'It's a bit surreal' - Lions hero Hugo Keenan reacts to his winning try

RTÉ News​

3 days ago

As Hugo Keenan took Jamison Gibson-Park's pass, it was two against two, and 20 metres of grass to play with.
With Wallabies centre Len Ikitau opposite him, and Jack Conan outside him – winger Max Jorgensen being the second Australian defender – Andy Farrell knew what he wanted to happen.
"I was screaming, pass it, pass it, pass it!" Farrell said, as he recalled what was going through his mind when Keenan got the ball.
"And knowing Hugo, he was never going to pass it! He was always going to back himself. I spoke to his dad after the game and he was never going to pass it. He backs himself in those types of situations."
Keenan did back himself, and it proved to be the right decision.
He made the try look easy, but it was anything but as he squared up Ikitau before stepping on the gas to move outside him. With Jorgensen only having eyes for Conan, Ikitau couldn't recover.
It's no exaggeration to say it's a life-changing try for Keenan (above). For 28 years we've all seen images of Jeremy Guscott kicking that drop-goal to beat South Africa and clinch the 1997 series, and now the Leinster full-back's dive for the line will be played alongside the greatest moments in the 137-year history of Lions tours.
If anything, this was even more dramatic as it sealed an 18-point comeback, not to mention the series.
Even well over an hour after the game, the Ireland international was still struggling to process it.
"It's a bit surreal. It was a class moment," he said, after the 29-26 win at the MCG.
"It was off the back of two minutes of phase attack, the lads digging deep.
"It meant the world to myself and everybody that was out there, the 23, the lads who weren't playing, the backroom staff, the 50,000 Lions supporters out there and everyone at home. It's a really special moment.
"It's definitely up there. How could it not be? The Lions is the pinnacle for a Britain and Ireland rugby player, and to win a series is incredibly special."
And being able to enjoy that success with friends and family among the 90,000 people at the MCG capped it off.
"I'm absolutely delighted and it is extra special to do it with such a good bunch and so many familiar faces in the crowd.
"I jumped in [to the crowd] a few times! It was unbelievable walking around the stadium. My parents were there, my brother, my uncle and aunt, my girlfriend. I've about 10 friends over from Ireland who have spent a bomb to be here but they are all saying it is absolutely worth it. Really cool moments which make it extra special."
There was an anxious wait after Keenan scored as referee Andrea Piardi consulted with his TMO to see if the try could stand, as they checked on Jac Morgan's clearout on Carol Tizzano.
But Keenan says he was always confident the score would stand.
"To be honest, once I saw the clearout, I was pretty confident. I don't think there was any foul play in it and I was confident that the refs would make the right call.
"It was just relief, delighted and ecstatic that we got over the line. A cool moment."
It caps off a chaotic journey for Keenan on this tour. He landed in Australia still hampered by an injury which saw him miss Leinster's URC title run, before his Lions debut was delayed further by a bug which saw him lose 6kg in the space of 12 days.
Leading into the first Test, it appeared that Blair Kinghorn was leading him for the full-back jersey, before the Scot's knee injury opened the door for Keenan to start these Tests.
"It's been a mad whole trip," he reflected.
"It's not how I imagined it going, getting sick for two weeks and coming in to camp a bit injured. It's been a rollercoaster, but I suppose these things happen for a reason, and thankfully I was in full health come the last two Tests.
"I'm delighted to be involved and delighted that we got the result today. It's special moments having our family and friends out on the pitch with us at the end. It's those moments you play rugby for and you dream of."