Wallabies express pride after avoiding Lions series whitewash with third-Test win
The Lions had already wrapped up the series before Saturday night's final Test in Sydney, but the Wallabies avoided a whitewash with a 22-12 triumph in wet and wild conditions.
Driving rain created difficult playing conditions, while the two teams were forced from the field for 40 minutes early in the second half due to lightning in the area surrounding Stadium Australia.
After losing the first Test 27-19 in Brisbane and being pipped by the Lions 29-26 at the MCG last weekend, the Wallabies received a morale boost courtesy of their win in the series finale.
Schmidt said he saw improvement from the Wallabies as the series played out.
"I felt we grew through the series," he told reporters after the match.
"We lost the first half of the series [opener] poorly and we won the second half.
"We played well in the first half of the second Test. We didn't succeed eventually in that Test, but I felt we deserved to win both halves today."
The dramatic nature of the Wallabies' defeat in the second Test in Melbourne made Saturday's result even more rewarding for Schmidt and his players.
Schmidt had been critical of the refereeing decision not to award the Wallabies a penalty in the final minute of play when Lions back-rower Jac Morgan cleaned out Carlo Tizzano at a ruck.
On the following phase, the Lions scored the match-winning try through Hugo Keenan.
"I couldn't be … prouder of the way the players rebounded after last week," Schmidt said.
"After the feeling of disappointment that they had, and it was deep, you almost had to let that run its course."
Schmidt revealed injured tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa had given a passionate address to the squad ahead of the third Test.
Alaalatoa sustained a shoulder injury in the second Test, ruling him out of the Sydney leg of the series.
Schmidt said Alaalatoa had lifted the mood of his teammates.
"I think it was a little bit of the inspiration the players needed," he said.
"We were flat early in the week and we got a little bit of an upswing, but I really think Allan helped."
Wallabies captain Harry Wilson said Alaalatoa's message resonated with those who took the field against the Lions.
"The thing with Allan is what he says, he delivers," Wilson said.
"He has spoken to us quite a bit about being willing to put your body on the line for the team and do whatever it takes to win.
"He's probably the most integral part of our squad. He's a leader in every facet of it, so when he came and spoke to us the day before the game about what we needed to be doing for each other to win a game, it really did hit home. "
The Lions had been bullish about their ambitions in Australia throughout the tour, publicly stating they were chasing a 3-0 series win.
Their cause in Sydney was not helped when captain Maro Itoje and winger Tommy Freeman failed their respective HIA, while lock James Ryan was knocked out in the second half.
While disappointed, Lions coach Andy Farrell offered no excuses for his team's loss in the third Test.
"There's obviously going to be frustration because we've said all along we wanted to win every game and rightly so," Farrell said.
"But the best team won on the night today."
The weather delay in the second half caused disruption to both teams, but the Wallabies — who led 8-0 at the time — controlled proceedings once play resumed.
They established a 15-0 advantage through an opportunist try scored by Max Jorgensen, which was converted by Ben Donaldson, and it proved too big a gap on the scoreboard for the Lions to make up.
Schmidt said the Wallabies benefited from having a contingency plan in place, knowing play could be halted due to lightning.
"We had been warned that there might be lightning," he said.
"So we had a little bit of a plan and with that plan we wanted to make sure players kept moving."
The Wallabies will now turn their attention to the Rugby Championship, kicking off with back-to-back matches against two-time defending World Cup winners South Africa.
They play the Springboks in Johannesburg on August 17, before the two teams face off again a week later in Cape Town.
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Joe Schmidt's side overcame miserable conditions, the absence of key forwards Alan Alaalatoa and Rob Valetini and first-choice halfback Jake Gordon as well as the loss of dazed flyhalf Tom Lynagh to record a spirited and spiteful victory at Accor Stadium. Much of Saturday night's match was played in torrential rain while lightning early in the second half forced a rare 38-minute stoppage as several hundred fans were forced to evacuate the stadium to take shelter. The Lions had been bidding to complete the first 3-0 series whitewash in Australia since 1904 after securing the trophy with a controversial 29-26 win in Melbourne last Saturday having won the Brisbane opener 27-19. Instead the Wallabies out-played and out-enthused the series winners from the get-go to make a mockery of Andy Farrell's side's dream to be known as the greatest Lions team of all time. 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Destructive at scrum time, a menace in the loose and generally inspirational during a game-changing 60-minute shift, Tupou conceded he feared during a turbulent Super Rugby Pacific season with the NSW Waratahs that he may never play for the Wallabies again. But an emotional Tupou, wrapping his big arms around a Sydney journalist and thanking the scribe for his support during the dark times was the most poignant moment inside the Accor Stadium walls post match. "It's always an honour to be named in the Wallabies, to represent Australia. I was quite emotional when I sang the anthem," the 29-year-old said. "And as you get older, these opportunities mean a lot more to you and you tend to think when you get older, 'Oh man, one of these games could be the last'. "So I was just soaking in the environment, the crowd and everything. It was it was pretty cool to be part of it. So delighted we won the game." Australian rugby's highest-paid forward is heading to Racing 92 in France this year but hasn't given up on featuring at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, now that he's resurrected his international career. "I always make myself available for the Wallabies, whether I'm in France or wherever I am," Tupou said. "So if they need me, I'll 100 per cent put my hands up. "So hopefully this isn't the last time. Hopefully there's more to come." The gentle giant said the opportunity to play against the Lions, especially after his tumultuous season, was not lost on him. "I'm glad I'm part of this one and part of a win against the Lions. There's a lot of Wallabies legends who don't get a chance to play against the Lions," Tupou said. "We needed this win. We've been through a lot this week and the last few weeks and it's good to be out there playing footy because for me I only played the (one) game." "I need to keep playing footy so this helps me. 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Daily Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
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