Agony: Kurtley Beale slips and watches his match-winning penalty attempt drop short
Photo: Djuro Sen / Image Matrix

by Paul Cook in Brisbane –

“It was an epic contest and either side could have won,” said Wallaby coach Robbie Deans afterwards and it was about the most accurate shorthand description of this titanic struggle between two foes who have waited 12 long years for another chance to vie for supremacy.

In the end, the British & Irish Lions will take a 1-0 lead into the second test in Melbourne, two missed penalties in the dying throes of the match from Kurtley Beale leaving a narrow 23-21 victory for the tourists but there was much glory in defeat for the hosts, who had to contend with the loss of three of their backline on stretchers and finished with a makeshift selection of players in unaccustomed positions as a result.

In Israel Folau, they unearthed rugby’s latest superstar, the Waratahs’ flyer scoring two sensational tries on debut, whilst preventing another at the other end in a performance that promises sleepless nights ahead for Lions defensive coach Andy Farrell but the tourists had their own hero in the towering George North, who added his entry into the pantheon of great Lions’ tries in a game that fully lived up to the hyperbole of the build-up.

Lions coach Warren Gatland was simply pleased to get out of town with the win and a chance to settle the series within two games. “It wasn’t the prettiest performance but it was a victory we deserved,” he reasoned. “Our game management wasn’t as good as it should be and that’s something we need to work on. We could have lost tonight but it means that no matter what happens [in Melbourne], you go to the last day and you’re still in the series and we’ve got an opportunity to wrap it up next week.”

Israel Folau scored two tries in a sensational debut – Photo: Djuro Sen / Image Matrix

Luckless centre Christian Lealiifano experienced possibly the shortest debut in history, knocked cold in the opening minute as he got his head in the wrong position tackling Jonathan Davies and was replaced by Pat McCabe but the Wallabies recovered well to have the better of the opening quarter.

Driven forward by the irrepressible Will Genia, they had the Lions on the backfoot on the edge of the 22 and with referee Chris Pollock setting his stall out early at the breakdown, James O’Connor had two chances to open the scoring from ruck infringements. To the frustration of the gold contingent in the crowd, the flyhalf pulled both his efforts wide but the home side had signalled their intent.

The Lions fans were finally given something to shout about when their heroes in red marched the Wallaby scrum backwards and earned a penalty, Jonny Sextons’ kick to touch putting them within striking distance just inside the 22.

Building phases patiently and making inroads into the Wallaby red zone through pods of three and four forwards, they rumbled menacingly close to the tryline but when Ben Mowen forced a penalty for hanging on, the ever alert Genia produced a moment of magic to savour.

Taking a quick tap, the little maestro ran straight at the heart of the Lions, jinking his way a full 60 metres and drawing the back-pedalling red shirts towards him before grubbering wide for Folau to scoop up and glide around to the posts in style.

This time, O’Connor succeeded with the kick and the Wallabies had first blood in the series.

Leigh Halfpenny settled the Lions down with a trademark penalty in the 22nd minute before North proved that it wasn’t just the Australians who could boast a giant winger with dazzling feet.

Fielding a ‘nothing’ clearance from Berrick Barnes in his own half, the Welshman slipped the first tackle, escaped an attempted tip tackle to find open space, stood up Barnes before scything around him and streaked into the corner past a hapless Genia. The Wallabies have been concerned about North ever since the first whistle in Perth less than three weeks ago, this was exactly the reason why.

Five minutes later, he almost cemented his reputation with a second, barraging over Genia from 5 metres out to stretch for the line but with the hand of a desperate Folau in tandem. Ref Pollock went upstairs and after much deliberation, the TMO ruled that the debutant had added the description ‘try-saver’ to that of ‘try-scorer’.

George North celebrates early as he finishes off a dazzling 60 metre effort
Photo: Djuro Sen / Image Matrix

However, play was subsequently called back for an earlier infringement, which gave Halfpenny the chance to extend the lead to 13-7. It was never in doubt.

With the Lions moving up through the gears, confidence now coursing through their veins and the deafening roar of the visiting masses behind them, the Wallabies failure to capitalise on that early momentum looked costly but in Folau, they had a man on a mission.

Six minutes from the break, the hosts moved the ball at pace along the 10 metre line but the Lions defence looked well set. However, when Ben Mowen’s quick hands off the last pass to Folau created a bit of extra space, the star winger needed no second invitation. Side-stepping Jonny Sexton, he swatted away prop Alex Corbisiero before rounding Halfpenny to find the chalk. Some debut.

O’Connor’s missed conversion meant the misfiring pivot had left 8pts out on the park and the Wallabies suffered a further setback when North – chasing a crossfield kick from Sexton – shoved Folau straight into the oncoming Barnes, who hit the turf and didn’t move. The fullback has a history of concussions and was carried off once more, early reports even suggesting a broken jaw.

A point down at the break, the Wallabies’ injury woes continued after half-time when McCabe, himself a replacement for Lealiifano, was also carried off with a recurring neck injury. With Kurtley Beale already on for Barnes, flanker Michael Hooper became a makeshift centre as Robbie Deans was forced to reshuffle.

The Lions were quick to punish, Jamie Heaslip feeding clean lineout ball to Sexton who put a rampaging Alex Cuthbert through Hooper’s unaccustomed no.12 channel to the line but with a bit of help from a blocking run from Brian O’Driscoll that went unseen.

Lions’ fullback Leigh Halfpenny stops Kurtley Beale’s charge – Photo: Djuro Sen / Image Matrix

Halfpenny added the extras to extend the advantage to 20-12 and at that point, it seemed less a case of if, but by how many but a silly penalty from the restart allowed new man Beale to reduce the deficit back to 5pts.

The two kickers then exchanged penalties in the 62nd and 65th minutes before a Paul O’Connell infringement with the Wallabies menacing in sight of the posts gifted Beale another 3pts and with a touch over 10 minutes to go, it was anyone’s game at 23-21. Then came those final painful moments for the hosts with Beale passing up two opportunities – the second from a morale boosting scrum penalty – to snatch a famous and gutsy victory.

In the end, the Wallabies missed 14pts through the boot, lost three players on a stretcher, ended up with a flanker in the centres and a half-back on the wing (Nick Phipps replacing Adam Ashley-Cooper) and still only lost by 2pts.

“It was a courageous performance and it would stack up alongside any on that basis but it’s disappointing not to get the reward,” Robbie Deans lamented afterwards. “To put themselves in the position to win the game was a good effort but obviously, we didn’t, so we go to Melbourne now having to win.”

Hold onto your hats (or golden pith helmets) folks, this is going to be one hell of a ride.

British & Irish Lions 23 (George North, Alex Cuthbert tries; Leigh Halfpenny 2 cons, 3 pens) bt Australia 21 (Israel Folau 2 tries; James O’Connor 2 cons, Kurtkey Beale 2 pens)

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