By Philip James
Good morning Lions fans!! The waiting it over, the tour is almost over, the anthems are over, the decider is about to begin
— britwatchsports (@britwatchsports) July 6, 2013
Sexton kicks off and man of the series so far Genia drops it!
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amazing start!! from the drop its a Lions scrum, free kick, Phillips touches and takes, Bowe almost in at the corner
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Lions on the try line..Phillips feeds Corbisiero who is tackled just short but rolls over the line the ref calls a try! breath takling start
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Halfpenny missed two tough ones last week but no mistake here and it’s 7-0 Lions, less than 3 minutes in
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It’s Australia’s turn to break and a penalty gives Leali’ifano the chance to kick to the corner ans set up Aussie pressure
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Lions:Halfpenny Bowe Davies Roberts North Sexton Phillips Corbisiero Hibbard Jones Alun Wyn Jones (captain) Parling Lydiate O’Brien Faletau
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ouch – hell of a collision between Hibbard and Aussie George Smith. literally head to head. Hibbard looking ok, Smith groggy
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George Smith needs replacing, Michael Hooper on. Sad end to the last test for Smith if he doesn’t return.
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After the medical goings-on, Davies clears long to half way and a penalty against Aussies relieves pressure further
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It’s at a distance, but dead centre, Halfpenny is going to take this one on, 11 from 14 in the series so far… made it!! by mere feet. 10-0
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A blocking penalty immediately from the restart gives Wallabies chance to reduce deficit right away. Leali’ifano to take, got it. 3-10
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not even 10 minutes gone, we’ve had 13 points and now George Smith is back on! what a story
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no let up though, Liaons scrum from restart, consecutive Aussie infractions in the scrum gives Halfpenny another kick at goal
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slightly nearer but wider than the last – it’s still a long way out, but not too long for Halfpenny – right down the middle! 13-3 13 min
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Dominance from the Lions front row of the scrum at the moment. Alexander penalised for standing up.. easier chance for Halfpenny this time
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No mistake. 16-3 now, as we reach 16 minutes
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what a turn around from this time last week when Vunipola and the Lions scrum were conceding these penalties
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18th min holding on by the lions allows Aussies to kick for good territory.
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Folau making some ground but he runs into North who tackles, lifts and drives. Lions able to turn the ball over and kick clear
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A little bit of a breather as the teams go into a kicking exchange. Beale handles a difficult bouncing ball but then slices it out
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The Lions take their line out and drive but held but Aussie. Eventually Davies kicks and could not be anymore in the corner.
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Wallabies take it early and try to run it out for throw it straight to the Lions, but a Bowe drop stops the attack in its tracks
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24 mins – ref warning the Aussies that unless they sort out their scrum he will brandish a yellow.
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not 30 seconds later and Romain Poite is true to his word and yellows Alexander. Lions have a penalty and a man advantage
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.. and now a 16 point lead! 25 minutes in
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clearing from kick from O’Connor goes into the Lions try zone & Sexton takes the ball with a foot out. Lions scrum back in Aussie territory
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Lions keeping the ball phase after phase now, but not really making much ground. Sexton has a good chance at a drop goal but just misses
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Aussies still sorting out their lineup with Smith back off and Mogg on for Folau
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Great speed from Mogg and the Aussies and breaking but Parling makes a last ditch tap tackle to take him down and Mogg fumbles
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To show how this game has been decided so far, Lions are 8-0 in scrum wins….
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A couple of Lions mistakes now. Bowe recovers a poor Sexton kick. Then Davies and Halfpenny collide and fumble. North recovers but holds on
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Over-playing from the Lions? Aussies going for position rather than points and Mogg kicks to corner. Sin bin period over
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Is there anything George North can’t do!? A great take in among 3 Aussies after an threaten cross field kick from the Wallabies
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Another penalty on Lions for a high O’Brien tackle, still no kick for goal. they go for territory with 3 minutes of half left
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A dangerous break, stopped just short by Lions, but another penalty and still no kick for goal. 5 pens declined by Aussies.
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Aussies move from one side of the field to the other, constantly on the try line but Lions keeping them out. Scrum now, huge on the momentum
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Australia keep the ball from the scrum, feed O’Connor who weaves past 3 Lions, Phillips tackles but cant stop him – try for Australia!
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Converted and Wallabies reduce gap to 9. 10-19 at the half
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and breathe…. put the kettle on, get a pint, the second half is going to be… EPIC!! (in voice of Patrick Stewart)
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We’re back! Mogg kicks the restart, and an early pen for the Aussies and this time they do go for goal. Leali’ifano to kick from 39 metres
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no mistake 19-13. A 10 point swing for the Aussies in less than 60 seconds of playing time
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Great kick from Genia and Beale chases. 2 Aussies offside but no decision and Aussies have the ball very very deep, and now another penalty
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No mistake from Leali’ifano and all of a sudden it is just a 3 point game, with 35 minutes left. 13 points in 6 mins for Australia
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Tom Youngs on for Hibbard
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Lions picking and driving and make ground but slowly. Phillips takes too long to use the ball and lucky to have a Aussie knock on
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The resulting scrum is reminiscent of the first 25 minutes & Adam Jones destroys the Aussie scrum. Halfpenny puts the lead back to 6; 22-16
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Conor Murray on for Phillips – maybe that dawdling recycle was the last straw
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Great Aussie break as Mogg, Genia & Leali’ifano combine but Halfpenny scrambles back to fall on the kick. Lions clear but still in own half
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Genia almost through, it is taking two tacklers to bring each Aussie down.
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But Lions turn it over, Sexton plays a beautiful kick that North speeds on to, off load to Davies and just enough Aussie back to tackle
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Faletau it was with the turn over, that man has been superb all tour
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Adam Jones off for Dan Cole. Faletau also off temporarily for a blood injury, Tipuric on. Bodies starting to mount up for both sides
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Lions just out side the Aussie 22, Murray to sexton to, Bowe, to Davies, to Halfpenny, back inside to Sexton and he’s over!!
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Best move of the match for Lions results in a try, or does it? video ref referring for any forward pass. heart breaking if there was
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First impression implies that sexton was level and collected the ball behind him. Video ref gives it!! beautiful try!
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Halfpenny, integral in the try, kicks the extra point. sensational. 29-16, 22 mins left to play
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Halfpenny is everywhere, he catches the deep kick from the Aussies then a brilliant dribbler kick to clear.
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Anything Halfpenny can do, Mogg can do and pins the Lions deep. Toby Faletau is back on, O’Brien off
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But Lions lose their lineout and quick ball from the Aussies put them just short of the try line – the forwards trying to drive over
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Heroic defence from Lions, but the ball comes back for an earlier infringment. Aussies tap and run for the line….
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Just enough Lions awake to stop it, and a hard tackle causes turnover, and Lions clear but only to the 22
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63 mins But Aussies fail to stay on their feet and the Lions have a penalty and chance to clear. 29-16.
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Owen Farrell on for first time in series, on for try scorer Sexton who looks furious
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Did I say Halfpenny was everywhere? well he bloody is!
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Halfpenny catches again just inside his own half, throws two dummies, dispatches to North to beats the last Aussie with ease and scores!!!
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LOVE IT! Halfpenny your passes are unreal #Lions
— Heather Watson (@HeatherWatson92) July 6, 2013
North’s 4th try of the tour, has it just won the series?
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Halfpenny can’t add the two points, his first miss of the match. 34-16, 15 mins left
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Bread of Heaven echoing round Sydney. The Irish, English and Scottish fans are singing it too
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Fantasy land now, Jamie Roberts runs the perfect angle and beats the the grasp of numerous Wallabies for another try
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Halfpenny converts… 41-16…. who ever thought this would be the scoreline
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Excellent analysis from Greenwood, 3 Aussies focusing on North in build up to that try, somehow all ignored Roberts!
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Swing Low Sweet Chariot has taken over now, amazing scenes
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The dying minutes now. The Aussies still attacking but the Lions determined not to allow a single yard, break or point
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Hugs going around the Lions bench, Roberts and Jones close to tears. Halfpenny, the chosen Man of the Series is still on the pitch
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Party trick time, all but 2 men into the lineup, they want one last score.
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Buzzer gone, whistle goes, wait over, Lions win a series for time in 16 years. This team and this match will go down in history
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The week had been dominated by the controversial team decisions, but every single one of them held up. Gamble? who can say. but it paid off
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It needs saying one more time. Australia 16 – 41 Lions
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First 25 mins – Lions dominate scrum 19-3. Frantic middle 10, Aussies come back to 19-16. Last 30 Lions dig in, and then ignite with 3 tries
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O’Driscoll was gutted in the week but delighted now. Him and O’Connell have two of the biggest grins. deserving Lions tour winners both
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Lions tour win, if Andy does the business tomorrow, this could be one of the greatest British sporting weekends in history
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Sexton: “we knew we had it in us. we let them back into it but the way we bounced back was outstanding.”
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Sexton: “We wanted to to it for Paul,and for Brian,so disappointed,I felt like I’d been dropped myself. To be involved is a dream come true
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Halfpenny” it’s what dreams are made of. I’ve dreamed of this my whole life. This is amazing, just unbelievable.”
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O’Connell: “fantastic performance from the lads. I don’t think we were ever going to surrender that lead.”
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O’Driscoll: “I am absolutely delighted. It’s been a roller coaster week. I’ve been a part of it, albeit not in the final test.”
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O’Driscoll: “We gelled well as a team. We won the series and any negatives will be forgotten about. It feels good, thanks a million.”
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Right, the celebrations will go on for some time yet, but it is good bye from us. Same time same place, in four years time? see you there
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