After a pretty average test match last weekend, the series was put to bed with a proper rugby match. The Lions started with a bang after a fumble from Genia, built up points, wobbled a bit around half time...then blew the Wallabies away. The foundation for this victory to me was built around the selections of Corbiserio and Hibbard, and the reffing of Romaine Poite. The Lions finally asserted the scrum dominance they’d had all series, and it provided a constant flow of points. They also kicked less, and attacked more, and the tries came. I wish they’d played more like that last weekend!
All the selection controversies are dimming, to me Roberts and BOD would have got the job done just as well as Roberts and Davies, but be that as it may, the men selected came up with the goods. Gatland had a hard time even from the Wallaby press for leaving out BOD, but that’s the territory he’s in, and he needs to work on his PR skills if he wants to carry on taking on big jobs.
Robbie Deans could well be gone soon after the series loss – he’s never been able to allow the Australian flair to develop, certainly not on Saturday. O’Connor did nothing for them at flyhalf, Their front row is an ongoing issue. They hung on in through the series through sheer bloody mindedness, playing their part in a brilliant series, and nearly winning it. They had a good few injuries to players like Pocock that could have tipped the balance even more.
The Lions as a concept is back in rude health!
British & Irish Lions
Australia 16 - 41 British & Irish Lions
Australia 16 - 41 British & Irish Lions
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