Jeff Neville (The Loose Head)
@TheLooseH
Analyse, commentate on, and discuss rugby | Gaeilge | 1/3 @PStateOMind | Enquiries: [email protected] | TLH Podcast & Patreon currently paused
Third Test 23 will be interesting. Obviously will want to get players who’ve not played yet a run. But the clean sweep is also on. Lots of changes with the carrot of 3-0 in my book.
Imagine the scene. You’ve just won a Lions Series. You were integral to the win. And you just have a very strong feeling you’re not going to be involved next weekend. Could be a good few days, eh.
Player of the Series will be a tough pick. Tom Curry. Maro Itoje. Tadhg Beirne. Jamison Gibson Park. Dan Sheehan. It’s between those five for me but I see it going to a forward. They laid the platform.
Gibson Park’s pass selection is outrageously good but so too is his bossing of forwards and organising of a steady build of phases. Calm, collected, and picks the right pass nearly every single time.
Even though Itoje was superb, as per usual, I really thought Gibson Park was the big point of difference for the Lions, primarily his kicking game, and that flow he gets ruck to ruck. Very hard to live with.
Missing those two last week, Australia were nowhere near the physicality level needed; Lynagh was acting as a catch-pass distributor as a result, pushing around a stagnant attack bereft of ideas. Front foot ball and quick recycling today and Australia were a different team.
We can pretend that rugby isn't about ball carriers, if we want. But it is. Valetini and Skelton proved that today. 2 players improved the Wallabies by multiples of 10. Once you're over the gainline. Rugby is a lot easier.
This kick 'should' have ended up just outside the 22m if kicked by the average kicker. Russell increased the likelihood of scoring a try by 5 times thanks to this kick compared to the average. Data per @Oval_Insights
Massive moment from Finn Russell just before half-time to help the Lions back to 23-17 with Huw Jones' try and a skill that probably isn't appreciated widely enough. Initial penalty won by Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne, those tykes.
Last three Lions tours. Drew one, lost one, won one: • Tadhg Furlong • Maro Itoje • Finn Russell • Elliot Daly Owen Farrell has won two, lost one, drew one of the last four tours.
Mmm hmm.
Tom Curry’s last involvement was potentially a game-saver.
Quick note on Andrea Piardi. Refereed a fantastic Test and it was fantastic because he allowed it to be.
That was a stunning Test. What a comeback from 23-5 down. Heartbreaking for Australia who were night and day compared to last weekend. That was a Test worthy of winning a tour. Another Series win for the Lions in Australia.
Genge and Itoje with a massive maul D moment. Genge has been superb since coming on. Important to recognise that this was his role: to come on and go bananas for the last 25 minutes or so. And he is doing it brilliantly.
23-17 in the first half. 3-7 30 minutes into the second half. You’d wonder if Australia can hold out the last 10 minutes. Lions bench are bringing so much energy.
Bench impact also night and day compared to last week. Lions bench has brought a tonne of energy.
Plus a scrum penalty earned to spark it. What an introduction.
Must be about four Genge's on the pitch. He was everywhere for that last attack.
Great pass selection from Gibson-Park. Really strong from Lowe. Super finish from Beirne.
Really don’t believe in coming back 50m for a scrum penalty.
Tom Curry’s last involvement was potentially a game-saver.
Australia’s kicking game, take a bow.
A couple of good kicks from Australia in a row to force the Lions to defend or exit from deep. Really clever kicking. And that’s without mentioning the energy it saves.