The British and Irish Lions ran in 49 tries during their 10 matches that stretched from Dublin to Sydney.
The British and Irish Lions ran in 49 tries during their 10 matches that stretched from Dublin to Sydney.
Bundee Aki scored the first, against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Dan Sheehan grabbed the Lions first try on Australian soil, Sione Tuipulotu helped himself to the Lions’ first test try, in Brisbane, and Will Stuart touched down for their final score in the third test at Stadium Australia.
In total, Andy Farrell’s team scored 49 tries including a penalty try against Argentina. Winger Duhan van der Merwe was the leading try-scorer with five and was the only tour member to score a hat-trick, as he did against the ANZAC XV in Adelaide.
ATR has picked its favourite four tries, with each of the Home Nations represented.
Wales - Tomos Williams, v Western Force
A lovely free-flowing, counter-attacking score. It beings on the edge of the Lions 22, when Tadhg Beirne pops a pass to Mack Hansen, he hits the gap then finds his fellow wing James Lowe in support and charging like a rhino.
Lowe opts to go wide to Williams, rather than inside to Beirne, and continues to support as the scrumhalf blazes away down the right touchline.
Williams pops it back to Lowe, and when he draws the defence, the Irishman pops it back wide to Williams who runs home and finishes with a dive and forward roll in the corner.
Alas, that was the last we saw of Williams, who got up holding his left hamstring. Indeed, it was a serious injury, and he was back home soon after which was a real shame as he impressed in both matches.
England – Tommy Freeman v Queensland Reds
The best example of what Farrell and back’s coach Richard Wigglesworth were aiming for with their attacking shape.
It starts deep in the Reds’ 22 when Ronan Kelleher pops the ball to scrumhalf Jamison Gibso-Park who whips it to Aki. He pulls it back to Finn Russell who immediately sends the ball to Elliot Daly on a curved run from left to right.
The fullback fixes the defence that means by the time Daly fires the ball to Freeman, the winger has room galore and able to hold off the cover defence when it arrives.
It was the first of his brace in Brisbane, and pretty much set the bar for wingers for the rest of the tour, which in truth, neither Freeman nor anyone else met.
Scotland - Huw Jones v NSW Waratahs
Sometimes, it is all in the eyes and certainly was in this case.
It started in the same area of the pitch as Freeman’s try, though from a maul. It means Alex Mitchell has plenty of time to pick his options, flat to Tuipulotu, or pulled back for Fin Smith.
Mitchell opts for Tuipulotu, and with Smith looping round off the centre, it appears the Lions are going to attack in the same way as they did for Freeman’s try.
While Tuipulotu is giving Smith the eye, his centre partner Jones is running flat off his shoulder and that is where the ball goes.
It leaves the Waratah’s defence flatfooted, with the covering defence unable to get across in time, as Jones dives over.
Slick, simple, but wouldn’t have worked without Tuipulotu’s look.
Ireland – Hugo Keenan v Australia, second test
It had to be didn’t it. Maybe it was the drama? Maybe it was the timing? Maybe it was Keenan’s work rate? Maybe it was his ability to keep his cool in the situation? Maybe it was the technical excellence of his finish? Maybe it was all those things together.
After Will Stuart’s break takes the Lions into the 22, Beirne and Maro Itoje keep the momentum going with carries that takes play back inside from the left touchline, and closer to drop goal range (which would have secured a one point lead).
The move continues moving forward and towards the right touchline, and when Russell pops a pass over the top to Blair Kinghorn, the wing has time to stretch his legs. Keenan is outside him, but Kinghorn puts his head down and carries to the five metre line where he’s brought down.
The fullback is the second to clear, and Gibson-Park picks out Beirne. He carries and Gibson-Park is quickly onto the ruck and gets the ball to Russell. Russell heads left, but when he realises Jack Conan is alone on the wing, he turns back inside and pops to James Ryan who straightens the attack.
The drop goal is very much on, but as the ball comes back Keenan is working his way from right to left to give another option, with Conan outside him. Here his relationship with Gibson-Park at Leinster and Ireland comes into play.
When the scrumhalf has his hands on the ball, Keenan takes two steps to get into his stride, and is running onto the ball, rather than taking it standing still.
It means he has the jump on the player marking him, Aussie centre Len Ikitau. Like the rest of the Wallabies in the first and second test, he is slow to get off the line, which gives Keenan the time to throw in a step and round him to score.
It was a fitting finish to win the series.