Will Skelton was a standout for the losing side against an impressive British & Irish Lions
Photo: seiserphotography.com

by Paul Cook in Sydney –

They were truly tested for only the second time on the tour but the British & Irish Lions have risen to the challenge in some style, defeating the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney 47-17. Waratahs coach Michael Cheika promised that his charges would have a go and his gallant side did him proud but in the end, the Lions simply had too much power and too many weapons, outscoring their hosts by five tries to two in an entertaining and at times, feisty clash.

It wasn’t quite the bashfest of 2001 but there was no doubt the Lions came off knowing they’d been in a game, Jonny Sexton in particular, the recipient of a few ‘welcome to Australia’ hits from a gnarly Tahs pack where 21-year-old behemoth Will Skelton was an imposing presence.

Two tries in the opening minutes of either half from the Lions were pivotal in gaining early ascendancy for the tourists but the Waratahs never dropped their heads and centre Tom Carter, in possibly his last outing in front of the Tahs faithful, responded with two tries of his own to raise the hopes of the blue half of the respectable 40,805 crowd.

Utility forward Jed Holloway was another young Waratah who rose to the occasion
Photo: seiserphotography.com

However, anytime the Lions were under pressure, they found field position, forced a penalty and up stepped the reliable Leigh Halfpenny to douse the home side’s fire with his immaculate boot. When they did get on the front foot, they had the firepower to make the Waratahs pay.

A double for Halfpenny, added to his four conversions and four penalties, gave the imperious Welshman a personal haul of 30pts, a record for a Lions match in Australia – how important he will be to their chances of success in the test series is immeasurable – while second half tries from Tom Croft and Jonathan Davies left a final scoreline that was harsh on the efforts of those donning the Cambridge Blue.

Lions coach Warren Gatland praised the Waratahs’ effort but was particularly pleased with the improved performance of his side. “We got what we expected, the Waratahs took it to us physically but we did well to respond, our discipline was good and in the end, we were too big and powerful for them. It was a good effort in a tough match and we’re very pleased with the outcome.”

Captain Sam Warburton, heard on the referee’s mike making constant references to the home side’s aggression throughout the match, played down the physical approach afterwards. “There were a few tackles on the nine and ten off the ball and there were a lot of shoulders and late hits but that’s part of rugby, we’ve got to expect that people are trying to upset us. The key for us was discipline and that part of our game was very good.”

Michael Cheika was philosophical in his response to the result. “I’m not happy with the scoreline but I’m happy with the effort. We gave them a good shake around the fringes off the ruck which unsettled them, maybe we didn’t have the x-factor to finish it and when they turned us over, their class showed and they finished.”

Paddy Ryan double teamed by Lions Paul O’Connell & Mako Vunipola – Photo: sesierphotography.com

The Lions began as if they were still smarting from Gatland’s displeasure at the lacklustre second half against Combined Country on Tuesday. Their intensity and execution from the opening whistle was a clear indication of a team that realises the business end of the tour is at hand and there were a number of standout performers who should have sealed their starting spots for next week’s first test in Brisbane, none more so than lock Alun Wyn Jones.

Halfpenny got them on the board with an early penalty before good work from Jonathan Davies and debutant Simon Zebo put Jonny Sexton over in the corner.

When Halfpenny slotted the conversion from the touchline with ease to make it 10-0, there were a few nervous faces amongst the home crowd but as well as the newfound desire to run the ball this season under Cheika, the Tahs also bear the hallmarks of their coaches playing style – in your face aggression and a never say die attitude.

A massive hit from young tyro Skelton on Sexton left the Irishman bent double on the floor and when another fierce hit from Cam Crawford put the Lions into touch, they caught them napping with a quick restart. Bernard Foley put a crossfield kick in behind for Peter Betham to streak down the sideline and put an outrageous one handed reverse pass in the tackle off to Tom Carter, who motored his way to the corner and finished with a swan dive for good measure.

Brendan McKibbin matched Halfpenny in the accuracy stakes and suddenly, it was game on.

The Tahs visibly grew in confidence off the back of the try and set about charging at the Lions line with renewed belief but whenever they lost possession, the tourists were able to grind their way forward to earn a pressure relieving penalty.

Two kicks from Halfpenny forged a 16-7 advantage for the visitors by the half-hour before McKibbin hit back with three points of his own but the Welsh fullback has more to his armoury than just a pinpoint boot and he was the man on the end of the line just before half-time when the Lions forwards laid a platform with a series of pick and drives before spreading it wide where they’d worked an overlap.

Brendan McKibbin starts another move for the attacking Waratahs
Photo: seiserphotography.com

23-10 at oranges and the Tahs were still in it but a nice interchange of passes and good lines from the support runners saw Halfpenny over again within minutes of the restart and from there, it was realistically a question of not if, but by how many, as the home side inevitably tired under the intensity of their opponents.

Carter, seemingly on a mission to sign off in style, crossed again off a pass from the ubiquitous Skelton following a short line out, the second week in a row the Lions have been caught in such a manner, but it was to prove scant resistance to the red machine that was able to empty the bench en masse on the hour and still plunder two more tries from a deceptively speedy Croft and a simple run in from the hugely impressive Davies.

The only blot on the copybook was a hamstring injury to Jamie Roberts, concern enough for English duo Brad Barritt and Christian Wade to be Sydney bound on the next flight out of Argentina, but the Lions went up a gear or two tonight when it mattered and laid a significant marker in the sand for the battles ahead. The Wallabies have been forewarned.

British & Irish Lions 47 (Leigh Halfpenny 2, Jonny Sexton, Tom Croft, Jonathan Davies tries; Leigh Halfpenny 4 cons, 4 pens, Owen Farrell con) New South Wales Waratahs 17 (Tom Carter 2 tries; Brendan McKibbin 2 cons, pen)

Crowd: 40,805