If those organising this year’s Lions tour to Australia had sat down and sketched out their dream second Test, it would not have been too far off what we saw at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.
They would have wanted a citadel, they would have wanted over 90,000 people – with roughly half of that travelling, Home Nations support – and they would have wanted the dramatic finale, with the series on the line. If you were scripting the perfect match, I’m not sure what else you would have included before critics accused you of being too Hollywood. The MCG was, quite frankly, an amazing venue for a Test of such calibre. An incredible atmosphere; and the match had everything.
In one Melbourne evening, Australia proved that it is still a valid and viable location for a Lions tour, despite Union’s struggles in the country. Saturday was totally different to Brisbane, which was in part down to how things transpired on the field. The atmosphere had a real edge. If we could have three Tests exactly like Saturday then we’re back here in a heartbeat. Where do I sign?
Pre-match, I was at an event at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and there were fans almost banging the door down to get in, almost like a zombie apocalypse, to hear the thoughts of Lions legends like Martin Johnson and Alun Wyn Jones over a pint. All roads had been leading to the MCG and the appetite was huge. Everyone was loving Australia.
Second Tests in Lions series are just special. The Lions were chasing shadows but they found a way to get back into it. The final try from Hugo Keenan was one of those moments where you were just glad you were there. In fact, the whole game was one that you were just proud you could say you were at.
You always want your team to win but when your team wins with drama it is the Holy Grail of sport. Authentic, organic, unscripted sporting drama. If Manchester City had beaten Queens Park Rangers 5-0 then we’d never remember “Aguerooooooo”; and the same could be said for plenty of iconic sporting moments. What about Jonny’s drop-goal, the 2019 Cricket World Cup final super over? What if Federer-Nadal at Wimbledon in 2008 had been over in three sets?
Chatting to the Lions players after – I spoke to five or six on television – they all said they never thought they would lose, and I believe that. That’s the leadership from Andy Farrell – play big, stay strong – the direction on the field, a physically tough set of lads, and then the tip of the spear, the finer details; Finn Russell’s offload to Blair Kinghorn to keep playing at the end, with the game in the balance, and Keenan’s effort to clean out the ruck before himself becoming the hero. Crucial moments.
After I had finished chatting to them, with the final whistle having gone at 10pm, the Lions players came out onto the field with a load of plastic chairs to have a little sing-song. That was at 11.30pm local time. Keenan then recreated his winning moment in his socks, beer in hand. I suggested he should have got a spade and dug up his little bit of the turf but Collingwood have a massive AFL game next weekend and the groundspeople probably would have throttled me!
The Wallabies did their country proud, too; they were awesome. They absolutely ripped the Lions apart in the first half and were well deserving of their 23-5 lead. The issue for the hosts was that that counts for little if it ends up as 23-17 at half-time, as it did. But Australia showed they could play, they could carry, they could rip you apart and they could also go the length from the restart. Will Skelton was big, Rob Valetini was extraordinary. I’m assuming he picked up a knock because he looked like he would be player of the match by half time.
The Lions were more clinical. And credit must go to referee Andrea Piardi and his officials for getting both the Dan Sheehan and Jac Morgan decisions correct. You can dive in the act of scoring – and that’s what Sheehan did – but you cannot jump a tackle, like Welshman Blair Murray did in the Six Nations. In any case, the Wallabies defenders had their heads down, their chins down for Sheehan; they should have had greater awareness.
The Morgan incident did not even need looking at. It was a brilliant clean-out; I’ve watched it 50 times. Whatever lens you view it through, I don’t see how you give that as a pen. I’ve spoken to Johnno and Warren Gatland – they both agreed. I’ve not come across anyone who has said Morgan was lucky.
In Melbourne the series came alive but ironically it also died. That is the thing with Lions tours; in eight days it is done. Four more years now – and 12 for the Wallabies.
But selection for the third Test in Sydney will be fascinating. I think Farrell will be tempted by fresh legs. There has been a massive collective effort with some huge impacts for those who played both Tests. We are told selection was nip and tuck. I could see five or six changes, rotating out the guys who are spent. The data will inform them.
For Australia, the issue is that a fortnight after the third Test they face South Africa in Ellis Park, in the opening round of the Rugby Championship. Does that come into play? There are arguments for both Farrell and Joe Schmidt sending out a full-metal jacket team, with one looking for 3-0 and the other looking to salvage some pride, in the country’s showcase rugby event. But Joe might think about saving some of his big guns, especially those with niggles, for the Rugby Championship, with the series done. Farrell might also think of doing the same.
But those decisions will come on Wednesday. For now, Melbourne is red and the series belongs to the Lions.
