Lions fight back to win series against Wallabies in MCG classic
Hugo Keenan scored a last-minute try to win a classic Test match and seal a series victory for the British and Irish Lions, in front of a record Lions crowd of more than 90,000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.There was nail-biting tension all evening during a game for the ages. Even when Keenan scored, there was a TMO check that would have had every Lions fan quaking in their boots.The try was given and the Lions won. Incredibly, the tourists had trailed 23-5 in the first half after the hosts exploded into the game.The resurgent Wallabies, ferociously driven on by Rob Valetini and Will Skelton, their returning totems, shocked the Lions to their very core in surging into that huge lead.James Slipper, Jake Gordon and Tom Wright all scored in a blizzard of a first 40 minutes, adding to Tom Lynagh's early penalties. Gordon and Wright both struck while Lions wing Tommy Freeman was in the sin bin.The Lions had scored through Dan Sheehan but they were pulverised for large parts of the half until they launched a dramatic comeback.Before the half was over, Tom Curry and Huw Jones both scored. Six tries in a mesmeric opening period and a six-point lead for the underdogs.If the scoring slowed, the fascination never did. Lynagh made it 26-17 with the boot before Tadhg Beirne scored in the corner. With Finn Russell's conversion, the gap had narrowed to two points, before Keenan's dramatic late score.More to follow.
Line-ups
Australia: Wright; Jorgensen, Suaalii, Ikitau, Potter; Lynagh, Gordon; Slipper, Porecki, Alaalatoa, Frost, Skelton, Valetini, McReight, Wilson.Replacements: Pollard, Bell, Robertson, Williams, Gleeson, Tizzano, McDermott, Donaldson.British and Irish Lions: Keenan; Freeman, Jones, Aki, Lowe; Russell, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje, Chessum, Beirne, Curry, Conan.Replacements: Kelleher, Genge, Stuart, Ryan, Morgan, Mitchell, Farrell, Kinghorn.
Match officials
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)Assistant Referee 2: Ben O'Keeffe (NZ)TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)Foul play review officer (FPRO): Marius Jonker (SA)
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