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Slipper (22'), Gordon (28'), Wright (30')
Tries
Sheehan (15'), Curry (34'), Jones (37'), Beirne (59'), Keenan (79')
Lynagh (28')
Conversions
Russell (38', 60')
Lynagh (4', 10', 53')
Penalties
Hugo Keenan was the British and Irish Lions hero as he scored a try at the death to give the tourists an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series against Australia.
Dan Sheehan, Tom Curry, Huw Jones, Tadhg Beirne, and Hugo Keenan scored the Lions tries, and Russell weighed in with two points.
For Australia, James Slipper, Jake Gordon, and Max Wright scored tries, and Tom Lynagh kicked 11 points.
Andy Farrell’s Lions faced a vastly different Wallabies side in Melbourne on Saturday to a week ago.
With Will Skelton and Rob Valentini back in the side, they had the power that they lacked in Brisbane and roared on by over 90,000 in the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) took the match to the tourists.
They led at halftime but were unable to shake off the Lions who scored two tries before the break when it looked like they were on the ropes.
Then when Valentini and Skelton went off, their intensity dropped enough for the Lions to capitalise on.
The Lions now have the chance to claim an unprecedented whitewash when the series concludes at Sydney’s Stadium Australia next Saturday.
FIRST BLOOD TO AUSTRALIA
It didn’t take long for Skelton to have his first rumble. From his second soon after he won a penalty and from that Valentini had his first charge. It put the Wallabies on the attack, and moments later Lynagh kicked the opening points.
Finn Russell’s quick restart put Australia on the back foot, but after some back and forth, his misspass missed everyone, and the Wallabies cleared.
Another Valentini carry and another Lynagh kick stretched the hosts’ lead. It was a deserved score after the opening 10 minutes in which the Wallabies looked to have greater clarity of thought.
The Lions turned to their pack, won a penalty, kicked to the corner, the drive came, Jack Conan knocked on, but the Aussie defence was offside. They held out from the first assault, but went back for another offside, and this time Sheehan flew over.
Harry Potter limped off and Tate McDermott came on, but they continued to attack. Again, Valentini led the charge, sending Andrew Porter flying backwards with one as they focused around the ruck.
AUSSIE ONSLAUGHT
Another penalty came, and a kick to the corner. The Lions defence went offside and put on a warning. The drive came and Slipper, the lone survivor from 2013, squeezed through in the corner, with Tommy Freeman sent to the bin.
The ill-discipline continued and the Australians had no hesitation in sending for the big men, rejuvenated with Lynagh continuing to put the ball in front of them and Lions fullback Keenan was having another torrid evening.
Gordon found a gap and a soft shoulder at a ruck. Max Jorgensen left James Lowe clutching at thin air and they were off. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii finally had space to attack, his footwork was magic, and Wright popped up on his shoulder to race away.
The Lions rallied, but passes were loose, hands cold. Thankfully, they had already won a penalty when Jones fumbled. Muscle memory kicked in and while lacking fluency the ball went wide to Curry who cut inside and scored his second of the series.
It breathed new life into the side, and after going left and right, Keenan popped off to Jones to squeeze through Jorgensen and McDermott.
SEND FOR THE CAVALRY
Valentini departed at halftime, the Lions issues continued as Lowe failed to claim a high ball. Australia’s kicks behind were working, the lineout was providing plentiful ball, and they continued to break the line with their carries.
Skelton took his leave before 50 minutes, but the Lions problems continued. Russell kicked straight to touch. A Maro Itoje tap tackle stopped McDermott from breaking through, but Lynagh kicked the first points of the half as more ill-discipline creeped in.
The ball was sticking in Aussie hands, while the Lions flailed. Curry came up big again to nail Suaalii and force a knock-on with the line beckoning. It was his last action and Jac Morgan came on as Curry dragged his weary frame from the field.
Bundee Aki and Ellis Genge made huge carries to breach the 22, and Lowe and Beirne belied disappointing showings till then to send the flanker crashing over in the corner.
Beirne and Itoje teamed up for a turnover, but Carlo Tizzano showed that while Skelton and Valentini were off, the Aussies power wasn’t done.
The kick through continued to work wonders and Gibson-Park had to be quick to clear up as McDermott charged through. Blair Kinghorn came off and found a gap, but with the line in sight, Will Stuart tried a roll too many and the Aussies cleared.
Australia Starting XV (1-15) James Slipper, Dave Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Jake Gordon, Tom Lynagh, Harry Potter, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright
Australia Replacements (16-23) Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson
British & Irish Lions Starting XV (1-15) Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Finn Russell, James Lowe, Bundee Aki, Huw Jones, Tommy Freeman, Hugo Keenan
British & Irish Lions Replacements (16-23) Ronan Kelleher, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, James Ryan, Jac Morgan, Alex Mitchell, Owen Farrell, Blair Kinghorn
