
he does for now. Obviously Noel la Ceo, he's going
to be out of action for the next six months anyway.
But him heading to Japan probably meant he wouldn't have
played the Rugby Championship. I can imagine. I can actually
imagine now all the guys that are heading overseas at
(08:23):
the end of this season probably now don't play the
Rugby Championship, so there'll be a few few players coming there.
But I think Tom Liner is the is the way
forward until until such time that the great next Australian
fly half hope through Super Rugby.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
And does this actually add some spice to next week's
Suppose he'd rub a third Test? I mean, the series decided,
but a Wallaby side who feel they were robbed last
night perhaps deeply motivated to make sure they get one
back in Sydney.
Speaker 5 (08:52):
Yeah, look, I hope so, mate, I hope so. And
we had had this this very topic of conversation on
the on the eight nine post mortem straight out for
Full Time last night that you know, what does next
week look like the Lions? Does does Andy Farrell take
the opportunity to to go to Henry Pollock and Josh
Thunderflare and maybe Gary ring Rose of his fit to say,
(09:14):
you know, you guys are part of this. You get
on even on the field here, Let's let's make sure
that we finish this three nail sweep equally. Does he
go hard to make sure he does get that three
nil sweep? The Wallabies? I can imagine I'd actually like
to see Joe Schmidt say to last night's twenty three
(09:34):
pending fitness brother, guys, go and prove that we can
do it. Let's stop the stop the sweep at any cost.
So yeah, look, I think the Wallaby is still a
plenty of motivation. I'll be I'll be curious to see
what the what the Lions are like next week, because
they would have had a big night last night. It
was already starting at the MCG before before we managed
to pack up in the in the media area. At
(09:56):
one point, suddenly the whole playing squad emerges out in
the middle of the Melbourne Creek ground with plastic chairs
and they're sitting in a circle and they're obviously, you know,
have cheers and giving thanks for that. And then suddenly
Hugo Cenan has obviously been dispatched to the corner to
reenact the try and so suddenly he's just just belted
up for the try dive for the corner. There was
(10:18):
much celebrations and they were done. They walked off and
took their chairs with them, so you know, I can
imagine Lines had a good night last night as well.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Great summary of a big night in Melbourne. Thanks so
much for joining us, Brett, really appreciate your time as always,
good on. Thanks many no thank you, Brett, Brett McKay,
you know one of our favorite correspondents.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
British and Irish Lions have edged Australia twenty nine to
twenty six in a thrilling rugby test in front of
ninety thousand fans in Melbourne, courtesy of a last minute
try to Hugo Keenan, wrapping up the series two nil
with one game to spare. The try was awarded despite
Wallaby's flanker Carlo Tizano appearing to have been illegally cleaned
(00:34):
out in the build up by Lions reserve back rower
Jack Morgan. The referees had a look at it afterwards,
both the rug at the same time in adynamic ruck.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Players rapping, we don't see any four playing trice down.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Try for the Lions. Got to come back for the
Lions and the trophy is going back to the Northern Heimms.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
If he had to say the decision wasn't universally agreed
with his former Wallaby Morgan to the NUI afterwards, but.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
The end is a penalty to the Wallabies and the
referees were too weak to give it. It doesn't matter.
You cannot hit a guy in the back of the neck.
The referees have got it wrong. It has cost the
Wallaby's survival in the series. The British and Irish Scions
lead this series too, Neil. It was brave to come
back from them, but it is a terrible decision that
(01:46):
decides this match.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
You are not a lot of gray area there from
Morgan to the NEWI. The Lions had overcome an eighteen
point deficit after three first half tries and eight minutes
for Australia. Let's bring in our favorite Australian rugby voice,
Brett McKay. Hear him on the eight nine Combo Rugby podcast,
read him at RugbyPass dot com. Let's start at the end.
(02:08):
Was it an illegal clean out?
Speaker 5 (02:13):
It didn't look great, I'll say that up up front,
but having looked at it a few more times, it
sort it's certainly it wasn't clear. I didn't think and
I know Joe Schmidt teed off post match about protecting
welfare of players and things like that, but it kind of,
I don't know, on a few viewings afterwards, it kind
(02:33):
of looked like he's probably come down on back of
shoulders and maybe neck and so you know, maybe that's
where maybe maybe it's the maybe that it makes it
a makes it makes it a still a highly contentious moment.
But it always felt like, in particularly in those last
(02:53):
five minutes, it was going to come down to a
big decision like that, and it was just a matter
of where's it going to come on, which part of
the field, who's in possession? You know how much time
lists on the clock and you know there we were
eightieth minute and it all happened. And the feeling the
next morning, Mate, I've got to say is still every
(03:15):
bit is gutting and deflating as it was trying to
come back to the hotel and you know, wind out
last night. It's just one of those real, real gut
punches that just hits you.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Some of the rugby. The Wallabies played the first half
out as good as I've seen and I'll get your
view on this in recent times. How much optimism did
that give you last night? And does it give you
I guess moving forward even though this is.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
Deflating, Yeah, look, it has to Mate, it and your
spot on it was, you know, it was probably the
it was probably the most comprehensive, you know, thirty four,
thirty five minutes of the first half that we've seen
from this playing group. You know, the we've we've been
talking on the eight nine all week about them having
to you know, start well, get out to a lead early,
(04:02):
extend it. What really really pushed the lines because we
hadn't seen that of them this this tour. The only
time that the Lawrens had trailed at halftime was in
Dublin against Argentina and so you know, the Reds, the Brumbies,
even the Warrior task to an extent. So the first
Nations game here in Melbourne on Tuesday night, you know,
they sort of try for try early on and the
(04:24):
Lions had to try to really catch up to play
the game. But at no point on tour had the
Lions trailed and really had to play to get back
into the game. And so you know, to build up
the lead that they did was just absolutely fantastic and
you're right, played some brilliant rugby, you know, a lot
more physical in the carry. Found a way to get
Joseph Suli involved at thirteen and it was his little
(04:49):
little left footstep to straight and that put Tom puts
Tom right away from halfway. So you know, a really
really good piece of rugby. So look, going forward made
it's got to bring optimism because you know they've they've
pushed one of the very best teams in the world,
you know, all the way and you know probably probably
(05:09):
could have could make arguments for them for them winning
that game. So it's got to give them belief. It's
got to give optimism and it's got to be a
step forward for austral And rugby from here.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Tell us about the lines come back though, from twenty
three to five down. What did they do differently? How
did they get themselves back into the match.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
Yeah, it was one of those things that there was
always going to be a response and we've seen we
have seen in games before halftime and we see this
against New Zealand. We certainly said against South Africa as well.
The top teams always managed to find a gear in
those five minutes either side of half time, don't they,
And there was just a feeling of they, you know,
twenty three five would be great, Yere, but they really
(05:46):
got to make sure it doesn't get it doesn't get
not narrowed and then you know they score that it's
second try of curries and that was just a little
bit soft I think the Lions are able to get
back into the Wallabies half and then and then twenty
two I think way too easily. And then the third
try probably hit them while they're on the back foot.
(06:09):
Where's that? You know, where's that try come from? Oh,
now we've conceded another one. And so you know, suddenly,
as I say, twenty three ten at halftime, they probably
could have taken, but twenty three seventeen it probably changes
the messaging at halftime, you can imagine that twenty three ten,
the messaging is really really positive. You know, it's a
good lead, boys, let's go out score first, extend that,
put them on the back foot again, do what we've
(06:29):
been doing. Twenty three seventeen, though, suddenly it's all, you know, boys,
this is what we could have but this is what
we could have been doing instead, We've got to now
do this. And you know, they did score first. They
did add that penalty, but that was and that was
about the fifty third, fifty fourth minute, and after that
point I actually wasn't one hundred pcent sure where the
(06:51):
points were going to come from from the Wallabies, and
that was always a danger. Was twenty six points for
me enough it never felt really felt like it was
it was going to and certainly in the last quarter
was there. We was just no points coming and no
real threat of points coming from the rubb, from the
bump from the lines at that point.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Back to bake t Starts and the team jersey for
Tom Liner, does he appeal as the long term Wallabies
first five to you?
Speaker 5 (07:16):
It feels like at the moment, but yes, yes, And
I think they had a different shape about them last night,
and I think there was a much better connection with
the midfield as well. So the big adjustment that we
noticed was that they were playing, particularly when they were
going wide to midfield, they were playing playing a lot
more before the game line. Rather than trying to burst
(07:39):
Sue Lee through a gap as he made contact in Brisbane,
they were really playing before the game line and letting
him do something, you know, with the time and space
that he had, and it did definitely work. There was
a few opportunities there to you know, for him to
make a few little line breaks, to get a few
little off loads away and things. So Lina certainly takes
(07:59):
takes credit for that. Obviously, the game plan was was
tweaked to allow that, So yeah, I think I think
he does for now. Obviously Noel la Ceo, he's going
to be out of action for the next six months anyway.
But him heading to Japan probably meant he wouldn't have
played the Rugby Championship. I can imagine. I can actually
imagine now all the guys that are heading overseas at
(08:23):
the end of this season probably now don't play the
Rugby Championship, so there'll be a few few players coming there.
But I think Tom Liner is the is the way
forward until until such time that the great next Australian
fly half hope through Super Rugby.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
And does this actually add some spice to next week's
Suppose he'd rub a third Test? I mean, the series decided,
but a Wallaby side who feel they were robbed last
night perhaps deeply motivated to make sure they get one
back in Sydney.
Speaker 5 (08:52):
Yeah, look, I hope so, mate, I hope so. And
we had had this this very topic of conversation on
the on the eight nine post mortem straight out for
Full Time last night that you know, what does next
week look like the Lions? Does does Andy Farrell take
the opportunity to to go to Henry Pollock and Josh
Thunderflare and maybe Gary ring Rose of his fit to say,
(09:14):
you know, you guys are part of this. You get
on even on the field here, Let's let's make sure
that we finish this three nail sweep equally. Does he
go hard to make sure he does get that three
nil sweep? The Wallabies? I can imagine I'd actually like
to see Joe Schmidt say to last night's twenty three
(09:34):
pending fitness brother, guys, go and prove that we can
do it. Let's stop the stop the sweep at any cost.
So yeah, look, I think the Wallaby is still a
plenty of motivation. I'll be I'll be curious to see
what the what the Lions are like next week, because
they would have had a big night last night. It
was already starting at the MCG before before we managed
to pack up in the in the media area. At
(09:56):
one point, suddenly the whole playing squad emerges out in
the middle of the Melbourne Creek ground with plastic chairs
and they're sitting in a circle and they're obviously, you know,
have cheers and giving thanks for that. And then suddenly
Hugo Cenan has obviously been dispatched to the corner to
reenact the try and so suddenly he's just just belted
up for the try dive for the corner. There was
(10:18):
much celebrations and they were done. They walked off and
took their chairs with them, so you know, I can
imagine Lines had a good night last night as well.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Great summary of a big night in Melbourne. Thanks so
much for joining us, Brett, really appreciate your time as always,
good on. Thanks many no thank you, Brett, Brett McKay,
you know one of our favorite correspondents.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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